It was a fairly good afternoon for punters as four favourites obliged in a card of seven events. More importantly, three of these public choices were more than even-money and hence at playable odds. Christopher Alford did not let down his followers as his back-to-back double with the Darius Byramji pair of Secret Visit and Mad About You brought smiles to the faces of many present at the racecourse. But it was ultimately Shezad Khan who stole the thunder with a high-priced brace that saw Queen Vic and Washington Irvine whiz past the winning post.

The running of the Amorina Trophy over 1,800 metres was the feature event of the afternoon. Though the race had an open look about it, it was the top-weight Unleashed from Darius’ yard which attracted the bulk of the support. The colt, who is a recent import from the south, was backed down to on-money. Washington Irvine was looking a picture in the paddock but available at 8/1 along with Rising Hero.

Mission Chief and Sangoma cut a good pace with the favourite lying third, at par with Rising Hero. The ultimate winner was in the second last slot, ahead of the pathetic Swahili. It was only after the half-way mark that Vijay Singh-trained Washington Irvine (Razeen-Magic Fountain) was urged to improve his position and the five-year-old responded brilliantly to the call of Shezad Khan who had completed 30 winners one race earlier on Queen Vic. Washington Irvine took the bend three wide but shot ahead of Rising Hero and Unleashed and showed a clean pair of heels to them thereafter. Rising Hero ran on to occupy the runner-up berth. This top-weight run of Unleashed will bring him on. Quite a few of these outstation runners need an airing before they can show their mettle. Furthermore, he was conceding weight all round.

The Kingcraft Handicap was a ‘weird’ race to say the least. Due to delayed declarations, quite a few tipsters and correspondents had fixed their sights on the classy Must Be Magic come what may. When the jockeys were declared, apprentice Ujgare was rather ‘surprisingly’ found to be astride this potential winner. It seems that as Daniel David’s apprentice Arman Khan is under suspension, he did not have much of an option. The fact that an apprentice has been declared was not the surprise – but give us a break – Ujgare can barely hold his seat on a horse and yet to ride his first winner. I don’t think he has even ridden a runner-up yet. Last monsoon, he finished third in a race. Needless to say that Must Be Magic finished in the ruck. Queen Vic (Mr Mellon-Assex) put paid to the pretensions of the favourite Stormette as Shezad turned on the heat in the straight. This 5/1 shot compensated the connections well as their earlier somewhat rash and optimistic gamble on Black Falcon had come unstuck for the second consecutive time.

It seems that the red-and-gold colours of Mr Deepak Khaitan will be making a fairly aggressive assault on the Fillies Trial Stakes in early September. They already have top-weight winner Secrecy in their folds. On Wednesday, Secret Visit (China Visit-Secret Garden) staked her claim for this prestigious event with a fluent victory in the Picture Perfect Handicap. She took up the running after the half-way mark and never looked back though Flightning finished a fairly impressive runner-up. The disappointments were Stormica and Artemisia.

Talking about the Fillies Trial candidates, one can never under-estimate the worth of Mad About You (China Visit-Ithica). The start of the Sprightly Handicap was delayed as Ardent N Graceful bolted and was subsequently withdrawn. The runners had to be re-stalled after a break. This unusual happening failed to deter this classy filly who was expertly handled with great care and understanding by Alford – gradually improving her position from the mid-division. But when showed daylight by the rider, the spring in her step had to be seen to be believed. She definitely has it in her to win more races at this centre. She is not a Khaitan property and is unlikely to have Alford’s services in the classics.

Incidentally, C. Alford has been suspended for one race-day (August 30) as a result of careless riding on Sabbath on August 9.

The afternoon commenced with a huge gamble on Shafiq Khan-trained Beethoven (Epicentre-Corn Fleur) coming good. The chestnut was handled flawlessly by top-weight rider Imran Khan who gradually improved his mount’s position to hit the front in the straight and then peg back a determined mission by Zervan on Promised Glory. The rest of the field were outclassed by this pair.

Dasrath Singh was appointed by the Arti Doctor stable to ride Torrential in the Winfree Handicap. His start-to-finish effort came to nought as both Vence and Daniel David-trained Vacheron (Alnasr Alwasheek- Merry Lea) issued their challenge on the outside. Despite drifting out, jockey I. Khan managed to pull this one off for his connections. The favourite Black Falcon returned bleeding.

Daniel David completed his double with Mumtaz (Juniper-Gorgeous Princess) in the afternoon’s final event. She gave a fairly easy ride to apprentice Mohit Singh who took the shortest route home. Unfortunately, barring Arbroath, the rest of the field were cold as a cucumber. Recent arrival Silver Sands needed the outing.