The remainder was to find quality support in the saddle for Agha and with Malcolm Kharadi around, the connections didn't have to make a difficult choice. The bay, incidentally, had been racing in Malcolm's experienced hands since the last Pune season. Malcolm rode Agha in copybook style during this foray.
Last-outing winner Morpheus embarked on his customary front-running mission and except for Agha none of the other contestants appeared cut out for winning the race. With Agha making gradual progress it was only a matter of time before he passed Morpheus. This happened in the home stretch when Morpheus started to shorten his strides and Agha was put in top gear by Malcolm. There was not much of a resistance from the grey and Agha strode away for a magnificent win.
Malcolm was in his elements on this day and had scored two victories in quick succession towards the start of the day. With the blood vessels of Desert Sunrise giving way in the straight, it appeared for a fleeting second that ante post favourite Premier Galaxy would perform contrary to the market expectations. But that was not to be as the Bharath Singh trainee, who was racing close on the haunches of Imtiaz Sait's candidate, was unable to raise a winning gallop. These developments provided a golden opportunity to Hanut Singh saddled Viceroy (Flitch - Vibrance) to make this visit to the racetrack a profitable one.
Coming close on the heels of Desert Sunrise's debacle, champion jockey C. Rajendra looked out of sorts atop Star Queen, who became another ante post favourite to bite dust. The market's fancy Hoofbeats (Diffident - Thunderous) from Arti Doctor's barns gave a speedy display in the hands of Malesh Narredu to notch his second career success. Star Queen ended a miserable fourth behind Astarte and Cosmic Flower.
Soon afterwards, Malcolm gave a confident ride to Hosidar Daji's Star O'War (Warrshan - Halos and Horns), who unleashed a terrific run down the straight to take the wind out of the sails of the favourite Pampered Princess, who failed in her start-to-finish mission. Golden Circle ran an uninterested third ahead of Star Girl, who retired after going in futile chase of the runner-up after the start.
Hosidar completed a profitable double when West Coast Eagle (Don't Forget Me - Rio Anna) cashed in on his handicap advantage over Clas and Noble Desire, the two prime favourites who weren't able to challenge the supremacy of the winner.
Earlier, Falaknuma (Concordial - Flyaway Bride) from S. S. Shah's yard ran true to form and claimed the Tosca Trophy under the guidance of T. S. Jodha. Queen's Special took the second slot from Tracy, who was rather reluctant to put her best foot forward.
Emerging Power (Alnasr Alwasheek - Rich Babe) shed his maiden status after Frenchman Samuel Fargeat spurred Rehanullah Khan's protégé to a convincing win over Nucleus and Strikealite.
It was surprising to see Narendra Lagad's ward Fire Dancer (Sizzling Melody - Danseuse) going out as a favourite without any current form to boast of. Yet, being a part of Lagad's string is in itself a big positive and the seven-year-old mare justified all the betting that came her way. Jockey S. N. Chavan propelled Fire Dancer into the lead when the gates opened and kept her going despite the smokescreen created by Against All Odds.
Hormuz Antia saddled filly Ancient Secrets proved to be the most expensive failure of the day when she ended up in the rut after taking a smart jump from the gates. Magansingh Jodha trained mare Maugisa (White Crown - Ming Delight) shocked High Voltage on the post. Magical Moon seemed to have saved his best for some other day and was easily the pick from among the beaten brigade.
The betting in the concluding race was confined largely to Suleman Pasha and Oprah and it didn't come as a surprise when these two were involved in a bitter duel towards the end of the seven-furlong race. Oprah (Glory of Dancer - Our Royal Highness), nursed by Imtiaz, produced a sparkling run in the last furlong to overhaul Suleman Pasha close home.
