Bolstered by two ‘terms’ races in stronger fields, speedy Macedonian (Desert Style-Alexandra) carried his top-weight to victory in the handicap race for The S. Rahamathulla Memorial Cup with the help of 4kg allowance apprentice Ranidan Singh. Trainer Javed Khan and the connections showed that they had ample faith in their six-year-old by backing him down to 3/1 while favourite Astaire closed at 17/10. The latter’s run was disappointing to say the least. Javed’s ploy to use the apprentice did the trick for the connections. The speedster Primrose was well ridden by Nikhil but was meeting a seasoned Class I field for the first time and yet finished a good second. Amorino ran a forward race but was simply outpaced by the eventual winner.

Apprentice Ranidan completed his brace with Arti Doctor-trained Flourishing Move in the last race of the day, The Rockefeller Handicap. Backed down to even-money favouritism, the four-year-old gelding by Rebuttal out of Serene Highness (Hazara Stud) was ridden off the pace while top-weight Conquest called the shots. Near the distance post, the latter started to shorten his strides and the favourite took over the running with a smooth gallop.

Jockey Ashhad Asbar too secured a brace with Rutherford Alford’s Amazing Maria and Shafiq Khan-trained Top Line. Amazing Maria, by Gaswar out of Xiamen/ Lingwood Stud who proved to be the easiest winner of the day, sparing over eight lengths to the runner-up and second favourite Fly With The Wind. Her two successive wins were very similar to those of the filly from father Richard Alford’s yard called Murlough Bay. Both recorded facile maiden wins and produced encores without being stretched. The Alford family obviously has a way with the ‘ladies’ of the turf.

Asbar completed his double with Shafiq Khan-trained Top Line (Top Class- She’s The One/ Mukteshwar Stud) who was backed down to 3/1 and expertly handled from an inside draw. Christopher Alford’s mount Cool Hunter continued to remain a maiden though he keeps earning his oats. Kanha was the fastest moving horse at the wire and finished a good second.

It does not require a very keen observer to notice that many of the horses which have been transferred to the Vikash Jaiswal stable after repeated failures, have performed admirably well. Auberon (Carnival Dancer – Auryn/ Dashmesh Stud) is one such horse who pocketed the 1800 metres race for the Elistano handicap. Corsica failed to stay the trip and Auberon had no problem at all in overhauling her in the straight. The trainer deserves a pat on the back. He is obviously doing something right and knows his handicapping as well.

Jockey Trevor Patel has not been having the best of mounts at this centre and though a brilliant, fearless rider, he probably doesn’t have the experience or the liberty to use his discretion in this matter. He continued to be win-less after five mounts and his tally reads two wins from a total of 32 mounts. Casper The Ghost, his mount in the Pendragon Handicap, had to struggle in fifth slot most of the way to finish an unimpressive third under a stinging whip. The race was bagged by Farley Rodrigues-trained Treasure Island (Burden Of Proof- Crown Treasure/ Kunigal Stud) from So Regal. Farley’s trusted knight, Surjeet piloted the winner. In this race, Verena Rose was withdrawn while top-weight Words ran a fair fourth.

Leading trainer Robert Gowli maintained his stranglehold on the championship by lifting The Zeenee Cup. His filly Glamorously (China Visit-Glamorous Spirit/ Usha Stud) made the seven-furlong trip a start-to-finish affair in the hands of Shailesh Shinde.