Jockey Christopher Alford means business! After a luke warm winter campaign where he lost the championship mantle to Shailesh Shinde, Alford is going all out to regain his status as ‘Rider Numero Uno’ of this centre. After the tenth race day on Saturday, he is firmly entrenched in the leader’s berth with 18 wins to his credit already. He also completed his third treble on the trot.

The afternoon’s Class II race, The Amazing Handicap, saw Patrick Quinn-trained Voyager come good after a duel all the way down the straight with Smart Hunter. The win also ended a drought at this centre for jockey PS Chouhan who went flat out on his mount. Incidentally, it was Voyager’s fourth win on the trot, having completed a hat-trick here last winter. Razmaden took up the running at the top of the straight but was soon challenged by the two fancied runners simultaneously. It was touch and go till the wire, with Chouhan’s power riding ultimately prevailing.

As was expected, the pair of trainer Vijay Singh and jockey C.Alford completed a brace with the three-year-olds Alcander (Warrshan-Pas De L’argent) and Audrick (Razeen-Alvarita). They won their respective races by eight lengths and nine lengths respectively. Though Alcander was on-money, a section of punters fancied Pablo Neruda (Chouhan up) and they were hugely disappointed as the five-year-old was never inclined to raise a gallop after a slow get-off. Similarly, in Audrick’s race, the disappointment was the grey filly Snow White.

C.Alford completed his treble with Imtiaz Sait-schooled Ardent N Graceful who pegged back the likes of Bongani and much fancied Broken Arrow without too much trouble. Though some money came on What A Feeling and he closed a 5/2 joint favourite with Broken Arrow, he never looked to be in with a chance. The natural front-runner may have been done in by Head hunter’s tear away tactics. Bongani is definitely one for the notebook. He has already had three outings at this centre.

The running of the Reliable Cup saw a close contest between the favourite Alarbus and the over-raced Shivalik Shakti with the latter prevailing after being second-best thrice. The change of rider may have helped his cause. Apprentice Munna Alam rode a fairly decent race on Alarbus but came unstuck without a whip. The small made colt was shouldering 62 kg and it is anybody’s guess as to what the result might have been had C. Alford ridden him. 

The curtain went up with Accoast from Sabeel Shariff’s yard pulling off a fine win in the hands of Nelson Maseyk. Though the result did not come as a surprise to form-workers, the connections of the favourite Vaani were crying foul without cause. Accoast was far better placed than Eros and Vaani on the scale and Maseyk got the best out of his mount by riding a forward race.

The day ended with Shezad Khan riding a great finish astride Arti Doctor-trained Fire Angel to land the spoils after pegging back the runaway Isle Of Capri. The daughter of Firefoot showed some of the speed that her dam possessed. As trainer Daniel David had been suspended by the Stewards for a scuffle at the stables on Friday evening, his charge passport ran under the care of Bhungard. As of now, it is uncertain whether the experienced trainer’s suspension will be lifted before Tuesday.