An entertaining afternoon of racing saw six of seven pubic choices bite the dust, which is not to say that form was cast aside. In fact, quite the opposite. Apprentice Azharuddin’s double was very much astride season winners and in-form runners (Afrah and Calypso Girl). It’s good to see trainer Daniel David utilise this promising lad to the hilt and hike up the stable’s winning tally. Another in-form winner at higher odds was Bucharest who finished a creditable runner-up last time out and was aided by the drop in weight in the higher category. That too, the middle-weight apprentice could claim only 2 kg of his 4kg allowance.

The Governor’s Cup saw top-weight Arktouros installed as the firm favourite as expected but alas, he was out on handicap to both Berlusconi and Silverina. The reason he could edge out Silverina for the runner up berth was because the latter had a tardy start and then brushed up to hit the front a little early (well before the turning for home). The mile race was run more or less on expected lines with Aerator hitting the front as the gates opened. Near the 600 marker, Silverina took over the running while the 3/1 second favourite Berlusconi was travelling four wide right through with Imran Chisty astride. Chisty turned on the heat after the bend and the seven-year-old from Richard Alford’s yard accelerated well to collar Silverina near the distance post. As I have mentioned earlier, revised handicaps play a key role in the latter half of the season and punters have to be proficient in it if they want to spot a likely winner (or even more likely loser, which in this case was Arktouros).

The supporting event, The Supreme Princess Cup, saw top-weight Calypso Girl use her forward form to good effect and outclass her rivals with a little help from the saddle. In fact the challenge in the final furlong came from rather unexpected quarters, in the form of Tough One, who is known to spring a surprise when least expected. The 3/1 favourite Burst Of Stardust had all the chances but lost out to a superior sprinter. Known to be a bleeder, fancied by some Akilina did just that.

Apprentice Azharuddin’s first winner was astride Afrah who thus notched up her second consecutive win. David has done a good job with her and she is now a well tuned filly. She was better at weights than Drop The Pressure from their earlier clash and she proved it by reversing the verdict with a little help from the able apprentice. The disappointment in the race was the half-money public choice Iron Lady who was being pushed right through. She doesn’t seem to be a miler. After all, her dam Modesty Blaise was an out and out sprinter and so was nearly all her progeny.

The second race of the day, The Succeeding Star Handicap, saw the friendless Jassi’s Star (earlier known as Sledgehammer) put his best foot forward over a mile after several sprints. The gelding had burst his blood vessel once during that period but the cool, breezy afternoon clime must have helped his cause. Following runaway Lovely Magic till the straight, Jassi’s Star with Mohit Singh astride pulled clear in the home stretch. Smokey Baba, with an apprentice astride, was a fairly impressive second from way back.

The Maidens race, The Silver Print Plate, saw Santos installed as the firm on-money public choice but his start-to-finish effort came to nought as Vijay Singh-trained Fly Like The Wind came with a devastating run in the straight to leave the field standing. The son of Win Legend out of Ice Point won by a distance and was reminiscent of Snowdrift’s maiden win. F-L-T-W too has more races in store for him.

Arti Doctor’s Multimagic provided some respite for punters as this crack sprinter lived up to his reputation and pocketed the Adelina Handicap effortlessly at fairly playable odds of 10-to-8-on, thanks to the presence of Audrick, yet another known bleeder who was running after a long interval. Those who opted for Audrick (9/4) were virtually committing hara-kiri. Not surprisingly, Fire Falcon finished runner-up while the second favourite ended up way down the field.

The curtain came down on a happy note for trainer Javed Khan and his apprentice Jorawar Singh as bottom-weighted Bucharest landed the spoils with a degree of comfort. He collared the favourite Assassin without too much trouble after the latter had tried to steal a march at the top of the straight. Silver Silver continued to earn his corn bill by finishing runner-up.