Despite the soft going, several professionals had a good day at office and pulled off well-backed coups.

In the main event, The Desiree Handicap, Arti Doctor-trained Silken Dancer was backed down from 7/2 to 2/1, while the odds on the ante-post favourite Admiral expanded to 13/10 from 10-to-7-on. Though she has been known to bleed in the past, on this occasion the wet weather may have helped the daughter of Silken Magic out of Glorious Dancer and she recorded her second successive triumph impressively. Shailesh Shinde followed the favourite till the distance post before urging his mount to collar the front-runner. The rest of the runners were a disinterested lot. It was a two-horse affair despite there being a dozen in the fray.

Shinde’s first winner of the day was astride another Arti Doctor ward – Welcome Smile (China Visit-Stream Of Love). Though the colt was fancied on the opening day, he was fractious at the gates and had to be withdrawn. Subsequently, he was given a mock race and gate-practice and hey presto – it worked wonders. The stable used Victory Vibes to spoil the rhythm of Alexander who was running upfront. Thereafter, it was left to Shinde to egg on his mount who responded well.

Shinde completed his hat-trick with Shafiq Khan-trained Sumangala (Duja-Trillennium), who too defied her penalty and recorded her second successive triumph. The favourite Sabbath was taken to the helm of affairs by Christopher Alford but she folded up when challenged by Sumangala. The surprise package was the runner-up Bravo Italiano who was in no mood to relent the pressure on the eventual winner. In this race, the stable fancied the chances of Black Falcon but unfortunately his saddle slipped and he ended up dead last.

The afternoon commenced with Vikash Jaiswal-trained seven-year-old Earl Of Warwick (Woodman-Teodolinda) making every post of the 1,800 metres race for the Pompano Handicap a winning one. The best of the rest was Xena while Fit For Fray was withdrawn and Incantation dropped the rider at the start.

Vikash completed his double with Adamaris (Alnasr Alwasheek-Days Of Glory). This six-year-old gelding benefited from a mock race after finishing in the ruck twice. Once he took a level jump, there was simply no stopping this once highly rated horse. That the apprentice Md Sameer made a hash of the race and yet won is proof of it. He drifted out across the path of Secret Whispers who had to change course. Then, the front-runner drifted in again. He survived the inevitable objection. Auckley ran a very poor race and looked disinterested.

Bath-trained Accessor (Chevalier-Dellua) won the Verge Handicap in great style. Flirting Eye ran a forward race but had nothing extra when the heat was on. The same applies for Saddle Chief. As for Perseverance, the less said about her the better. Apprentice Shezad Khan on the eventual winner was lying fourth of six till the straight but shot ahead of the field in the straight.

Christopher Alford’s sole winner of the day was astride Vijay Singh-trained Tattoo (Sizzling Melody – Battle Launch). The three-year-old grey gelding hung out alarmingly and yet pulled it off. He was available at 7/2. While one fancied runner Peppermint ran an impressive race, the other backed horse Arisen Star never showed any sparkle at all.