After  losing out big  following the loss of  the best horse on the Indian circuit, Be Safe in the Indian Invitation  Cup and the favourites taking  a back seat  in  the Stayers’ Cup and  in most races on Sunday in Mumbai,  the followers of form recouped a portion of their losses, six firm favourites nailing bold colours to the mast in the long-drawn card of 10 events on the penultimate day of the winter season.

The Suleiman Attaollahi schooled Conspicuous was the most impressive winner on Friday. Competing in the Prince Ardent Plate for juveniles, the talented daughter of Burden Of Proof who was strongly fancied to make a winning debut, despite failing to keep pace early on in the event produced an astounding gallop to donkey-lick the opposition in the hands of Trevor. This Burden Of Proof filly alongwith  Sun Moon And Stars under the care of Padmanabhan  are the two who have the required potential and talent to make a mark in the summer classics.

The Plum event, the Delhi Race Club Trophy was claimed by the second in demand at the betting ring Royal Salute who pegged the belated effort of the favourite Pentagram. Jersey Shore did well to take the third spot.

T S Jodha who piloted  Royal Salute  confidently guided the well backed Russian Link who was a medium of a good gamble in the next event, the upper division of the Kolar Plate.  The winner plagued by a series of health issues looked comfortable in the parade ring and Jodha did well to assume command  at the distance post  before guiding the winner home who appeared to be in discomfort, changing legs in the final furlong.

After Shoban Babu took New Emperor on a conducted tour of Bengaluru in his last start which resulted in the Nithyanand ward not finishing in the frame, the trainer entrusted the speedy New Emperor to the promising Arshad Alam and the youngster raised no sweat driving home the public choice to a convincing victory in the upper division of the Nethravathi Trophy.

In the lower division of the event too, Nithyanand fancied his chances to record a double through the four to one short Expert, but most experts in the game were of the view that it will be difficult to beat Super Force in the event and they were all proved right, Imran Khan packing punch on the Faraz Arshad ward to the delight of the railbirds.

On the strength of her facile victory in her last essay, the in-form Equine Love was the public rage in the Pratap Stud Plate run over a mile and the Padmanabhan ward after encountering brief resistance from Vivid Impression cruised home to help Scottish pro David Allan add one more win to his impressive kitty. 

Earlier, the Narayan Gowda schooled Wings Of Fortune who thrice let down his supporters failing to enter the winners’ circle proved too good for his 11 rivals in the Hassan Plate run over a mile. The winner was ably piloted by Mumbai-based Dashrath Singh who bided his time before timing his final challenge to a nicety. Artorius  caught the eye finishing a game second and is one for the note book.

The Inayathullah-trained Big Copper Penny  dropped a big bombshell in the upper division of the Somnathpur Plate.  Jockey Deepak Patel who many consider a good work jockey posted his second win of the season on the Savi Jain owned mare who snuffed out the challenge of Fashion Flame and the favourite Emancipation to earn her cornbill.

The Puttanna-trained Precious Glitter was fancied most in the lower division of the Kolar Plate but the public choice was shocked by the ten to one long shot What A Wonder  who produced a winning gallop  in the final furlong to romp home a deserving winner.  The winner,  who appears to have improved most is set to strike again early in the summer season.

It was good to see veteran trainer Samar Singh leading in Apollo Galaxy in the opening event and this is what keeps the oldies going in this sport. And Samar Singh, it must be mentioned enjoys the game.