It was joy the first moment and sorrow the next moment for Chandrashekar Rai, the owner of Nesto. The five-year-old gelding after earning his ticket to compete in the Sprinters’ Cup in Chennai on the first Saturday of March was hopping in pain and one good look at the winner of the Sprinters’ Trial Stakes revealed that he was dead lame and  it will be very difficult for this Prasanna ward to come right before the Invitation Cup week-end.

Imran Khan who piloted the last start winner in fact was ecstatic, the moment the gutsy Nesto flashed past the post pegging back the challenge of Smile Stone in convincing fashion. But little did Imran know that his mount after romping home safe and sound would return home lame. It was sad. But it is no secret that his weak and fragile legs is what stopped Nesto from realising his full potential in his chequered career. And it all happened again after the Prasanna ward appeared to have hit the high road. The injuries be it big or small are part and parcel of the game and Chandrashekar Rai must consider himself lucky that Nesto brought his owner the gains despite suffering the pain, breaking down after chalking out his second straight success.  

Another progeny of Phoenix Star who is competing successfully with Multidimensional from the famed Usha Stud Farm and the pride of the Kunigal Stud Farm,  Burden Of Proof, Arvak from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard made a winning debut, winning the upper division of the Virajpet Plate in emphatic fashion. Side Winder on the strength of his blazing performances in the morning trials was fancied most but all that the Prasanna ward managed was to save the place money, finishing a tame third behind Carolina. Arvak appears a goodtype and his progress in the months ahead is certain to evoke interest.

The lower division of the event was claimed by the public choice Calico Jack from Inayathullah’s yard. T S Jodha rode a copybook race on the winner who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring. The Dominic schooled Mistress Of Spice finished a game second and it will not be long before this `Mistress’ demands her pound of flesh.

On the strength of his suggestive effort in his last essay, second behind the much improved Brabus, the Sulaiman-trained Stormont rightly garnered the maximum support in the Vibrant Plate run over a distance of 2000 metres and the favourite responding gamely to his master’s (Trevor Patel) call approaching the distance post streaked ahead to peg back the belated effort of Sharpshooter. Saptajit came home third but that should not disappoint his supporters taking into account that this Azhar Ali ward is certain to earn his cornbill when saddled next.

Leading pro Irfan Ghatala who was disappointed most after Brilliant Cut went down to Angel Dust at the shadow of the winning post in the winter Derby last week recorded a good double through the eight to one shot Albertino and the three to one favourite Frizbee. The former cleverly piloted by apprentice Surya edged out Dream Star close home in the upper division of the Hampi Plate while Frizbee made amends of her costly failure last time, coming up trumps in the Smt. Saraswati Sajnani Memorial Trophy run over a mile. Arch rival, Lozen, it appeared would beat the Irfan ward a furlong from home but the Darius ward failed to match strides with the winner after posing a serious threat and that’s largely due to the fact that Frizbee only got stronger at the finish of the mile long trip.

The Sharath Kumar schooled Scorching Vulcan it appears produces his best only in the hands of John. He broke the ice in his maiden attempt this season in the lowest class before failing in his next start when Suraj partnered him. Now with John back on the saddle, Scorching Vulcan shocked the followers of form and more so the supporters of the on-money favourite Aguante who were of the view that the Mahesh’s ward was a cinch and the shortprice was money for jam.  Well at end it proved to be one hyped plain bun, no butter no jam.

The lower division of the Cordon Bleu Plate was claimed by Everest who produced his best in the hands of apprentice Nazerul Alam.  Now that Everest has entered the winners’ circle, it will again pay to follow this Neil Darashah ward when saddled next. The same cannot be said in the case of the moody Candice from Nithyanand’s yard and Brown Panther from the stables of Britto who turns Bheegi Billi and not the Big Cat when he starts the favourite.

The lesser fancied Red Admiral from Narayan Gowda’s yard came up tops in the Charmudi Plate snuffing out the challenge of Private Party and in the concluding event, the Samar Singh schooled Hillsboro dropped the biggest bombshell making every post a winning one in the hands of the promising Rayan Ahmed. The favourite Soviet Union finished second ahead of Hackett while Wild Wild Angels who opened the favourite it was clear was in a spot of bother before she entered the gates.