The brief mid-week card of six events had no dearth of quality and both The Independence Cup and The Arktouros Cup were witness to edge-of-the-seat finishes. Available at 7/1, Bharath Singh-trained Noverro (Noverre-Erina/ Sohna Stud) was taken to the helm of affairs by a competent Dashrath Singh and led all the way to the wire despite drifting out. However, the speedy gelding was over a length ahead of half-money stablemate Captain Cook and the filly Glamorously and there was really no question of an objection. The last named appeared to be a threat near the distance post as she raised a good gallop but the front-runner was travelling well enough to stave off the challenge.

Part-owner Joydeep Datta Gupta was ecstatic after the triumph and said he was confident after the turning for home that his three-year-old had the steam to hold on. He was equally confident that his filly Stevalena would lap up the mile in the race for the Arizona Pie Handicap as her dam Veena’s Pet had produced several middle-distance runners. How right he was ! Bharath Singh-trained Stevalena (Multidimensional – Veena’s Pet/ Usha Stud) did take the bend a trifle wide but the 9/2 second favourite nevertheless got the better of on-money public choice Real Presence close home. The winner was no doubt helped along by the powerful finish of her jockey PS Chouhan who went one step better in the very next race, The Arktouros Cup. The losing favourite Real Presence is a well-bred filly who has yet to see the winning post. She was a shade lethargic before the bend and rider Shailesh Shinde did well to get the best out of her in the straight. She has not had a forward run as yet and that may be hindering her quest for success. She will be worth keeping an eye on.

The Arktouros Cup was a treat for visitors, more so for the backers of Farley Rodrigues-trained Agatta ( Ikhtyar-Jalapeno/ Nanoli Stud) who produced a thunderous gallop in the straight to edge out eight-year-old Bullet at the wire by a whisker. Evesham had taken charge before the distance post but was done in by his inability to negotiate a seven-furlong trip successfully. Bullet took over the baton in the straight but jockey PS Chouhan did well to forge a passage through a packed field and bring Agatta into contention in the final 100 metres. She is known to relish a late run and her ‘courage to conquer’ did the rest as she got the better of Bullet in the very last stride. The authorities have opened AN ENQUIRY into the running and riding of Agatta.

Perhaps, the most interesting part of the ‘terms’ race was the fact that Bullet was dropped by 2.5 kg after the race as the winner, who was penalised 3kg, was well below the runner-up’s mark. It is after all the handicapper’s discretion and one is quite sure that he knows best.

The disappointment in the race was the well-backed favourite Confidence who faded out after a good jump-out from the gates. It is quite possible that he has not recovered to cent per cent fitness after suffering a set-back a month back. Easy mock races are one thing and the ‘strain and stress’ of an actual race is another. Kamlesh, who was astride Confidence, had earlier ridden Arti Doctor-trained Fire Song (Al Nasr Alwasheek – Firefoot/ Poona Stud) to a thumping victory in the race for the Norwegian Wood Handicap. There was a shower before the race and a drizzle during the event, but this failed to deter the two front-runners Annie Oakley and Fire Song. The former called the shots till 100 metres from home where the latter took over under Kamlesh’s stick. The filly has now recorded a hat-trick in the first three runs of her career. Clever placement by the stable has done the trick. The runner-up seems better suited to five-and-half furlongs.

The opening event, The True Colours Handicap, went according to the script with Farley Rodrigues-trained Amandus (Carnival Dancer- Elusive Trust/ Dashmesh Stud) handing Chouhan the first of his three wins. The on-money public choice overhauled Self Directed, who had assumed command in the straight, without raising too much of a sweat.

The curtain came down with an encore from Richard Alford-trained Murlough Bay (Mull Of Kintyre-Khatinza/ Sohna Stud) who won as she liked. She has thus attracted a whopping penalty of 7 kg for her effort. Despite that, this well-tuned filly may well complete a hat-trick if judiciously placed.