By Punters Mind

Big Blow Right at the Start: Verrazzano Fails to Deliver

The day couldn’t have started worse for punters. Verrazzano, the hot favourite in the Squanderer Cup, was expected to win with ease against a weak field. But to everyone’s shock, Cascais—trained by Azhar Ali and ridden confidently by Akshay Kumar—shot straight to the front and never looked back. Verrazzano gave chase but couldn’t get close. Sea Diamond ran third, and Royal Whisper, who had decent place support, just about filled the frame. For those who backed Verrazzano, it was a hard pill to swallow right off the bat.

Mahler’s Flop Deepens the Wound in the Delhi Cup

If punters thought things couldn’t get worse after Verrazzano’s loss, Mahler proved them wrong. The flashy debut winner was backed heavily to win the Delhi Cup, with many calling him the “sure shot” of the day. But after racing prominently, he simply ran out of steam. The win went to the unheralded NRI Victory, trained by Sajid Qureshi and guided beautifully by Antony Raj. Luca took second, while Mahler had to settle for a disappointing third. Another huge dent in the wallets of the faithful.

Star Of India Knocks Out the Favourite Again in the Mysore Cup

And then came the knockout punch. Your Unforgettable, another raging favourite, was expected to canter home in the Mysore Cup. But the longshot Star Of India had other plans. She pounced late and swept past the favourite in the final furlong. Once again, Trevor Patel and Sulaiman Attaollahi—who teamed up for Mahler earlier—had to settle for second. At this point, most punters were reeling, stunned by three consecutive upsets.

Maana to the Rescue with a Flying Finish

Just when hope seemed lost, racing delivered one of its magical moments. Maana, the beautifully bred daughter of Yana, wasn’t among the top betting choices in the upper division of the Hooves of Steel Million. But she showed exactly why class counts. After being slow early, she picked up momentum and flew home late under a determined ride by Antony Raj. The crowd roared as she surged past the leaders, offering a much-needed breath of fresh air for the few punters still brave enough to stay in the game.

Neptune’s Redemption in the Lower Division

If Neptune’s last run had disappointed, he made up for it here. Backed strongly again, he made every step count in the lower division of the Hooves of Steel Million. Sandesh gave him a confident front-running ride, and the gelding never looked in danger. Knotty Cruise chased him home, and Renoir, another well-fancied runner, grabbed third. Neptune looks like one to follow as the Pune season kicks off.

Ice Of Fire Ignites in the Bangalore Million

The day’s big race—the Coromandel Gromor Bangalore Million—saw strong support for Big Bay, Bishop, and Ice Of Fire. But things didn’t go as planned. Big Bay missed the break and was never in it. Bishop, so promising behind Fynbos last time, looked flat. That left Ice Of Fire, trained by Prasanna and ridden with real intent by Trevor, to grab her moment. She ran strongly to win well. Madras challenger Echoes Of Time made a big late move to finish second, and Bishop filled third. A great turnaround for Trevor after earlier setbacks.

Emphatic Puts in a Power Packed Performance

If there was one horse who won with authority, it was Emphatic. In the Chennai Cup, Trevor rode with calm confidence, sitting last for much of the trip before unleashing a powerful run in the straight. Emphatic swooped past Rock Bank to win comfortably. Bashir finished third but didn’t stay the mile, clearly preferring shorter trips. It was a clinical ride and a well-deserved win for trainer Padmanabhan.

Stravinsky Lives Up to His Name in the Kolkata Cup

The Kolkata Cup featured two popular choices—Stravinsky and Blue God—and both were expected to dominate. For most of the race, they did just that. But in the final furlong, Stravinsky found another gear and pulled away to win. Aquamatic surprised many by coming with a late dash to grab second, while Blue God, despite running well, couldn’t go with the top two at the end.

Summary: A Day of Ups and Downs That Kept Everyone Guessing

What started as a disaster for favourite backers slowly turned into a day of revival. After three early favourites—Verrazzano, Mahler, and Your Unforgettable—let punters down, longshots had their moment in the spotlight. But racing found its balance as the day went on. Neptune, Emphatic, and Stravinsky brought some sense of order back to the results. Maana’s eye-catching win and Ice Of Fire’s rise as a serious contender added flair to a day full of stories. It was a Derby-eve card that tested patience, punished blind faith, and rewarded those willing to back quality over hype.

Horses to Follow (For the Punters’ Notebook)

🟢 Maana – Showed real class and determination; can win again soon.
🟢 Ice Of Fire – In great form and getting better; worth tracking.
🟢 Echoes Of Time – Strong finish; win looks very close.
🟢 Neptune – Back in form; watch him in Pune.
🟢 Aquamatic – Ran on well; could surprise next time over shorter.
🟢 NRI Victory – Scored with ease; can repeat if placed right.