The sparingly raced Flying Scotsman recorded a smashing win in the Dariya Daulat Trophy which featured Friday’s races, notwithstanding a bad stumble at around the 700 metre marker. The victory of Flying Scotsman once again confirmed the raising status of his stallion Conquering Hero (Storm Bird) whose progeny have been winning races with remarkable success of late. Jockey Imran Khan, who is enjoying a good season, rode out the favourite to victory, showing admirable courage, although his heart may well have skipped a beat or two at the prospect of a fall in a crowded field. Flying Scotsman is in such rousing form that a repeat win is on cards.

Flying Scotsman’s credentials to run as a favourite in a competitive field was based on his noteworthy second to Hope And Faith on two occasions. The latter is a well-performed filly and has proved her mettle in tougher company. Desert Gold who seemed to have lost her form totally, sprang a surprise last time out when recording an upset win, did the front-running job as the starter dispatched the field for the seven furlong trip. Prithviraj on Desert Gold tried to slow down the pace to preserve the filly for the closing stages of the race but the tactics didn’t help as the daughter of Classic Sport ran out of reserves close home to miss a berth on the board narrowly. At around the 700 metres marker, Flying Scotsman clipped the heels of Augill Castle and the horse stumbled badly but jockey Imran Khan managed to stay in the saddle when more often than not, the jockeys would have taken a tumble. Flying Scotsman recovered quickly and covered the leeway on the front-runners in a trice and went away for a brilliant win. Augill Castle who did not have the luck of the race was a late-finishing second ahead of Axe who showed some change of form after being ridden upfront. Concur who came in for some spirited support, made no show.

The drifting odds on Tal were perhaps suggestive of the fact that something was amiss. Samar Singh’s Crystal Ocean came in for spirited betting and the Sizzling Melody progeny showed plenty of speed when dictating the pace from the word `go’ and then comfortably staving off the challenge of her lone pursuer Guernica. Tal ran so poorly that a staying horse like Splendid Tally could snatch the third spot.

Trainer M P Mahaesh’s Risk Me Now recorded the fourth of her career in the hands of apprentice Rajesh Singh. Rajesh Singh rode a neat race on the winner, keeping the Broto filly in the third or fourth slot and then taking over the running inside the final 300 metres. Risk Me Now stretched away to win with a measure of comfort from Southern Host who picked up momentum when the race had been well sewn up by the favourite.

Puttanna’s Telegram recorded an encore. The son of Ajaad came through a difficult passage and then stretched away to record a facile win over a late-finishing Golden Estate who found the sprint too sharp for comfort. Alisa showed out prominently inside the final furlong but failed to quicken and was left flat-footed by the eventual winner. Telegram seems to be a late bloomer and could be trusted to go further in the handicap scale.

Prevalence who had been a given a light ride last time out, had it easy in the Virajpet Stakes, a race for first season runners. Milan took the second spot ahead of Serious Endeavour. In a battle between two stable mates, Xorra edged out Tassha to win at nourishing odds. Jockey Abhay Singh incurred the wrath of the Stewards for being soft on Tassha and was slapped with a suspension. Puttanna’s Nesara, with Ebrahim in the saddle, was backed as if his defeat was out of question, based more on hype and nothing else. The favourite flopped badly, first done in by a poor start due to crowding soon after jump out and then did not have enough gas thereafter. Sirajuddin’s Oscar who has been a model of consistency, recorded yet another win, getting the better of Forest Pegasus in the shadow of the winning post.