The large gathering at the RCTC was agog with anticipation as the stage was set for the running of two of the finest Grade I races in the country – The Oasis Sprinters’ Cup and The Stayers’ Cup. Big names among jockeys, trainers and thoroughbreds always sets the adrenalin flowing for punters and especially local railbirds were all fired up as it has been a long wait for them after the last Invitation Cup weekend at this centre in the year 2007. Vijay Singh’s Aperitivo won the Stayers Cup that year while Ganpathy’s Haunting Memories did the honours among the sprinters. Neither of them had worthy runners this year but fairly healthy fields in both events ensured that visitors got their money’s worth in every which way possible as the day unfolded.

Jockey Jimmy Fortune and seven-year-old chestnut gelding Nefyn (11/4) produced an edge-of-the-seat finish in the Oasis Star Sprinters’ Cup as the pair edged out Bangalore challenger Speed Six by the proverbial whisker in the final stride. The Bezan Chenoy-trained ward by Senure out of Marchrihanish was slow off the blocks and looked hopelessly placed at the top of the turn where he was last but one of 14 runners. Fortune made up the lost ground along the rails without unduly hurrying his mount and took his chances despite the wall of horses in front of him.

River Star brought the field into the straight and was soon challenged by Speed Six, who took over the running near the distance post and looked a winner at that stage. Nefyn was two off the fence and trying to weave his way through the maze of horses. With less than a furlong to go, it was as if Fortune had commanded ‘open sesame’ as he found daylight ahead of him as the front-runners moved away from one another. That was enough signal for the brave seven-year-old property of Dilip Thomas and Mr and Mrs Shapoor Mistry to make a bee line for the winning post. The winning owners pocketed a healthy packet of Rs 24 lakh.

Kohinoor Wish, who was galloping with giant strides along the rails, maintained a straight course and ended up three-parts of a length behind the winner and runner-up. The disappointment in the race was the poor run of second favourite Bullseye who was well below par and well off the mark as she struggled for most part.

Jimmy’s good Fortune must have been working overtime on this afternoon as this was the second race he picked up by a ‘nose’ verdict. Earlier, a power-packed finish atop Amika had seen him overcome Iconic at the winning post in the race for the Two-In-One Cup.

Reputed stayer Native Knight (5/2) fetched a well-deserved triumph for the Lagad family in the Stayers’ Cup. It was Camorra and not Astapi who looked as if he might pull it off as he was running a pretty forward race over the gruelling 3000 metres trip. However, Dashrath Singh atop the Narendra Lagad-schooled seven-year-old timed his run to perfection to win quite comfortably at the wire. Astapi made a belated challenge to finish a none too impressive third. An overjoyed Mrs Lagad was overcome with emotion and said “Native Knight is a game galloper even at this age and like a son to me.” The son of Placerville out of Native Tactics was also cause for celebration at the Poonawalla Stud where he was bred. The prize money was at par with the Sprinters’ Cup.

Jockey Christopher Alford suffered a fall from Unleashed after passing the winning post and did not complete his engagements after that as he was advised to rest by the doctor. He is however expected to ride on the morrow.

The day commenced on a favourite note and it looked as if it might be a ‘Rewarding’ day for punters. The Daniel David-trained sprinter by Auction House out of Antithesis was judiciously handled by Sreekanth (who declared 2kg overweight) to collar the runaway Charlie Cool near the distance post and lift the upper division of the Japan trophy.

The lower division of the same race saw Manavendra Singh-trained Trrust In Me give an armchair ride to jockey Zervan. Second favourite Angel’s Quest was outpaced in the straight as the public choice made every post a winning one.

Bharath Singh-trained Silverina (China Visit-Silver Print) returned to winning ways with a thumping victory in the Bookamkers Association Cup. Jockey PS Chouhan rode a copybook race as she was well positioned behind pace-setter Aerator till the turning for home where she drew away from the field much to the relief of an elated owner Mr Joydeep Datta Gupta. It appears that the game filly and her sporting owner are all set to turn over a new leaf after the Oaks fiasco which resulted in her disqualification due to testing positive for a banned substance. But that’s the wonderful uncertainty of this glorious sport. It’s inevitably a roller-coaster ride for those involved, whether they be humans or thoroughbreds.

Patrick Quinn-schooled Voyager came out of the blue to win the CROS Cup in the hands of Martin Dwyer. This, despite the fact that this was his first outing at this centre and he had bled after a mock race. The other fancied runner Sergeant Major ran a good second and appeared to be done in by the crushing impost.

The Olympia Tech Park Million saw Arti Doctor-trained Shaktiroop (Noverre-Ridiyza) get the better of the course favourite Captain Courageous. The outstation challengers (Cristoffe and Sur La Tete), though fancied in some quarters, failed to make any impression on the runners from the Calcutta Million. Shaktiroop was a little better placed by the terms of the race than the ‘Captain’ and a clever piece of horsemanship by Kamlesh ensured that the property of the Nandas did not disappoint.

The curtain came down with Manvendra Singh’s Smart Hunter (Royal Kingdom-Sunspangled) defying the handicapper’s penalty of 4.5kg and completing a well-deserved hat-trick of wins in the hands of Trevor Patel.