Jockey Christopher Alford rode a superb finish atop the on-money public choice Afforce in the race for the Elusive Pimpernel Cup at RCTC last Saturday. The fact that weights were raised by 7 kg failed to deter this big-hearted sprinter who moved with giant strides between the front-running pair of Cosmos and Best of the Blues after heads turned for home.

Just when Alford showed his mount daylight, a challenge came up from unexpected quarters in the form of Aleksei. The six-year-old was seen devouring ground while Alford was going hell for leather. After this hard-fought race, Aleksei returned bleeding. The Vijay Singh-trained winner notched up his fifth win of the season and looks good for more honours.

Shouldering a bonecrushing 62 kg, Robin Corner-trained Loughborough pulled off a difficult victory in the hands of D. Singh who rode a shrewd race — allowing the favourite Italian Affair to set the pace before putting this highly rated colt by Flitch out of Haynes Park into top gear opposite the grandstand. He has more honours in store for him.

Saturday turned out to be a good day for the followers of money as six first favourites obliged in a card of eight events. Barring the ‘rude’ interruptions provided by the wins of Loughborough and El Cid, it was an afternoon that punters are likely to cherish.

Though only three vied for the Grand Annual Handicap, it was a tough jig-saw to crack. In the end, it was the bottom-weighted Golden Chain which brought home the bacon for her well-known owner, Ameeta Mehra. Sired by China Visit out of Absintho (Razeen), she proved that a bred-in-the-blue thoroughbred can deliver the goods even if his or her mare hasn’t performed. The mile trip suited this mount of C.S. Jodha to the hilt. Despite being a little slow and the only non-winner in the field, the Aarti Doctor-trained runner made all the running before being briefly collared by Exclusivity. She came on again to win quite comfortably.

Doctor’s other hopeful, Apostrophe, running in the Aada Rossa Cup, lost position in the backstretch for no apparent reason. Jodha failed to do justice to his mount’s potential. This was all the more apparent after the fine encore provided by Sterling Magic, his erstwhile conqueror. The chestnut came on to finish a game second to Silver Fox who gave Christopher Alford an armchair ride. 

Talking of encores, the Jaiswal siblings once again combined to deliver the goods with the 12-year-old El Cid in the Capital Risk Cup. The aged gelding took the 4 kg penalty in his stride without much ado.