Punters continue to take beating
By Aalibaba

One had to be at the RCTC race ground to believe as to what went on in the name of Horses racing on Thursday. The monsoon season is in its third week but manipulators has been continuing calling the shots. As a result of this favourites were found to be out for joy rides and nobody among the official circles appeared to have a clue about it. Punters murmured and some of them cried hoarse but their voices fell to the deaf ears. Things looked grossly out of order post the Vineet Verma's, ex CEO and secretary RCTC time. 

Verma, it may be recalled had resigned last month seeking a change. Boman Parakh, ex-finance controller, now the secretary of the club could not throw any light on the going ons. But, he was hopeful that racing will improve in the coming weeks without realising all sorts of things happenings at his back. 

Nevertheless, the day's trend was set by the Farley Rodrigues-trained Giorgio who was backed in the bookmakers ring to the exclusion of his rivals after a word went around that none among the four in the opposition were in the game. The eight-year-old settled behind the leader Alminstar who, during the paddock parade looked grossly unfit, thus had nothing to loose shooting upfront. Giorgio took over and held on to the lead from a fast finishing Rheinheart who had attracted some money in the place bets. A 7-1 chance Seeker, despite his top weight of 60-kg, won the Flower Dust Handicap from the start as he was the only earnest trier in the field of seven. Much was expected from Amber Song, the half-money favourite, but the she carried loads of money into the drain. Amyn Merchant partnering the Daniel David-trainee preferred to gallop in the wrong end of the field, and detached last, too. The willy rider made some effort in the stretch run when stable-mate Direct Access looked to be in trouble, making it apparent that the stable had put its faith behind the Amarpreet Singh-ridden horse. 

Giorgio (Surjeet Singh up) winner of The Record Reign Handicap

The stable's intention also became clear when Merchant on the half-money favourite, speedster Moon Mission, was seen adapting waiting tactics behind On The Bit and El Cid among others. Ballet Master, who had also attracted quite support in the 'ring' wnet to the start as a clear 5-2 second favourite. The game looked to be clicking as Ballet Master sprinted into the lead from the start and entered the final stretch two lengths clear of the field. Moreover, with Moon Mission delivering a nasty bump to a quietly fancied On The Bit, the story making rounds in the racecourse that Ballet Master was the stable-fancy, also fitted into the scheme of things. However, all designs failed once jockey S. Tamang managed to recover from the initial blow. Galloping on the wide out, and also going further wide at the home turn, On The Bit returned triumphant to the delight of John Stephens' stable. The do or die effort from El Cid, another of Daniel-ward, and Moon Mission, when On The Bit's effort looked threatening, only helped them to occupy the minor slots while Ballet Master finished fourth. 

On The Bit (S Tamang up) winner of The La Gitana Cup

Cashing on his winter form Regal Rocket if delivered the hardest blow to the punters, in the Zelda Cup over 1,400 metres, the T. Jaiswal-trainee also helped son, apprentice Vinay, notch up maiden win of his riding career. The Regal rocketted into a long lead, and though he had stable-mate Common spirit for company, it was easy going for the eight-year-old once into the home stretch. Coming with a late surge in the last 300 metres, Daniel's Secret Force managed to displace the fancied duo of Bay Dragon and Rescue Act from the paying slots. The 1,100-metre sprint and a heavy round of shower before the start of the race failed to deter Suryothai from matching stride for stride with the speedsters like Sariano and the 7-10 Daniel-favourite Bright and Clear in the Bright Law Handicap. In the final 300 metres, the Rodrigues-trainee always looked to be traveling the best of the three and it hardly came as a surprise when the four-year-old filly won with a degree of comfort to hand their second win of the day to the trainer and retained jockey Surjeet Singh. 

Disgusted with the stable' tactics, punters over looked the Daniel-trainee Land Of Glory in the concluding event, the 1,00m Satellite Handicap. But the Mischievous Music-Rustle Of Spring had other ideas. Leave alone her expanding odds – from 6-4 to 5-2 – the chestnut filly led comfortably and won after allowing Castle Moon and Tequila Shot to call the shots till a furlong from home.