Tagged For Terror, the Daniel’s trainee in the day’s feature event, the 1,100-metre Akash Ganga Cup, virtually won from the start. Immaculate and Prime Contender, running in close attendance from the start, were virtually abreast of each other when the heat was on in the final furlong. It was at this stage that the favourite ran into trouble leaving the winner with a clear advantage in the hands of Chisty.
Daniel’s was a Cup double as Legendary Lover, an eight-year-old, fought on a gallant winning dual with Bharath’s youngster Allesio in the 1,400-metre Surya Kiran Cup. Allowing Flying Scot to dictate terms till top of the straight, the 5-1 fancy took over the lead to frustrate efforts of the 5-4 favourite who was seen galloping in mid-division till he issued his challenge. Magic Feather, another of Daniel’s charge, who attracted a strong support at ‘two’, cried off from the fray before the final turn, though the four-year-old was up with leaders till then.
Bharath’s Blue Chip scored a fighting victory -- over Hello Brother, Rheinheart and Queen Of The Nile -- in the Mirage Handicap while the stable’s even-money fancy was never in the thick of the things over the 1,800-metre trip. While Blue Chip improved with each stride, from the mid-way, to be in the contention 300-metres home, Shining Jewel was seen going backwards, in the hands of C. Alford, from a similar position as the race progressed.
It was anybody’s race in the last 150 metres when Hello Brother was at the helm of affair with Queen Of The Nile and Blue Chip and Rheinheart unleashing smart acceleration.
Chisty had started on a winning note in the day’s opener, the 1,100-metre Vajra Handicap when he guided the Errol Bhungard-trainee Schumacher to a comfortable and well-judged victory. In chase of speedsters like Moira, Boldwin and Jaannisar, Chisty had the 5-4 favourite settled in fourth and made his winning run in the last 250 metres.
Alford was in the winners’ enclosure too. In the 1,200-metre Baison Handicap for three-year-olds, he helped the 5-4 favourite Arapahoe to score in a runaway manner. The top-weighted youngster did lose the forward position early in the race but never lost his heart as he improved nearing the home-turn and led to draw away from the field for a six-length impressive win. Empire Park was the best of the rest, and in the hands of jockey Brij Shaw he demonstrated his mettle while covering good ground on the wide out, though for a lost cause.
Daniel’s Mesopotamia was the other favourite to disappoint, though the even-money favourite took a level start but still found the winning post coming a bit too early in the 1,200-metre Trishul Handicap. Lacking early speed, the favourite did cover much ground in the final stretch but just to occupy the fourth slot behind Javed’s Mayan Hiss, Flinders and Frontier Flame. The first and the last named horses were always in touch of the leader Tequila Shot who tired himself out before the home turn.
Velocette landed a good gamble for trainer Farley Rodrigues in the concluding event, the Gajraj Handicap over 1,100 metres. However, speedster Castle Moon nearly foiled efforts of the
Tecorno- Whistling Melody filly with runaway tactics. Chisty had a clear five-length advantage in the last 400 metres but the leader came to a near halt in the final 100 metres for the 7-4 public-choice to catch up with her and score by three parts of a length. Rest of the field was far behind.
