Easily one of the best three-year olds in the country, Royal Liberator made a smashing return to the track, swamping the opposition in the 1400 metres Madras Race Club that featured Friday’s races. The son of Green Forest, Royal Liberator has been thus far unlucky in the classics, having missed out narrowly in the Gr 1 Colts Trials Stakes and the Gr 1 Kingfisher Derby, won his lead up race to the Indian 2000 Guineas in taking style, in the hands of boxer-turned-jockey Francis Norton from England. Royal Liberator has indeed made some progress considering the manner in which he quickened when asked for an effort.

Royal Liberator will surely be a frontline contender for the Indian 2000 Guineas though he will have a tough task on hand in getting the better of Wild Eagle. Jockey Pesi Shroff believes that Wild Eagle is unbeatable over a mile. ``It would be pretty unfortunate if Wild Eagle does not win the Indian 2000 Guineas,’’ he said while emphatically stating that he doesn’t visualize any colt or a filly proving better than Wild Eagle over a mile. ``The horse has matured a great deal,’’ he added. Royal Liberator’s forte is his ability to outstay the others as his dam Figure Libre is by the celebrated Northern Dancer.

Be that as it may, the presence of Noble Opinion, the winner of Gr 1 Poonawalla Million, made many believe that there could be a fight for supremacy. But Noble Opinion who was making a come back after a series of setbacks, was not up to the task of overcoming the mishaps which have affected his brilliant career. The initial pace of the race was furious, with Noble Opinion and Royal Liberator racing in the rear group but the pace took its toll on the front-runners as they slackened inside the final 300 metres. Royal Liberator shot through a gap in the centre and went away for a big win. Noble Opinion did well to finish second though he is a pale shadow of himself.

Star Splendour proved too good in the 1800 metres B T Kesava Iyengar Memorial Plate but the race was eventful. Airtel veered out violently at around the seven-furlong marker and headed straight towards the outer wall but luckily, Appu was able to prevent a collision as the horse stopped after slipping into the sand track. When Shroff applied pressure on Sacristia inside the final 300 metres, the filly wobbled and very nearly went on to Star Splendour who was making the run along the rails. Shroff quickly checked the horse and prevented his horse from bumping Star Splendour but for his presence of mind, there could have been bad mishap. Dream Supreme who took charge for a brief while failed to sustain as Star Splendour quickened nicely to win with a great deal of comfort. The Darius Byramji ward Sacristia is obviously suffering from some problem and the connections should look into it before running the filly again. Sacristia had wobbled in the Deccan Derby too and had trailed the field and the jockey on that occasion said that he was lucky to return without any injury to himself.

However, Shroff had no such problems on Caressing who beat a mediocre lot in the 1600 metres Dupont Plate. Caressing changed her legs repeatedly but despite which she left the field for dead at the top of the straight. Kyosoba was a long way second. Though Caressing’s win was impressive, considering the opposition she beat, nothing much can be read into this win.

Dominic trained Millennium Flame recorded an encore, with almost start to finish mission in the 1400 metres Poottaniah Memorial Plate. Favourite Indian Rocket essayed a challenge in the homestretch but the four-year old gelding failed to quicken and plodded on. Saturn Star came from behind to pip Indian Rocket for the runner-up spot. Srinath had little difficulty in steering Millennium Flame to win at nourishing odds. Renzino, who was given a light race, was fourth.

Darashah’s Shara who had run twice at Mysore without doing anything spectacular, proved too good in the Shimoga Cup, with a start to finish mission, going clear of the opposition at the top of the straight. Dream Coat who was prominently placed, failed to sustain the challenge. National Tiger was a suggestive third ahead of Special Request while Pretty Move was putting in good work at the finish.

Jockey Rajesh steered Afaza to victory in the day’s opener at fancy odds, with stable mate Dark Felt who was the favourite, not sighted. Solar Power took the runner-up spot ahead of Rusticana while Fingers Crossed flattered to deceive, weakening completely after moving into a striking position behind the eventual winner.