Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Xante arrived from Kolkata with a winning habit and saw no reason to abandon it in Bangalore, holding off stablemate Kalamisti to land the 1400 metres Nawab M. Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup, the feature event for horses rated 80 and above on Saturday. If Xante was a picture of consistency, the favourites were anything but, once again treating punters as generous donors rather than valued customers.

Global Influence, despite having recently tested the patience and wallets of his supporters, was once again entrusted with public confidence. Punters, blessed with eternal optimism and remarkably short memories, expected a dramatic turnaround. Kalamisti and Xante were allowed to slip under the radar at rewarding odds.

Global Influence dictated the pace from Star Glory, followed by Touch of Grey, Kalamisti, Mandarino and Xante. The favourite travelled sweetly enough until the race entered the business end, where he quickly fizzled out. Kalamisti slipped through along the rails and looked the likely winner before Hindu Singh produced Xante with a timely challenge on the outside. Xante wore down his stablemate close home to score a hard-fought victory. Mandarino finished on for third ahead of Star Glory, while Global Influence once again demonstrated that reputations do not carry jockeys or horses past the winning post.

The market was left looking like a weather forecaster predicting sunshine during a thunderstorm in the 1800 metres Brig R.C.R. Hill Memorial Trophy for horses rated 40 to 65. Maana headed the betting ahead of the hat-trick seeking Youremanorborn, though some observers viewed the booking of apprentice Pranil with a degree of caution.



Their caution proved justified.

Instead, Karthik Ganapathy-trained Caccini emerged victorious at the expense of Moon Star, trained by brother Aravind Ganapathy, ensuring that family bragging rights would be settled over dinner.

Moon Star led from Super Flash, Winfield, Youremanorborn, Caccini and Multi Success. Turning for home, Moon Star drifted away from the rails and Vivek needed no second invitation aboard Caccini. Driving through the inside gap, he seized the initiative and steadily drew clear to score comfortably. Winfield finished third. As for Maana and Youremanorborn, both occupied premium positions in the betting ring but never in the race itself, leaving their supporters studying race cards in search of answers that were unlikely to be found there.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Avener provided one of the few moments of relief for favourite backers when making a sparkling debut in the 1400 metres Ascot Plate for maiden three-year-olds.

Burevestnik, who had twice mastered the art of promising much and delivering little, looked set to break the sequence when he led into the final furlong. Unfortunately for his supporters, Avener had other plans. Under Sandesh, the newcomer produced a devastating burst of speed and quickly transformed the contest into a procession, streaking away to beat Exotic Black by six widening lengths. Burevestnik was left to collect another minor cheque and another chapter in his growing book of failures.

Significantly, Avener was the only strongly supported favourite to salute during the afternoon, making him something of an endangered species.

Trainer Irfan Ghatala`s summer campaign continues to resemble a treasure hunt where his longshots keep finding the gold. Sapporo struck at lucrative odds in the 1200 metres Rare Gem Plate (Division I) for horses rated 20 to 45, while another well-fancied runner from the Attaollahi yard, Solara, joined the ever-expanding list of market disappointments.

Carat Love attempted to make every post a winning one and fought gamely before Sapporo swept past in the closing stages. Solara never threatened and finished a distant third, ensuring that favourite backers remained loyal to the cause despite mounting evidence against it.

In Division II, Hushed justified support with a polished performance. Tracking Fiery Love into the straight, Hushed asserted authority in the final furlong. Zayana charged through along the rails but failed to land a meaningful blow and finished second. Favourite Lightning Blitz could do no better than third.

M.R. Singh-trained Versace turned the 1400 metres Santorini Star Plate into a one-horse exhibition. Partnered by apprentice Laxman Singh, Versace demolished his rivals by more than seven lengths in a performance that made the opposition look as though they had taken a different route to the winning post.

Legendary Impact chased home the winner while favourite Stella Maris managed only third. Versace stalked the leader into the straight before accelerating away with such authority that the race was effectively over long before the finishing line arrived. The only contest left was for the minor placings, where Stella Maris made late headway but failed to overhaul Legendary Impact.

For punters, it was another afternoon spent learning an old racing lesson: the market may have many opinions, but the horses are under no obligation to agree with them.