It was a fast run race and a well planned one too. Assertive Dancer allowed Affluter just about the freedom of space upfront until the final turn where the filly by Razeen out of Roccobarocco took command of the field. She looked like pulling off a sensational upset before her half-brother diplayed brilliant acceleration on the wide out. Prakash had nursed the favourite in fifth and taken to home-turn six-wide to steer his charge clear of all troubles.

Saladin, the second favourite at 5-1, had all the chances in the world to re-produce his brilliant morning track-work. Placed in sixth till the turn apprentice Rutherford brought the John Stephens-trainee the shortest way home and the horse, also a Razeen progeny, came within the quarters of Assertive Dancer. Saladin’s story ended in the last 150 metres without a cause for celebration. The apprentice opined after the race that the horses needed little more racing experience.

Ancheta unleashed her brilliance despite the fact that a raw apprentice Gajender Singh had taken seat on the 8-10 hot-favourite. The Vijay Singh-trained filly, though assigned a topweight of of 60 kg, made full use of the apprentice’s allowance and the belief that Gajender only needed to ensure against his fall from the favourite turned out to totally unfounded. Riding a competent race, the apprentice went about his task of winning from the front leaving Jacb Abraham on the second favourite, Ballet Master, in a hopeless chase.

A switch to blinker changed the fate of Si Senora, a 8-1 shot in the 1,600-metre Supernova Cup. The Darius Byramji-trainee, in charge of Farley Rodrigues, in absentia, showed a clean pair of heels to her 10 rivals from the start to win by a degree of comfort. The fact that the last two outings of the Tejano-Divine Dreams daughter were so poor, a section of turfites found her victory a hard thing to digest without realising that the change of equipment had done the trick. An enquiry has been, nevertheless, opened into the improved performance of the horse. Aiberni, the 6-4 favourite, never appeared to be comfortable barring the first two furlongs of the mile race. The Bharath-ward was, however, seen putting in good work inside the last furlong to place a goog fifth. Always prominent behind the winner, Giorgio, a long shot, was a good second while Mr Bombshell covered good ground in the home-run to occupy the third slot. At My Command who was also in the betting and looked to be a serious trier, too, failed as the Daniel-ward burst blood vessels.

Midnight Escape was the other one who found blinkers to his advantage in the Veritas Handicap. In a race that saw leads changing quite frequently, Cristopher Alford brought the Protroe-Limo Lady mare the shortest way home to present Vijay Singh his double after the trainer had saddled Anechta to victory. It was jockey S. Shanker on Red Trident, a Richard Alford-ward, who must have rued the victory of 3-1 second favourite, most. Shanker was in charge of the running with winning-post well in sight before Midnight Escape walked in to make him the second best in the field. Prakash in his elements after the Million win, tried to make Simply Dashing, the 6-4 favourite, to win from the start but his efforts fell short around the distance-post.

Deepak Karki has always been a man in a hurry. The trainer from the Himalayan range picked up a quick double in the opening two events through Val Rouge and Revolution. While Val Rouge made every post of the Golden Can Handicap a winning one, Revolution, in the 1,400-metre Birthday Book Handicap, was ridden in a check to put pay aspirations of Ardon and Lively Project who tried to open Daniel’s account before the big event.

Lucifer, in the concluding event, the 1,400-metre Turf Hawk Handicap, had jet fitted on his tail. The Rodrigue-trainee establishing a runaway lead from the start and gave his maiden victory to apprentice Shane Domingo. Ridden in his customary manner Classic Pursuit finished the second best making the 8-10 Prakash favourite Alborada look as a mere passenger.