You got to appreciate the guts of trainer Irfan Ghatala.  Right or wrong he loves to engage himself in a debate and gives it his best shot to win it, never mind looking foolish while losing it. He did just that on Friday, protesting against Scottish pro David Allan after David edged out his ward Ace Badraan in a thriller in the Chatrapathi Cup, the plum event run over a distance of seven furlongs.

Irfan contested that David while guiding the fortunes of the public choice Pearl Reward drifted out badly and took the ground of his ward and his horse further was forced to shy away following David using the whip on the left. The fact is that more than Ace Badraan, it was the apprentice jockey Syed Imran who just didn’t no how to react and make most of the situation. The young and inexperienced rider also kept shifting out and this helped David win a race he actually would have lost had a more experienced rider was astride Ace Badraan.  

The protest that David had got too close for comfort of Imran held no merit taking into account that the gap was big enough for Irfan to put Brilliant Cut on a float and send it through the gap to Chennai.  It simply was a frivolous objection, but what surprised racing buffs most was the time taken by the stewards to arrive at a decision.  Mercifully they got it right after a long debate and Irfan too like I pointed out before gave it his best shot.

Earlier Irfan, who recorded a double struck through the lesser fancied Perfect Harmony in the lower division of the Topmost Cup. The filly, it appeared had benefited most from the two runs under her belt this season, producing a winning gallop at the all-important end to snuff out the challenge of the favourite Times Time. Havelock Princess finished a none-too-impressive third and this Dominic ward will need time and space before she finds her shoes to stake her claim to shed her maiden status.

The favourite Ace Lexington was the other from Irfan’s yard who entered the winners’ circle, readily justifying the support in the hands of Ahsan Qureshi. The winner competing in the upper division of the Melkote Plate rightly garnered the maximum support and Ahsan rode a copybook race on the winner. Scorching Vulcan did well to finish second ahead of Glittering while Hillsboro again was in the frame.

The lower division of the Melkote produced a shock result, the ten to one shot Rich Revival coming up trumps. The Nithyanand ward in his last effort when fancied had finished down the field after his eye catching run in his maiden attempt this season.  Today he produced a blinder and this stunned all the railbirds who go by the book of form.

The upper division of the Topmost Cup too floored the railbirds, the friendless Royal Sceptre from Amit Caddy’s yard dropping the biggest bombshell. The powerfully built son of Ace looks a good type of a youngster taking into account that he won without unduly being extended and more importantly without the required fitness. He simply has the class and his progress this season is certain to evoke interest.  Mistress Of Spice again finished second while Cadillac Sky only managed to take a lot of good money down the drain, not improving enough to chalk out his maiden success.

Knocking at the door, Amazing Skill, down in the lowest class had the credentials to score in the Tiptur Plate run over a mile. The Satish Narredu ward after racing nice and easy all through the backstretch produced a good turn of foot at the distance post to assume command and then put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Krabi is very ordinary and is best left ignored while it will pay to follow Kings Kid when he is entered in a sprint.

Finally Saptajit earned his cornbill in the hands of Trevor Patel.  The consistent Azhar Ali ward was the first favourite to score after four public choices had lost out and Saptajit’s victory provided the timely relief to punters who recouped all their losses in the next four events and returned home satisfied at end. Swiss Eagle from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard who impressed most while finishing a game second is one for the notebook and the `Eagle’ will land right next time if she suffers no bleeding problem.

After the Royal Sceptre shock from Amit Caddy’s stable, Private Party from his yard provided the money to party for punters. The winner on the strength of his suggestive second behind Western Union in his last essay was fancied most and he justified the confidence of his supporters romping home in convincing style. The fairly consistent One To Note finished second ahead of Kimora while Noble Sapphire fancied strongly in place missed the bus.