Much was expected from Prakash Bhonsle, not as mispelled earlier in these columns, from his mounts Star Cavalier, in the Little Lady Cup, and Amusing in the day’s feature, the Hyderbad Race Club Cup but the two short-priced horses had nothing pleasant to offer to their backers. While the jockey tried his hardest on Star Cavalier, his other ward, Amusing was simply a mis-match for the field as the six-year-old seemed badly in need of a race run.

Prakash’s plight turned out to be Cristopher Alford’s delight. The local champion not only went on to bag the two trophies on offer, he also added two more to his kitty of winners. Picking up the Little Lady Cup did not demand a clever strategy to be drawn in spite of the poor track record of his ride, Calorescence, during her southern campaign. The Metal Precieux-Pot of Gold daughter was ridden in her natural style and was held in mid-bunch until the final turn. Sent was into the lead 300 metres from home, and the Vijay Singh-trainee went on to establish a comfortable lead that became beyond the reach for the half-money favourite, Star Cavalier. 

The victory of Calorescence may make the fillies’ classic contest, on November 25, further interesting if she is makes the line-up. 

Full marks to Vijay for tuning up Annatto in winning condition in the feature event. The fact that the Steinbeck-Camineto gelding was returning to the track nearly after an year, the victory of the five-year-old was a great effort put in by the horse and his jockey Cristopher even though the he failed to stop his charge from going seven-wide at the turn before bringing him with long strides to snatch the verdict from Beneficent and the stablemate, Alyssum, virtually at the wire. Like Calorescence, Annatto too, was freely available at 9-2 in the betting. 

Amusing, though up with the field in the first-half of the 1,200-metre sprint, was a tiring horse as the 6-10 hot-favourite found the pace cut by stablemate, Beneficent, to be very hot. Alyssum ran true to his monsoon season form but without luck when he was pushed to the third slot by ‘necks.’ Nevertheless, Annatto is the horse to watch in the coming weeks as he is expected to land a couple of more events.

Cristopher’s apetite for the quadruple had begun with the day’s opener, the Tug of War Handicap over 1,600 metres. Riding a 4-10 hot-fancy, Cristopher was nearly caught napping as stable pace-setter, Ascoril, decided to put her best foot forward in front and refused to budge from the front spot while the favourite was taking all the beltings. It was finally the last stride that brought a sigh of relief to the backers of the Green Forest-Amber Kris three-year-old from Vijay’s yard. Much was expected from Calculate, another of Vijay’s trainee but the Seriou Spender-Alouette son never galloped to his known ability at any stage of the 1,400 metre race.

Actuate, in the concluding event, the Blue-Light Handicap, was yet another one from Vijay’s yard who presented the local champion with last of his four wins and this too at expanding odds, thanks to smart money coming on the T. N. Jaiswal-trained Abandoned. In fact, the victory of Elusive Pimpernel-Another Ratham filly was sighted long way from home as she was seen travelling a double handful, despite her topweight of 60-kg, while the rest in the field were off their bridles. She won by a shade over eight lengths from the early pace-setter Tsaynen Blue who just about edged out Abandoned from the second slot.

Cristopher too had faltered in the Tom Pip Handciap when astride Abridge, also a 35-100 hot-favourite. The Cristofori-Guest For the Night three-year-old filly, though sent into the lead at the top of the straight, failed to kick on with 61-kg on her back when a neglected in the betting Queen’s Logic came abreast and went past without any trouble. Prakash’s efforts on the second favourite, April Ace, failed to bear fruit because the Broto-Safe Haven filly looked to be over done during the paddock parade.

Moon Mission, in the race for first timers, demontrated her speed right after the start as she settled up front and went on increasing her lead with every passing furlong. The speedy daughter of Always A Rainbow-Moccasin won by a distance for Prakash to carry home some memories.