Daniel David-trained Brief Encounter (Ikhtyar-Kia Ora) pegged back the top-weight Romantic Impact close home to bag the aptly named The Best Of All Handicap. Apprentice Mohit Singh on Brief Encounter claimed his full allowance of 2 kg, which meant that the top-weight was conceding a chunky 10 kg to his nearest rival. Nevertheless, the 8/1 shot came out of the gates like a scalded cat and played catch-me-if-you-can. The 10-to-7-on favourite was gradually improved by Mohit to be in striking range but drifted out under the stick to the outer rails. Despite this, the five-year-old property of Dr MAM Ramaswamy spared over a length to the front-runner. In retrospect, it would be fair to say that had the difference in handicap been around 7 kg, the top-weight may well have turned the tables. But then, that’s mere hypothetical speculation, purely for the academicians. For hardcore punters, it’s the result that counts.

David and Mohit registered their first triumph of the afternoon with Vacheron (Alnasr Alwasheek-Merry Lea), a recent winner. The extra furlong on this occasion suited the gelding who was once again placed in his own age group. Moreover, the penalty of 4.5 kg was effectively reduced by the presence of Mohit who could claim his 2-kg allowance. On the previous occasion, jockey I Khan rode the sprinter and won the 1,000 metres race close home. However, it was not all rosy for the apprentice as he was very nearly blocked by the Jaiswal pair of Blood Rayne and second favourite Flying Jaguar at the top of the straight. Mohit had to force a passage between the pair to engage the ‘Jaguar’ in a keen tussle all the way down the straight and prevail by a long neck.

Two relevant points come to mind after the race – firstly Hyderabad’s leading jockey PS Chouhan rode a very fair race on the Jaguar and maintained a straight course, though he had the opportunity to close the gap (which may have resulted is a fall behind him) and secondly, Mohit has improved in leaps and bounds this season as a rider. It is also a feather in the cap for jockey coach Nick Bird. One hopes that other apprentices will follow suit.

Despite a fairly rigorous penalty of 2.5 kg for his last good second to stablemate Apyrous, Tintoretto (Storm Trooper-Aglow) made mincemeat of the field for The Norwegian Wood Handicap. Running behind Saddle Chief till the distance, he made it a one-horse race thereafter. The favourite Asian Rocket ran like a dud. He was pushed from the half-way mark of the 2,000 metres race to finish a laborious runner-up, over eight lengths behind the winner.

The small field of four for The Allaying Handicap had more than its fair share of thrills. The odds itself were pretty surprising. Dante Rossetti and Work Force closed as joint favourites at 2/1 while Sexy Eyes (Major Impact-Saraceno) was available at 4/1. Possibly, the presence of Mumbai trainer Nana Raghunath at the racecourse may have influenced the odds of Dante Rossetti. Unfortunately for his backers, the horse planted and reduced the field to three. Imtiaz Sait-trained Sexy Eyes (with Arti Doctor deputizing) made the 1,800 metres race a start-to-finish affair. Work Force ran a good second but found it difficult to concede 6.5 kg to the winner. The racing public did not take too kindly to Rossetti’s plight as the rider Parmar was already under their scrutiny for his overconfident ride on Martinique last week. A kangaroo court was held by a few members of the ‘regulars’ and found Parmar (and possibly the Stewards) guilty. There was lot of hue and cry to annul the result but fortunately good sense prevailed on them a while later. Incidentally, Parmar has been suspended for the next four racedays for his poor handling of Martinique.

Robert Gowli finally opened his account for the season with Ebony Princess (Inner City-Wild Dreams) in the curtain-raiser. Available at 6/1, the mare was given a flawless ride by M Ali Khan. The surprise favourite in the race was Sea Change. The seven-furlong trip seemed to suit the mare after her earlier failures over shorter trips.

Fashionably bred Albarello (China Visit-Ammeter) from Vijay Singh’s yard made rough weather of The Altimara Handicap as Alicante refused to call it a day till the very end. Neeraj Rawal had to persevere with his mount all the way before the chestnut delivered the goods.

Swiss King (Diffident-Cyclonic) completed a hat-trick in the hands of apprentice Sameer as he won the lower division of The Sun Bird Handicap start-to-finish while the favourite Horse Raddish ran a pathetic race.

The curtain came down with Bharath Singh-trained Smokin Aces (Diffident-Credential) winning The Great Scot Handicap quite easily under Parmar. He must have heaved a sigh of relief after that win. Public choice Aletris finished last. The odd thing (pun intended) was that the odds of the winner expanded to 4/1 as some money came on Axiology who finished second.