Persian Lord (B.Prakash up), winner of Mrinal plate (Div II) being led in by trainer Janardhan along with owners

Texas King (B.Prakash up), winner of Mrinal plate (Div I) waiting to be led in by trainer SS Shah.

Green Paradise (B.Prakash up), winning the Bright Hanovar trophy from Immaculate.

Supreme Statesman (B.Prakash up), winner of the Thumbelina plate being led in by trainer Todywallah.

Rapallo (Bajrang Singh up), winner of the Greek Baron plate (Div II) being led in by trainer Zadmal S.

Regal Equity (R Marshall up), winning the Maharaja Sir Harisinghji trophy (grade 3) from Top Mover (C Rajendra).

Royal Secret (C Rajendra up), winning the Greek Baron plate (div II).

Count Dracula (Belose up), winning the Endurance plate from Suratha (S Rajesh).

Rigged for Revenge 
(S Rajesh up), winner of the Unforgettable plate waiting to be led in by trainer Jodha.

Often it is found that horses need much more than their ability or talent to win races. Apart from class, ability, and talent, ‘luck of the race’ also is an essential element. A case in point is that of Top Mover who fulfilled the first three requirements, but didn’t have the luck of the race in the Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy (Grade 3) run on Thursday.

Riding high on the crest wave of his big-race success, Ryan Marshall partnered the seven-year-old Regal Equity to claim the feature event. The theory of Regal Equity’s first run of any campaign being his best was to prove right. 

When the field of 19 entered the home stretch for the final run in and as the bunch no-hopers were gradually fading away, Regal Equity was brought into contention by Ryan followed by Niall McCullagh working his way up with Star Fortune. Jockey C. Rajendra had settled Top Mover in the mid-bunch and was looking for a clear run towards the inner rails, which Sonalika was hugging during the mile journey. Rajendra found the opportunity, or so he thought, he was waiting for when Sonalika offered Top Mover some room to make his bid. No sooner had the five-year-old bay slipped through the narrow gap, Sonalika came back in once again forcing Rajendra to check his mount. Not the one to be bogged down easily, Rajendra maneuvered his way through the wall of horses ahead of him and surged ahead to wrestle with Regal Equity and Star Fortune. In a pulsating finish to the race, Top Mover had the upper hand for a stride but lion-hearted Regal Equity put that extra puff in his last stride to extinguish the hopes of both Top Mover and Star Fortune. 

Back in action after a week’s layoff, jockey B. Prakash made a resounding comeback in the saddle in the early part of the day. The hardworking jockey won the first four races on the card on Thursday. After guiding Persian Lord and Texas King to their respective maiden victories that were overdue, Prakash pulled a fast one over his rivals through Green Paradise. But the best of Prakash was yet to come. 

Super Sword with C. Rajendra astride had stolen a march over his rivals in the Thumbelina Plate and was already being hailed as a winner. Prakash in true workman-like fashion, put his head down and sent debutant favourite Supreme Statesman in chase of Super Sword. The son of Parfait Amour devoured ground with each stride to frustrate the long-time leader near the post. 

Similar efforts from Bajrang Singh astride Rapallo saw the four-year-old gelding from Zadmal Singh’s yard rally well in the closing stages and collar favourite Adam’s Blessings. Many racing pundits were of the view that Rapallo is bred to stay and would find the six-furlong trip a trifle short to his liking. But the valiant effort of both Rapallo and Bajrang Singh proved them wrong.

Later, Royal Secret made full use of the handicap to trick both Natural Spark and Adam’s Touch, the two joint favourites in this race. Count Dracula and Rigged for Revenge were the two surprise winners towards the end of the day. Showing instant reversal of form, Count Dracula unleashed a powerful run to peg back Suratha nearer home. With no recent form to go by, Rigged for Revenge shocked many to win in the mediocre set up. Though there was no support visible for Rigged for Revenge in the Mahalaxmi betting ring, his connections are reported to have made a killing in the Pune ring where the horse was backed down to 10 to 1 after opening at 20 to 1. Another interesting aside of the day was that barring Green Paradise, Regal Equity and Count Dracula, all the other six winners in the card of nine races were tasting their first career success. 

Friday started off with both Inimitable and Gold Berg registering a hat-trick of wins. The 10 to 6 on favourite Inimitable literally trounced her opposition in the hands of Niall McCullagh in the Silver Haven Plate. Hormuz Antia sensibly entrusted Gold Berg to Pesi Shroff who did a ‘catch-me-if-you-can’ by hitting the front right from the word go and then rode in copybook style to thwart favourite Deep Blue. The runner-up did launch her bid about two furlongs from home but her blood vessels gave way and she finished so.

Afilado, the pace-maker in the 1000 Guineas, was back to handicap racing and got a moderate set of rivals to tackle. Making light of the heavy impost, Mark Gallagher and Afilado showed a clean pair of heels to their rivals. Champagne Gold was the only visible challenger in sight but the got-abroad filly lost all her chances by hanging out. 

Debutant Star of Attention, brought in-foal to Born To Dance and who is by Pursuit of Love, just scraped through for her maiden victory over Wild Wind, Tasmac and Star Power. Aslam Kader- ridden Wild Wind bled during the race. Both Tasmac and Star Power gave an impressive show and should not linger in maiden company for long. 

Perceived Value had a dress rehearsal for the Indian Oaks as she went on to win the Dawn Ramniwas Ramnarain Ruia Gold Cup in a field of five. The Proletarian was fancied on his show in the Hyderabad 2000 Guineas but the son of Conquering Hero never raised any hopes of living up to the expectations. Jockey Malesh Narredu astride The Proletarian tried hard to get Prabhuti off his back at the bend but still he never looked like staying the trip.

Millennium King and Rumaan both registered an encore in successive races. The former sailed away for another comfortable victory with runner-up Romanza settled far too off to pose any problems for the winner. Rumaan went wire to wire and won untroubled. Arabella, when alerted by B. Prakash, was observed hanging out in the straight and ended third. 

The week ended on a dramatic note as the stewards decided to "gift" the last race to Silver Blue following an objection lodged by jockey Bajrang Singh astride Stellar Angel against original winner Infamous ridden by Malesh Narredu. The latter when making his challenge cut across sharply and denied Stellar Angel a clear run. Stellar Angel, who had just found his rhythm, got sandwiched between Silver Blue and Infamous and in the process receiving a bad check.

Though there was enough substance Bajrang’s objection, experts are of the view that the Stipes should have ordered an enquiry if they wanted to take away the race from Infamous. One ex-committee member and steward shook his head in disbelief after the official announcement in favour of Silver Blue came. 

This decision looks ridiculous if one were to see it in the light of the outcome of the stewards enquiry initiated after jockey B. Prakash’s fall in the race won by Soviet Run on December 24. Malesh atop San Vitale had gone on to Furiously ridden by Prakash who had a providential escape and suffered only a minor injury. The stewards had found no reason to disturb the judges' order of placing then and allowed San Vitale keep the second place. This lack of consistency has been baffling. 

- Usman Rangila

Inimitable (McCullagh up), winning the Silver Haven plate.

Gold Berg (Pesi Shroff up), returning back to the unsaddling enclosure after winning the chatterbox plate.

Afilado (Gallagher up), winner of the Fortune Hunter plate waiting to be led in by trainer Imtiaz Sait.

Perceived Value (R Hughes up), winning the Dawn Ramnivas Ramnarain Ruia gold cup from Stone Ridge (B Prakash).

Millennium King (Gallagher up), returning to the unsaddling enclosure after winning the Sense of Humour plate.

Rumaan (C Rajendra up), winning the My Desire plate.

Infamous (M Narredu up) edging past Silver Blue to win the Flaming Star plate. However, Infamous was placed third after a successful objection by jockey Bajrang Singh against Malesh Narredu for causing him a severe check inside the final 100 metres. Stellar Angel got the runner-up berth.