The eight-event card on Saturday saw a fairly happy mixture of favourites and long shots, with the shortest-priced fancied runner of the afternoon (Multimagic) winning a classic three-way blanket finish by the proverbial whisker. The Arti Doctor-trained gelding by Multidimensional out of Magical Romance / Usha Stud was the first out of the gates and jockey Kamlesh used his inside draw to hug the rails. In contrast, Adabella lost about three lengths at the start and took the turn four wide to get a clear run.

Multimagic appeared to be bowling along merrily till challenged by the aged Bullet from the turning for home. Pulling out all stops, Kamlesh managed to stay a fraction ahead with his mount all the way down the straight. While Assassin (very much a handicap horse) was outclassed by the front-running pair, it was Adabella who came with telling strides on the wide outside to join the other two in a rip-roaring finish. However, this being a ‘terms’ event, no credit can be given to the handicapper. Rather, what is interesting is the penalty that Adabella will be subjected to.

The Vagabond Plate for maidens saw the son of Arabian Rose show his penchant for distance in the very first middle-distance trip of his career. Errol Bhungard’s Desert Fox (Burden Of Proof-Arabian Rose/Kunigal Stud) was installed as the 5/2 favourite over this 1800 metres trip and moved up smoothly under apprentice Azharuddin’s firm handling from mid-division, to take up the running before the straight. He won by a street. Barocci and Never Apart ran on to occupy the minor placings, while none of the others were really in it.

Patrick Quinn-trained Monsieur Strauss (Mull Of Kintyre-Madamoiselle/Sohna Stud) made every post of the 1100 metres race for the Zip Off Handicap a winning one in the hands of B. Mahesh. Though Hurricane Star bridged the gap considerably in the straight, under John’s forceful handling, it was not sufficient to reverse the verdict. Anassa was another who was always in the vicinity of the leaders to finish third.

Both divisions of the Quincy Cup saw favourites fall. The upper division saw Meekathara backed to the exclusion of all others, but the Shafiq Khan-trained sprinter showed no inclination to take up the running at any stage of the race. The Vijay Singh-trained sprinter Altanza (Multidimensional-Alvarada/ Usha Stud)  swept past the field led by Bongani in a trice with apprentice Munna Alam ensuring a straight path. Meekathara eventually ended up runner-up.

Jalapeno Pepper, from champion trainer Vijay Singh’s yard was considered by quite a few aficionados of the game to be a ‘good thing’. But alas, it was not to be! She is known to be a bit of a slow starter and by the time Christopher Alford had coaxed a gallop out of her, it was a little too late. Words and Dancehall Days ( Carnival Dancer-Northern Angel) showed plenty of early speed before the latter drew away to give visiting jockey John his only win of the day. Local jockey Christopher Alford drew a blank during the day.

The afternoon started with the favourite Giocrat trying to make ends meet in the hands of western India apprentice Bhujbal but fell at the wire to Patrick Quinn’s Lovely Magic (New Famous-Peoria/Yervada Stud) . The finish was as tight as it gets with Quinn’s ward prevailing after a tussle in the straight.

Despite her 5kg penalty, Bharath Singh-schooled Land Of Love (Tariq-Eau De Vie/ Equus Stud) made every post a winning one to bag the Winfree Handicap quite easily from Modus Vivendi and Songstress. Md Islam piloted the winner without much fuss.

The Elistano Handicap was an interesting affair with both Vijay Singh runners (Adelino and Fervent Quest) in the betting. To say that Fervent Quest was used as a pacemaker would be folly as she is a natural front runner any way. The connections did well to declare apprentice Javed astride Adelino  as his 3kg allowance somewhat helped negate the 6kg penalty. The Steinbeck – Allspice/ Usha Stud runner followed his stablemate till near the distance post before taking over and winning with some authority.