On a warm, humid afternoon, Bharath Singh-trained filly Suzanna (Win legend-Just Amazing/ Dashmesh Stud) proved beyond doubt that she is the speediest from her age group at this centre as she made every post of The Juvenile Sprint a winning one in the hands of experienced jockey Dashrath Singh. It was clear that the dark bay was going to pocket this one near the distance post as her closest rival in the three-horse field, Claymore, was heavily under pressure. What may have taken the backers of the winner by surprise and made them a happy lot was the fact that the filly was available at even-money as there was considerable betting on the runner-up.

The Jaiswal brothers, trainer Vikash and jockey Vinay, combined fruitfully to bring home a lucrative double with Highly Explosive and Kwan Yin. The former won the mile race for the opener at 4/1 while the latter pocketed the Slade Valley Cup by the narrowest of margins from Scartella. Seven-year-old Highly Explosive (Mr Mellon-Ring Of Kerry/ Ruia Stud) followed front-running Fervent Quest till the home bend before taking over the running and staving off the likes of Vaani quite easily. Fancied runners Comedian and Argalia were both ‘also rans’ in this race.

Kwan Yin (Steinbeck-Star Of China/ Usha Stud) was ridden with great determination by Vinay to forge a passage through a pack of runners in the straight and peg back Scartella who was shaping like a winner. The favourite Sole Power may have needed the run and never looked like raising a gallop. Experienced sprinter Bucharest always posed a threat but found the other two out of her league.

Like Vinay, Shailesh Shinde atop Free Energy (Phoenix Tower- Freefall/ Manjri Stud) rode an absolute blinder in the AQ Qidwai Cup to get the better of heavily fancied stablemate Adiella at the wire. Chasing the early bird Law Supremo till the bend, Christopher Alford and Adiella took over the running and appeared to be heading for home after shaking off a ‘sticky’ Wild Card who was trying to forge a passage down the centre. What they hadn’t foreseen was a superb piece of horsemanship by Shinde who switched his mount to the inside with a couple of cracks and then rode him out hands and heels to return victorious in the final stride.

Arti Doctor’s Bold Legacy (New Famous-Hoofbeats/ Yeravada Stud) is another three-year-old sprinter who can hold her own as she cantered to a facile victory in the Apollotina Handicap in the hands of Kamlesh. The speedster really had no worthy competitor and can win a handicap race again if placed judiciously.

The curtain came down with an edge-of-the-seat finish as Vikash Jaiswal, with a near fifty per cent stake holding in the race, ultimately brought home the bacon with the least fancied of his five runners. Ridden by Md Shabbani, Jaiswal’s Impression (Lucifer Sam – Magical Night/ Sans Craintes Stud) raised a winning gallop on the wide outside to edge out the well-backed pair of Alicante and Lexi. The last two named will be worth keeping an eye on in the near future.