Parvati Byramji-trained Golden Peaks did exactly what everyone expected—dominated the 1600 metres Rajakumari Leelavathi Devi Memorial Trophy like it was a casual Thursday afternoon stroll. The race, open to horses rated 80 and above, saw the four-year-old filly, brimming with confidence after an impressive prior run, delivered yet another textbook performance. In keeping with the unpredictable nature of racing at Mysore—where pitfalls, surprises, and downright baffling results are all part of the charm—punters were once again left scratching their heads rather than counting their profits at the end of the day. As usual, fortune danced just out of reach, leaving most to wonder if they`d mistakenly wandered into a casino instead of a racetrack.

Jockey Dhanu Singh Deora might as well have been sipping tea on his ride—so smooth was his execution. Keeping Golden Peaks cozily nestled along the rails, Deora unleashed her only when the time was ripe—right at the homestretch, where a golden opportunity on the outside of the pace-setting Havelock Cruise presented itself.

And that was that. Golden Peaks turned on the afterburners, leaving the competition in her dust. The result? An easy, almost nonchalant victory over a late-finishing Segera, who appeared from nowhere to grab second, while Knight In Hooves rounded out the top three, looking a little more pedestrian than knightly. As for Kalamitsi? Well, let`s just say she didn`t exactly leave a lasting impression.

One would have hoped for some semblance of order in the 1100 metres Meerut Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, but order and Mysore rarely go hand in hand. The eternal runner-up Macron once again found himself burdened with favouritism, while Golden Time, fresh off a smashing win in Bangalore, was the next best bet. Yet, as is often the case, racing had other plans.

In a twist that had punters spitting out their tea, The Perfect Choice, trained by Warren Singh and piloted by jockey A R Pradeep, pulled off a shock win, with tote odds that fetched a juicy 14 to 1. Perfect Justice might have had the form to be in contention, but in a race where the pulse of the betting ring dictates more than just odds, he wasn`t exactly a crowd favourite.

Macron, who has made second place his personal playground, completed a hat-trick of silver medals, much to the chagrin of those expecting more. Meanwhile, Perfect Justice, who had been without a win for over 400 days, came from the clouds on the wide outside, storming ahead in the final 100 metres to beat Macron and Tower Quest. As for Golden Times who dazzled with a winning performance last time out, the spark was nowhere to be found—he looked like a beaten cause from the start.

`` Money makes the mare go”—a saying that gets tossed around often in racing. But in the 1400 metres Jaganmohana Palace Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45, the weight of money had about as much influence as a feather in a hurricane. Ancient History entered as the strong favourite, but Lokanath-trained The Grey Geranium began to attract a tidal wave of support, with his odds slashed in half faster than a clearance sale.

Jockey Naveen M took The Grey Geranium on a daring start-to-finish mission, opening up a four-length lead as they turned for home. But like a sprinter trying to run a marathon, he ran out of steam in the final 100 metres. Just as Ancient History looked ready to reassert its rightful place as the favourite, the plot thickened. Enter Mega Success—a long shot so far off the radar even the betting ring seemed to forget he existed. Charging in from the wide outside, Mega Success floored the favourite, winning at jaw-dropping odds.

The Grey Geranium, after running out of breath, had to settle for third. As for the staggering amount of money lost by those banking on the top picks—well, let`s just say some wallets are going to need more than a recovery plan.

If there was any method to the madness, it only made a fleeting appearance in the first half of the day`s action. Brightest Star, trained by Michael Eshwer, was the favourite for the 1400 metres Hotel R R R Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65, and predictably delivered a performance that made the rest of the field look like they were out for a Sunday jog.

Jockey Trevor Patel, the picture of patience, allowed Brightest Star to sit comfortably in second while Perfect Perfecto—keen and jittery—seemed intent on making things difficult for his own jockey. Once Trevor had waited long enough, he got down to business in the homestretch, and Brightest Star responded as if someone had just reminded her she had places to be. She stormed ahead, leaving Heroism trailing in her wake, to record an easy and emphatic win.

In the lower division of the Hotel RRR Trophy, Swagatham looked well-prepared on paper, but it was Dynamic Force that got all the hype in the betting ring, while Swagatham ran at surprisingly long odds. Dynamic Force led from the get-go and seemed ready to upset the odds—until the final moments, when jockey Anthony Raj decided he had other plans for Swagatham. With some serious effort, he managed to get Swagatham past the tiring leader in the waning yards of the race, securing victory by a whisker. Absolute Conqueror had to settle for third, though the name suggested it had loftier ambitions.

Sajid Quereshi-trained NRI Ace was the overwhelming favourite to take home the 1100 metres Secunderabad Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, and he delivered in style. Apprentice jockey Rajesh K took NRI Ace straight to the front and never looked back—well, except for that brief moment when he decided to run out in the straight. But even with that little detour, NRI Ace was still miles ahead, cruising to a commanding seven-length victory. The rest of the field? Let`s just say it was more of a leisurely procession, with Cloudy Hills taking second and Shadow`saim settling for third.

The lower division of the Secunderabad Plate law the consistent Mystical Merlin run out an easy winner in the hands of apprentice jockey Faiz. Mystical Merlin led from the start and held the lead comfortably and in the homestretch, skipped to go beyond the reach of the rest for a comfortable win for Perfect Heart and Aaradhana.