Top-weight Romantic Impact, hailing from trainer Arti Doctor’s yard, made the seven-furlong race for the Brown Wolf Cup a start-to-finish affair. Apprentice Babu Singh, who rode the winner, claimed an allowance of 4 kg and made it possible to register back-to-back wins. It was the apprentice’s tenth win and he will now be eligible for 3 kg allowance. The winner had incurred a penalty of 9 kg after his win last week but clever placement had helped him defy it.

Taking no chances, the apprentice took the bay to the helm of affairs and set a fairly good pace. Mid-way through the race, he stole a glance back to see how the favourite Mother’s Pride was fairing. She was in fact struggling to keep pace. After the bend, the front-runner kicked on merrily but was threatened (though not too seriously) by aged Samarkhand near the distance post. Mother’s Pride’s last run with Topkapi in Bangalore was very unimpressive and she probably needs a little more time and a little more ground.

The afternoon commenced with followers of money hitting the jackpot with Requite. The John Stephens-trained ward was apprentice Babu Singh’s first winner of the day. What was disappointing was the run of the top-weight All Diamonds after two good finishes. Her odds expanded phenomenally and she was happy to grace the rear on this occasion. Those in the know didn’t touch her.

Vijay Singh’s Mission Control has been showing early speed but failing to make ends meet. In the Sans Ame Handicap, she looked home and dry but despite the best efforts of jockey C. Alford, she folded up in the final 50 metres while Hadrian stretched out well under Prakash’s hard riding. Angel Wind was blown away while the disinterested Illuminati finished a good third.

Adriano was hard ridden by Christopher Alford to land the spoils in the Brighter Future Handicap. The rider’s determination fetched him the race as Spectacular Style looked like running away at the top of the straight. Spectacular Style has been missing out on a lot of races for want of able handling and shrewd placement. He finished his winter campaign winless but was closest to victory the day he was piloted by an apprentice. He is a natural front-runner and an able apprentice who can judge pace would be far more useful than a none-too-competent full jockey. The handicapper is bound to take note of his good second and give him a stiff penalty.

Heavily touted Kingdom Of Love has a pretty name but ran disinterestedly. Moreover, he had quite an impost on his back, what with a penalty of 2 kg for his earlier second, not to mention the 3 kg that apprentice Sameer had claimed on that occasion.

Recent import Raphael was fancied by those in the know to land the spoils in the Anzello Handicap. Apprentice Sk Zafar Riaz, however, had other ideas and notched up his maiden win atop rank outsider Flirting Eye. A win for the Javed Khan ward was overdue and he did it in style, getting the better of Kishore Kadam’s mount.

An ambitious gamble on King’s Desire fell apart as three-year-olds Secret Fire and Island Rhythm occupied the top two slots. The winner Secret Fire was ridden with full of confidence by Imran Chisty and trainer Bath needs to be complimented for turning her out in the best of condition despite a long lay-off. King’s Desire will be better off for this run and may bring home the bacon when placed in his own age group and a wad at the books to follow. Keep an eye on him and his connections.