Trainer Vijay Singh’s Dandified (Rebuttal-Dandoona/ Hazara Stud) made a triumphant return to the track on Tuesday after his unlikely debacle at the hands of stablemate Snowdrift earlier in the season. The six-year-old lifted the prestigious Indian Gold Vase in the most stunning manner after gracing the rear end of the field for most part. An overtly confident Christopher Alford was happy to sit tight in the 14-horse field while Mister India called the shots with Hyderabad challenger Magical Spell in close touch.

Not taking any chances whatsoever, Alford took the turn about ten-wide and then made up an incredible amount of ground between 300m and 100m. By then Double Do had shot ahead and was heavily under the stick – as indeed were the rest of the runners. However, Alford remained calm throughout and both his hands never left the reins. In fact, it would be fair to say that the prized property of the Khaitan stable was travelling in second gear even when well into the straight. Dandified collared Double Do with hardly 100 metres left and frankly the half-length verdict flatters the runner-up as Alford was simply toying with him. The superbly confident local champion released the left rein about 30 metres from home to clench his fist in a symbol of triumph and rise up from the saddle. The ‘kiss of love and affection’ planted on the crest of his beloved mount after the race said it all.

After his impressive mock race, Arti Doctor – trained Crixus was thought to be a ‘good thing’ in the Golden Can Plate for two-year-olds, but it was not to be. Trevor Patel atop Bharath Singh-trained Captain Cook (Admiral Of The Fleet-Polenta/ Kunigal Stud) had other ideas. The long-striding gelding from the famous camp of Dr Vijay Mallya left the field standing when Trevor asked him for an effort after entering the straight, behind Bang Bang.  He was spotted as a winner long way from home. The favourite plodded on to be an unimpressive runner-up. This was the first winner in the country of the sire Admiralofthefleet who has unfortunately expired last year.

Several gambles materialised during the afternoon, the first of them being Robert Gowli-trained Arion (Chatham Strait-Lisianski/ Ruia Stud), who won the curtain-raiser without much ado in the hands of jockey Arman Khan. Following pace-setter Ego Ego Ego till the straight, Arion simply pulled away from the field while Yerevan made a late bid and finished runner-up.

Bharath Singh-trained Triumphus (Burden Of Proof-Arizza/ Kunigal Stud) won the Surfside Handicap without any worthwhile opposition and put an end to Dashrath’s drought at this centre. Front-running City Heights was the best of the rest. The Freelancer Handicap saw the afternoon’s first winner at high odds as Rutherford Alford-schooled Pick Pocket (Express Wish – Festive Season/ Mebajeona Stud) got the better of Exclusive Colours after a keen duel in the straight. Following the on-money public choice Sage Valley  till the home turn, Mahesh put the top-weight into top gear and pulled away. His tactical move paid rich dividends as Shinde atop Exclusive Colours found the three-length break a little too much for him to cover within a furlong and went down by a head at the wire.

Trainer Javed Khan and his patron Sudhir Ahuja did well to sew up things with a brace and thus increase their bank balance considerably. While the filly Xipen (New Famous-Xray/ Yeravada Stud) was backed down to on-money and won the Brave Patriach Handicap with a little help from Dashrath in the saddle, the 8/1 shot Xavier (Duja-Miss Sunshine/ Pratap Stud) caused quite a sensation when he pocketed the Playboy Handicap from runner-up Burst Of Stardust. Jockey Afzal Khan thus notched up a rare win.