Pesi Shroff’s horses these days carry the aura of heavyweight champions entering a local gym. Rivals may warm up enthusiastically, punters may invent hopeful theories and experts may passionately debate vulnerabilities, but once the real contest begins the outcome usually resembles a foregone conclusion wrapped in expensive silks. Zuccaro added another polished exhibition to that growing catalogue in the 1400 metres H H Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup, the feature event of Sunday’s Bangalore races.

The discussion before the race centered around whether the trip would prove too sharp for Zuccaro. Racing experts, who can occasionally complicate boiling water, convinced themselves that a horse proven over longer distances might somehow forget how to gallop over seven furlongs. As it turned out, class remains the best oxygen mask in racing. Even a sluggish start failed to disturb jockey Vivek G who sat chilly at the rear while Knotty Charmer merrily dictated terms in front. Inside the final furlong Zuccaro switched gears and simply inhaled the leader. Siege Courageous, the public elect, could do no better than salvage second ahead of stablemate Knotty Charmer while Zuccaro strutted away looking mildly offended that anyone doubted him in the first place.

The V T Velu Memorial Trophy once again highlighted the growing list of Sulaiman Attaollahi favourites and then searching for philosophical meaning afterwards. Fortis attracted support but unfortunately the winning post arrived before his ambition did. Arjun Mangalorkar trained La Mcqueen and apprentice Aleemuddin kept matters delightfully uncomplicated. Jump smartly, grab the lead, dictate terms and leave the rest gasping like passengers chasing a departing bus. Small Dreams gave chase but Fortis only discovered urgency after the race had effectively shifted to another postal code.

The Alekona Plate looked tailor-made for Glorious Strides who started at cramped odds, suggesting bookmakers considered the horse unbeatable. Suraj Narredu attempted a pillar-to-post mission aboard the favourite, but Star Of India stalked ominously throughout before apprentice Aleemuddin pressed the button at the right time. Once Star Of India surged clear, Glorious Strides looked out of sorts. He still clung to second by the skin of his nostrils from the late-finishing Stalingrad. Aleemuddin meanwhile completed a double and probably earned several new admirers.

Suraj Narredu found compensation in the concluding race through Gloriousness in the Pendragon Plate. The filly had juvenile form superior to much of this lot but punters, blessed with memories shorter than Instagram reels, allowed her to go off at inviting odds. Settled perfectly behind the pace, Gloriousness quickened impressively to brush aside Mnemosyne and Scent of Rain. Favourite Jade Mountain produced his run so late he may as well have requested extra overs.

The lower division produced its own tragic comedy. Lokanath Gowda trained The Make Sure came in for a flood of support and briefly threatened to justify it before collapsing faster than election promises after polling day. Annabelle took charge only to be ambushed late by Zephyrine, who stormed down the outside and swamped the field with contemptuous ease. Blind Faith finished third, while The Make Sure made absolutely sure a great deal of betting money vanished into the racing Bermuda Triangle.

Prasanna Kumar’s Stud Poker looked a cut above in the Beautiful Babe Plate and proceeded to confirm it with vulgar authority. Anthony Raj bounced the colt to the front and the favourite simply widened the gap with every stride as though the others were running on a treadmill. Behind him there was token reshuffling for minor placings with Valor Queen edging Shutterfly, though by then the winner was probably already enquiring about future engagements. Stud Poker appears a youngster of considerable promise and certainly one who possesses a lot of horsepower.

The Ministerial Plate delivered the day’s most dramatic finish. Garzian threatened to spring a surprise and had supporters dreaming dangerous dreams before Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Everynne arrived with a devastating late burst under Trevor. Held up early due to a distinct lack of gate speed, Everynne unleashed an explosive finish in the straight to collar the front-runner close home. Favourite Atman meanwhile looked beaten so early that even his supporters stopped bargaining with destiny halfway through the race.

Purushotham trained Mystikos obliged favourite backers in the Commonwealth Day Plate though not without first administering a mild cardiac examination. Breeze Bluster set a furious pace in front and looked capable of pinching the race outright before Mystikos emerged late with a determined thrust near the post. Ebotse finished third while Breeze Bluster ran out of steam and finished second.