Jockey Varun seemed determined to audition for the role of “Disruptor of the Day,” and the Stewards, unimpressed with his performance on NRI Ultrapower, obliged by labelling his effort “unsatisfactory” — racing`s polite way of saying what on earth was that? His ride effectively put the brakes on what could have been a clean sweep for the favourites. The Stewards noted the glaring lack of enthusiasm and the fact that his move came so late. This generous delay gifted front-running Kings Best an uncontested win.

For the third straight day, racing continued its impersonation of a conveyor belt: favourites hopping on at the start, riding to the finish, and waving smugly as they passed the post far ahead. The only other break in the monotony came in the feature event, where local darling Cherie Chevalier wilted against Your Unforgettable in the 1400 metres K Mahipathi Rao Memorial Golconda Juvenile Million. The favourite folded without much resistance, more a miscalculation of the ability of the local challenger vis-à-vis the outstation runner.

When the dust settled, five of the seven races went to odds-on favourites, the other two to second favourites. The “element of surprise” — once considered the spice of racing — has apparently left the building. Without competition, racing feels less like a sport and more like watching a series of pre-recorded reruns.

In the feature, Prasad Raju-trained Cherie Chevalier started favourite over Bangalore challenger Your Unforgettable — perhaps the result of a rare case of overestimating a local hopeful, something the form book usually frowns upon. Jockey Trevor Patel, aboard the visiting contender, barely had to engage second gear. After courteously shadowing Miss Smiley Angel into the straight, he switched to autopilot, eased past, and let his Excellent Art progeny do the rest. Cherie Chevalier, meanwhile, went in search of an extra gear, found none, and coasted in for second — proof that belief alone doesn`t make you faster.

The real “highlight” of the day came in the 1400 metres S Rangarajan Memorial Cup, for horses rated 40 to 65. Imran Khan-trained Kings Best, winless for 284 days, was gifted the scenario he dreams of: an uncontested lead and zero interference. He took off at his leisure and maintained a healthy cushion all the way home. NRI Ultrapower`s response was half-hearted, which began with an unenthusiastic start and ended with jockey Varun leaving his mount to make up an impossible gap in the straight.

An enquiry was held at day`s end, and Varun was promptly handed a 10-race-day suspension — because here, unlike other centres, there`s no faffing around with charge sheets or extended hearings. Justice is swift, direct, and, on days like this, almost as predictable as the winners` list.

The day began with the shortest-priced favourite on the card, Knight Regent from trainer Vittal Deshmukh`s yard, taking the 1600 metres Mica Emperor Plate for maiden three-year-olds without so much as breaking a sweat. Jockey Ashhad Asbar had him idling in third behind Konaseema and Pride Aside before gliding past in the straight. By the final furlong, the race was already sealed, and delivered — Knight Regent stretching away for a five-length win while the rest seemed to have made peace with second-best.

Deshmukh and Asbar quickly doubled up through Arabeska in the 1600 metres Adler Plate for horses rated 20 to 45. Sitting pretty in third behind My Challenge and Federer, Arabeska shifted gears in the straight and left the field gasping — storming home by over seven lengths. Federer stayed on for second ahead of Perfect Light, with the rest content to play background extras.

Prasad Raju`s Diablo bounced back after finding Miss Smiley Angel too hot to handle last time, winning the 1200 metres Jangaon Plate (upper division) for horses rated 40 to 65 with something in hand. High Heels led until Sai Kumar decided it was time to move, sending Diablo clear for a comfortable win over Kalki, with High Heels hanging on to third.

The lower division was a one-horse show as Nilesh Rawal`s Gachchhatu, under Neeraj Rawal, toyed with the opposition to complete a hat-trick, winning by eight lengths. Torchbearer ran into the frame late for second, ahead of Deccan Spirit.

Robin Reddy Kondakallaa`s Perception lived up to its billing in the 1200 metres Shamirpet Cup for horses rated 20 to 45, but not without a flicker of suspense. Total Control looked set to spring an upset when taking charge in the final furlong, only for Perception, with Naresh in the saddle, to unleash a sharp burst and win by three lengths. Dream To Fly was third.