It was mixed fortunes for punters at RCTC’s mid-week races as several well-backed runners came good in a card of seven. However, in the main event, The Metropolitan,  Arti Doctor-trained Smooth As Silk caused quite a sensation when she staved off a strong challenge from fancied runners Bullet and Santos to lift the cup in the hands of Kamlesh. The mare’s win was something of a paradox. Those (including yours truly) who overlooked the revised handicap from the Madras Race Club Cup earlier this season, paid the penalty. The paradox lies in the fact that Smooth As Silk was as much as 3kg out of the Metropolitan scale which works in reverse manner as the top-weight acceptor is sealed at 60. Had the top-weight been 62.5 as is normal, the winner would have been more or less at her mark (and still carried 50kg on her back) and would probably have been fancied by several tipsters.

Anyway, so much for ‘theories in retrospect’. As it turned out, Macedonian led till the distance post and Smooth As Silk took over. The fancied pair mentioned above came at her like a bullet (pun intended) but failed narrowly. The first four horses finished within half-a-length of each other. That must have made the handicapper’s day. The ’capper in fact enjoyed a pretty successful afternoon.

The opener of the day proved to be disastrous for punters and trainer of the winner Modus Vivendi – Vikash Jaiswal. He was taken to task by the Stewards and suspended between the dates February 7 – 24 for inconsistent running of his charges and reversal of form. He was further fined Rs 25,000/-. He would have probably escaped such a harsh penalty had the failed favourite in the race not been a stablemate of the winner. But there’s no doubting the fact that the wily trainer had it coming. After gracing the wrong end of the field throughout the season, Modus Vivendi (Black Cash-Disobedience/ Nanoli Stud) made the Work Force Handicap a start-to-finish affair. Runner-up Treasure Island was a trifle unlucky as he was interfered at the top of the straight by the sudden veering out of front-running Skyway.

The favourites to oblige during the day were Axstone, Athletico, Sole Power and Sweet Suspense.  Vijay Singh-trained Axstone bagged the Allied Forces Handicap after a keen duel with front-running Dakota Dreamer all the way down the straight. The Multidimensional-Stolen Kisses (Usha Stud) five-year-old was piloted by Christopher Alford.

Even after a tardy beginning, Bharath Singh-trained Athletico (Arabian Gulf-Limelite/ Manjri Stud) was brought with giant strides on the wide outside by Dashrath Singh from the rear of the field, to sail past Adoration, Legendofthephoenix and Desert Fox.

Despite a penalty of 8kg, Arti Doctor-trained Sole Power (China Visit- Silver Toy/ Usha Stud) made it four-in-a-row and completed a hat-trick of wins during the afternoon for jockey Kamlesh who was in devastating form. The winner was hard-ridden to keep at bay the top-weight Meet The Legend who came at him in the final furlong. The disappointment was Azienda who may not be responding to a whip-less rider.

 A power-packed finish by Imran Chisty saw Sweet Suspense (West Virginia – Timeless Memories/ Nakul Stud) get the better of Songstress in the shadow of the winning post, to bag The Aztec Handicap. Runaway Isle Of Capri called it quits near the distance post where Songstress took over the running. Perseverance pays and Chisty has always been known for that trait.

There was a major upset in the youngsters race for the Astounding Plate. The on-money favourite Cacharel had all the chances but came apart close home when Bath-trained Zuma (Sedgefield-Fort Knox/ Jaigoivind Stud) came with raking strides to land the spoils and give Kamlesh the first of his three winners. It was the second youngster to win from this stable on two back-to-back racing days. One day earlier, the trainer’s ward Spyro had caused quite a sensation. He must be doing something right to hit pay dirt with these ‘babies’!