After Adam provided a pleasant surprise on Saturday, champion trainer Pesi Shroff was hoping that his filly Temerity could well provide him his biggest moment, a moment he would cherish most, leading in his maiden Indian Turf Invitation Cup winner. He was aware that his bred in the purple filly was enjoying the climatic conditions in the garden city and that she had improved and was raring to go. Pesi also knew that Temerity had the ability to match strides with the two top fancied local stars, Hall Of Famer and Tororosso and that she was also in with a good chance as much as the other two. He like many old hats in the game also believed that in this Champion Of Champions event, one needed a little bit of luck. Temerity didn’t really need any of it. She just went out and produced her best. And that was enough to put her and her master in the Hall Of Fame.

The top favourite Hall Of Famer partnered by Scottish pro David Allan and the second in demand at the betting ring, Tororosso piloted by Suraj Narredu who tracked the grey Indian Derby winner all through the mile and half trip killed themselves in their effort to outwit each other in front before Temerity detonated them all to emerge the real `Queen’ at end.  Tororosso struggled to finish fourth while Hall Of Famer who blew up like a pricked balloon at the top of the straight finished in the ruck. The winner splendidly piloted by the emerging star Neeraj Rawal  came home in record time, 2:28.85 seconds bettering the 25-year-old course record (2:30.2) registered by Classic Style in 1992.

A disappointed Padmanabhan said: “Well he just ran out of gas in the straight”.  The fact that David again chose to do it the way he did it in Mumbai was not really what the doctor ordered. The pundits slammed the approach, design and plan. But David in the last couple of years has pulled out many rabbits from his bag and one cannot hold it against the top pro.

While David was out in front and trying to set a pace which would suit his filly, Suraj Narredu needlessly chose push and tail him all through the mile and half classic exercise. A cool and composed Neeraj Rawal bided his time happily watching the two in front cut each others throat before he went for the kill at the distance post. Supreme General finished a game second ahead of Azzurro.

Delighted with his maiden success in the biggest race in the Indian racing calendar, Pesi Shroff while lauding the effort of Neeraj Rawal on the big day disclosed that it was team work and that each member in the team had played a part in the success.

The moment Khusrro Dhunjibhoy convinced Sulaiman Attaollahi to race Serjeant At Arms in the Maj. P K Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup, the race was at the mercy of ~Serjeant’ and the top miler didn’t really need to break a sweat while confirming that he is in a league of his own over a mile. Commonwealth from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard did well to finish second ahead of Shivalik Showers while La Dona who lost a couple of lengths at the gates came home fourth.

The five to one shot Bold Command who had failed to display his true potential when fancied most in his last effort over a mile came up trumps in the Suresh Mahindra Multi-Million pegging back the belated effort of Smile Stone. The top fancy Accolade from Pesi Shroff’s yard disappointed most failing to make the frame. Stablemate Your Royal Majesty finished third ahead of Aster Rose who now appears to have regained form.  

Leading pro Pradeep Chouhan was at his best driving home the Karthik Ganapathy schooled Bold March in the Shapoorji Pallonji Million. The Irfan Ghatala schooled Watchmyscript and Rare Rhythm were fancied most but the two failed to gallop to fame. Bold March assumed command approaching the final furlong and Chouhan kept him going pegging back the late dash of Fabulous. Watchmyscript finished a tame third while Rare Rhythm was not sighted.

Chouhan earlier packed punch on the S Ganapathy schooled Flirting Eyes who opened many eyes, winning the indiarace.com Million. The winner offered at nourishing odds (7/1) assumed command when the race came on a boil and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Satinette did well to retain the runner-up spot ahead of Granada. Jersey Beauty who was touted as a good bet by most in the stands was never in the hunt and eventually finished in the ruck.

The Neil Darashah schooled Queen Latifa who impressed most finishing second behind the goodtype of filly Lady Barrington in her debut, won the KROA Million in effortless style. Suraj Narredu confidently guided home the filly who looked spot on in the parade ring.

Suraj recorded a double booting home the Prithviraj schooled Pearl City in the concluding event, the Kimmane Million. Prithviraj had earlier led in Silver Ikon who made every post a winning one in the Hindu Multi-Million run over a sprint. The Sulaiman schooled Malawi was strongly fancied on the strength of her smashing debut but the daughter of Western Aristocrat performed like a dud much to the chagrin of her followers. The Hyderabad challenger Kangra finished second and in fact lodged  a protest which was quickly and rightly overruled.