Though followers of money may not have had things their way at RCTC on Tuesday, form more or less held sway as second or third favourites came good – the exception being Bath-trained Spyro in the Aemilia Plate. The filly by Glory Of Dancer out of Catherine Linton (Kehelan Stud) put paid to the pretensions of the fancied trio of Sthenios, Yokumoku and Secret Society. The best of the beaten brigade was the last named while the first named failed miserably. Kamlesh took the eventual winner to the helm of affairs as the gates opened and permitted Secret Society to call the shots till heads turned for home. He then took over the running and bid adios to the field.

Bharath Singh-schooled Sunshine Girl was installed as the firm on-money favourite for the RCTC Riding And Apprentice Jockey School Cup run over 1600 metres. However, she is but a shadow of her old self and was struggling to keep pace with front-running Flavius (Noverre-Flavia/ Sohna Stud) who thus completed four wins on the trot, including a hat-trick this winter. The six-year-old gelding may be a late starter but has definitely made up for lost time with a smashing quadruple. His trainer Vijay Singh deserves a pat on the back for this immensely successful display. And mind you, there could be more in store as his fashion of winning was excellent. Beyond Expectation ended up a fairly good runner-up though he raised a gallop a little late in the day.

Jockey Imran Chisty finally came into his own with a fairly lucrative double during the afternoon. He opened his account at this centre with a win astride Manvendra Singh-trained Heirloom (Holy Roman Emperor – Dan’s Delight) who moved up with a winning gallop on the outside after gracing the end of the field for most part while Argalia cut the wind, with favourite Native Speaker in tow. After the turning for home, the public choice shot ahead with Abubble trying to reduce the leeway and Chisty working on his mount. The top-weight went into top gear in the final 100 metres to sail past the favourite close home.

Chisty completed his brace astride Manvendra Singh-schooled Resolution (Magna Graduate – So Colourful) who was taken to helm of affairs despite an outside draw and stayed there all the way, though she did shift out a little in the straight. The favourite Sylvana finished in the ruck while top-weight Conquest was a good second.

Vikash Jaiswal-trained I Me N Myself (Noverre-Sexy Gal/ Sohna Stud) was backed down and ridden with a purpose by Sandeep Rajput. He was always forward, behind pace-setter and stablemate Eternal Instinct, and won with a degree of comfort. Layla moved well in the straight from the last position to occupy the runner-up berth.

The curtain came down to a short afternoon of racing with Javed Khan-trained Petaloid (Inhabitant-Petalumma/ Doaba Stud) getting the better of front-running In The Twilight after the latter had drifted out alarmingly in the straight. The winner was piloted in opportunistic manner by Afzal Khan.