Consistency is the hall mark of Shamrock. Satish Narredu`s six-year-old marvel seems to treat winning at Mysore and Chennai like his favourite weekend pastime. Carrying a back-breaking 63.5 kilos, he produced yet another performance that would make even the scales blush. In the Mysore Race Club Anniversary Cup on Derbyday, Shamrock once again showed that weight may slow horses, but not class.

Favourite Siege Courageous had beaten him before at level weights, but this time the tables turned spectacularly. Suraj Narredu, who apparently moonlights as a strategist for grandmasters, completely out-thought Anthony Raj whose. Suraj had Shamrock perfectly placed behind the pacemaker Monteverdi, and before the favourite could even warm up, the jockey slipped the field and said, “Catch me if you can.”

Siege Courageous did try, charging late with a breathtaking burst, but Suraj extracted every ounce from Shamrock`s lungs to hold on by a whisker. The topweight prevailed, and the six-year-old son of Excellent Art proved once again that lightning can indeed strike twice in the same race. Snowfall ran third.

The Bottolanda Mittoo Chengappa Memorial Trophy turned into a punter`s horror story when the heavily backed Yukikaze and Anigraha vanished before punters could spot their horses in the race. Yukikaze reportedly returned lame, while Anigraha showed very little enthusiasm.

Into the chaos stepped Mystic Divine, guided by apprentice Faiz who rode as if inspired by divine instructions. He engaged Freedom Touch in a gripping duel and prevailed by the slimmest of margins. Trainer Monappa couldn`t have asked for a better ride by the apprentice. Baashha took third, perhaps planning his revenge for another day.

Fresh from their divine intervention, Monappa and Faiz combined again in the very next race, the Sharan Lakshmanan Memorial Trophy. This one was not for the faint-hearted. Dali`s Gold came charging with purpose, but Faiz managed to hold on with the desperation of a man clinging to the last piece of cake at a wedding. Seiko Katsu ran third, and the top four finished so close together the judge probably needed a magnifying glass to separate them.

The H P Vishwanathan Memorial Trophy saw another nail-biting finish, and yet again Anthony Raj found himself in his favourite finishing position, second. Pradeep Annaiah`s Irish Coffee got the better of Kanya Rashi in a thrilling battle after a break of over 600 days. Divine Art, who carried the hopes and wallets of the punters, ran as though she had misplaced her caffeine shot, fading out well before the heat turned up.

Bipin Salvi`s Sea of Adventure, formerly known as Pizzarro, has reinvented himself since leaving Mumbai. The gelding registered his third straight win in the K T Shamaiah Gowda Memorial Trophy, proving that a change of stable can indeed work wonders. He hit the front, stayed there, and left favourite Klimt gasping for air. Ultimate Blues finished third, perfectly matching the mood of those who backed the wrong horse.

Vishal Yadav`s Silver Quest went to the post as the day`s sure thing, and after a ride that caused mild heart palpitations in his supporters, the favourite managed to find wings on the wide outside and scrape home. He just about held off Jade Mountain and Princess of Wales in a finish so close it could have been settled by coin toss.

Trainer Bobby`s Gemini, ridden with confidence by J Chinoy, justified her strong support in the Sri C Sashachalam Memorial Trophy. The mare was in no mood to complicate things, taking charge and keeping Double Vision at bay with ease. Tigerking ran on late to claim third, roaring proudly but too late to matter.

The Hasthnapura Plate ended the day with Rakesh-trained Alluring Beauty living up to her name. She coasted home comfortably ahead of D Admiral, who offered mild resistance before surrendering politely. Break Away finished third. The fancied Gentleman`s Word, the supposed star attraction, was declared a non-starter due to a “technical reason.” Perhaps he simply decided that a day of rest was preferable to the chaos on the track.