Red Dragon (Major Impact – Zillion Figlia) from the yard of Dallas Todywalla created a flutter in the Johnny Walker Gold Label General Rajendrasinhji Million. Taking on a tough bunch, Red Dragon shot into the lead soon on start and made every post a winning one. Sea Star who chased the leader found the distance and the pace too hot to handle and was huffing and puffing even before the turn. Red Dragon settled into a comfortable pace and led them all the way. Coming into the straight, P Kamlesh alerted the gelding who responded well and marched on ahead. Scholar, who was stalking the winner all the way, tried hard to catch up but in vain. If anyone got closer to Red Dragon, it was First Empire. The Karthik trainee improved position and was third at the turn. However, he too found it difficult to match strides and had to be content with the runner-up berth. Red Dragon was too good on the day and won well.

Slickkit (Senure – Baloustar), from the yard of trainer Altamash Ahmed, was confidently ridden by I Shaikh and practically came from behind in a tightly packed race. The entire field was closely huddled and Slickkit was at the tail end for the major part of the race. Bella, Swept Away, Blazing Speed and Duke of Windsor were in front, followed closely by River Star, Feona and Algorithms. Slickkit was on the outside and took the turn widest of all. Swept Away brought the field homeward but soon Feona came up to pass them all. Slickkit found her rhythm near the distance post and came swooping down on the front-runners to easily pass Feona close home.

Altamash completed a lucrative double saddling the winner in the last race of the day. Rodrigo (Sinndar – Dance In The Stars) joined and passed Eternal Flight early after the start, and the pair led the rest by over 7 lengths. Rattle lost about three lengths at the start. Knight of Windsor, Gerrad, Captains Zone and Itspiritofracing formed the mid-bunch while Sir Taj, Forest Native, Rattle were in the rear. Rodrigo came in home first with a handy lead. Knight of Windsor tried to put up a fight and was consistently asking questions. Itspiritofracing threw in his challenge from the rails and both were keeping the pressure on Rodrigo who was focused to the task. Young Apprentice DS Rathore went about his job and managed to stave off the challengers to win narrowly.

Jockey DS Rathore is riding with confidence of late and he is doing well for himself. Earlier in the day, he partnered Check Her Out to a start to finish victory. Hitting the front soon on start, Check Her Out (Bee’s Prospector – Dancing Dreams) galloped comfortably at a brisk pace challenging the rest to catch up. Crème De La Crème, Hidden Danger, Crack of Dawn and Paris Hilton were close behind. Highland Vision was slow at the start. Centerofattention received a bad check and fell out of contention near the 800-metre mark. Cloud Cover raced nearer the tail end and took the turn wide. He was wayward in the straight as well and still managed to finish strongly to pip Crème De La Crème for the runner up slot. Check Her Out, however, finished on well to steer clear of the others and win handsomely, giving the consistent Faisal Abbas a back to back double.

Wahy (Alnasr Alwasheek - Armetta) was the first winner for the day for Faisal Abbas. The favourite, however, saw a huge drift in the odds and went up to 2 1/4 after being offered at on money at ante post. Prince Lochinva led the bunch with Kingdom of Love and Classic Star, Wahy settled further behind alongside Beau Monde. Athena had just Silent Presence behind.

Prince Lochinva was well ahead in the straight, Kingdom of Love was weakening and so too was Classic Star. Beau Monde moved on the outside when Wahy seized the narrow gap between horses and shot through. At the distance post, Prince Lochinva still had a handy lead but Wahy quickened well and got past Prince Lochinva close home.

Trainer Rehanullah Khan too had a good double with both Fiamma and Sophie obliging in their respective races. Fiamma took on Mysterious Heights while Sophie was the first favourite in her race.

Fiamma readily went into the lead and looked good all the way. Mythical, Romp Home, Mysterious Heights and Ballad of Glory were close behind. Dancing Queen lost a lot of ground at the start. Fiamma (Glory of Dancer – Warning Shadows) brought the field home and soon Mysterious Heights began to make a fight of it. Midway up the straight, Mysterious Heights started to feel his legs while Fiamma kicked on comfortably. There was no other threat around and Fiamma won without raising a sweat. Mysterious Heights laboured his way to the runner up slot. Mythical stayed in third and Prince of Troy completed the frame.

Sophie (Pennine Ridge – Ganadora) showed she was battle ready and looked seasoned for her campaign in Pune. She quickly got into the groove leading from the word go and did not let Adams Law raise any hopes at all. She settled into a smooth gallop and led the field homeward. Courage Under Fire lost ground at the start and never recovered. Into the straight, only Adams Law was close behind Sophie, and he did try hard to make a race of it. Sophie kept on going and stuffed the challenge out of Adams Law, stretching further away in the final 50 metres. Real Dream was third all the way but never into serious contention.

Black Partridge (Case Law – Print Press) came good when expected and won with a fair measure of comfort. Staying with the leader Dancing Money early on, Black Partridge took charge early in the straight and then accelerated well to stay clear of the chasers. Dangerous Belle broke a blood vessel and just managed to figure in the frame. Cresendo ran a good second and seems to be getting ready. Persian Power ran on from behind to earn the place money.

Whispering Willows (Ontario – Wind In the Willows) got off to a quick start and led the field soon on getting out of the gates. Aesthetics settled quickly into the second and chased the leader not too far away. Illuminate was pushed to keep in touch with the front runners and settled well from there on. At the turn, Whispering Willows got into top gear and Aesthetics just could not close the gap. Illuminate lit up in the final stages and covered ground in the last 50 metres to reduce the margin of victory to under a length. Though this was a good effort from the runner-up, Whispering Willows was not fully extended and returned a comfortable winner.