Pesi Shroff holding a whiphand over the summer classics is hardly breaking news. At this stage, rival trainers may as well apply for a sightseeing permit because Shroff’s horses are treating the classics like private property. The first of his artillery brigade, Margaretta, marched onto the scene in the 1600 metres Col Desraj Urs Memorial Trophy for horses rated 60 to 85 and proceeded to make the opposition look like they had accidentally entered the wrong race.

The imposing filly stamped her authority with such disdainful ease that the race was effectively over while the others were still rummaging around for an extra gear. Tolkien set the pace from Prokofiev, Ice of Fire and company, while Vivek G kept Margaretta tucked away in fourth or fifth, looking like a passenger with premium lounge access. Turning for home, the rails opened invitingly and Vivek needed no second invitation. Margaretta exploded through the gap with lightning acceleration and in a few strides had reduced the rest into distant background props. She powered away to score by four widening lengths from Ice of Fire, with Prokofiev third.

The curious part was the betting ring drama where Prokofiev attracted support strong enough to suggest punters had either misplaced their spectacles or temporarily forgotten Margaretta had won the Gr 1 Poonawalla Multi Million looking like a filly assembled in a superior factory. Margaretta now heads to the Gr 1 Fillies Championship Stakes where, on present evidence, the others may merely be contesting for the privilege of finishing second.

Pradeep Annaiah trained Alfonsie treated the 1400 metres K N Guruswamy Memorial Trophy like a public workout. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, the favourite justified every rupee invested with the sort of efficiency that would make tax auditors proud. Trevor Patel had Alfonsie racing three wide in third before casually gliding to the front on turning for home. From there it became less a horse race and more an exhibition gallop. Alfonsie stretched away to win by over five lengths from Sassy Sarah, while Moon Star finished another seven lengths away in third, presumably wondering whether the race had started too early.

James McKeown trained Osaka was strongly fancied to win the 1200 metres Royal Tern Plate for maiden three-year-olds, but Darius Byramji trained Bright Thunder had other ideas and delivered them with interest. Suraj Narredu sent Osaka on a start-to-finish mission while Bright Thunder stalked relentlessly in pursuit. The pair fought tooth and nail through the final furlong before Bright Thunder surged ahead in the shadow of the post to win by just under a length. On the Rise was so far back in third that it required long-distance billing.

Pradeep Annaiah trained Mister Brown kept his supporters on the edge of cardiac consultation before finally obliging in the 1400 metres Supervite Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The heavily backed gelding lost a couple of lengths at the start, instantly causing collective despair among punters who had invested with the confidence of central bankers. Flight of Fancy got the run of the race in front and entered the final furlong with a handy lead while Mister Brown still had plenty of real estate to cover. Aravind Kumar got busy and Mister Brown responded gamely, arriving in the nick of time to snatch victory by a neck. Supreme Success finished a remote third, living up only partially to the optimism in the name.

In the lower division, Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Queensdom arrived late with a well-timed flourish to down the strongly backed favourite Leno in the dying moments. Blue Storm finished third.

Rajesh Narredu trained Razzmatazz unleashed a powerful finishing burst to overhaul the heavily supported Cr Seven in the 1400 metres Moonlight Romance Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the basement category where unpredictability is practically a dress code. Versace did all the front running before folding in the final furlong and settling for third.

M R Singh trained Femme Fatale produced the upset of the day in the lower division, storming home with an impressive flourish to score by five widening lengths over Blue Saint and LG’s Script, who arrived late to share the minor honours after Anza Parade cut out the early running before waving the white flag in the straight. Femme Fatale returned at generous odds, rewarding the brave, the lucky and possibly one punter who pressed the wrong button at the tote window.