Rutherford Alford-trained Gentle Knowledge (Noverre-Sharatila/ Sohna Stud) pocketed the Delhi Race Club Cup on Saturday. Though the six-year-old had drifted out earlier on two occasions, on this day apprentice Ranidan Singh had sufficient control on the horse to bring him down the centre of the track while several of his rivals tried to make their run on the inside. The irony of it was hat though the winner had cost King Kong a certain race in the Mysore Race Club Cup, the latter finished an unimpressive fifth. The best of the rest was the favourite Noverro.

Despite the punters taking a beating in virtually all eight races, trainer Vijay Singh was in his element and put the championship beyond any reasonable doubt by notching up a quartet. Vijay’s winners were Bindass, Drops Of Jupiter, Aculeus and Speedy Gonsalves – all at lucrative odds. The first named, a four year old colt by Win Legend out of Integrate (Dashmesh Stud) made every post a winning one in the hands of PS Chouhan. The speedster gave no chance to his nearest rival Super Striker who was backed down to be third favourite  after Bournville and Treasure Island, neither of whom figured on the board.

Drops Of Jupiter (Rebuttal-Anacita/ Hazara Stud) made the upper division of The Artwork Plate a start-to-finish affair. The filly was available at 6/1 and taken to the helm of affairs by C. Alford early in the race. After the turning for home, she pulled away and was eased up by Alford long way from home. The disappointment in the race was the hot on-money favourite Aatish whose trainer and jockey both agreed was running green. The gelding failed to place.

Vijay’s next winner was the 10/1 shot Aculeus (China Visit – Husun/ Usha Stud) who spared only a nose to  Yokumoku at the wire. The winner of the Queen’s Court Handicap drifted to the outer rails while C.Alford on Yokumoku made his run along the rails and very nearly pulled it off. The rather fortunate winner was piloted by apprentice Munna Alam.

The last of Vijay’s four winners was Speedy Gonsalves (PS Chouhan) in the last race of the day – The Aspirant Cup. The colt by Win Legend out of Ray Of Sunshine (Dashmesh Stud) stayed the mile-and-quarter trip rather well and sailed away from front-running Presence in the straight. Fancied runners Sunset Sail and Obelinna Princess, finished in the ruck.

The morning showed the day as in the opener, The Young Lady Handicap, Robert Gowli’s friendless Ivy (Stardan – Alohamora/ Rolli Stud), with Arman Khan astride, lapped up the seven furlong trip and got the better of the favourite Romantic Society who was on a start-to finish mission.

The running of The BK Poddar Cup (a no-whip race) saw the betting divided between top-weight Gimme Credit and Climber but neither of them could get near the speedy Rio from Vikash Jaiswal’s yard. Sandeep Rajput made every post a winning and had to get the utmost out of his mount when challenged by Signor Sassi in the final furlong. The six-year-old is by Multidimensional out of Olivia Valere (Usha Stud).

The lower division of The Artwork Plate saw Fabienne installed as the favourite but losing out to Bharath Singh-trained Leopard Creek (Burden OF Proof-Soviet Lake/ Kunigal Stud) who was taken to the helm of affairs as the gates opened and stayed there all the way in the hands of Imran Chisty.