Finally the Mumbai professional Rehanullah Khan broke the ice, Queen Credible coming up tops in the Dharmaprakasha L S Venkaji Rao Memorial Trophy. The winner piloted strongly by Trevor Patel edged out lesser fancied Fair Game in a thriller to the delight of the Mumbai camp. The favourite Attorney General from trainer Neil Darashah’s yard failed to produce his best finishing a poor fourth behind the speedy Silver Ikon.

The principal added attraction, the Smart Chieftan Cup saw the topweighted Black Swan from Delhi-based trained Magan Singh’s yard record a shock win in the hands of D S Deora. Streak Ahead from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard garnered the maximum support in the event but the public choice  proved to be a big disappointment, never in contention when the race came on a boil and eventually finished in the ruck. Interesting from the stables of Satish Narredu finished a game second ahead of Mint while Carolina took the fourth spot. Streak Ahead, it is clear has gone of the boil and it will pay to ignore this Arjun ward until she regains her spark.

Alberetta was one other well fancied contestant who took a lot of good money down the drain. The Irfan ward competing in the Ministerial Cup was the overwhelming on-money favourite and all that the Irfan Ghatala do was finish more than six lengths behind the winner, As Times Goes By. Alberetta piloted by Irvan Singh in fact didn’t even save place money and that was a big blow for the punters who stoutly fancied him to score leave alone making it in place. Concept Win gained the runner-up berth ahead of Habanero while Alberetta plodded in to finish a poor fourth.

The opening event, the Confucious Stakes was claimed by the five to one shot Anmol Hira from new trainer M R Singh’s yard. The winner was guided home by apprentice Syed Imran who appears to have improved. The favourite Tic Tac Toe in the hands of leading apprentice Ryan Ahmed at one stage looked good enough to justify favouritism but the M R Singh ward kicked on gamely at end to gain the day.

M R Singh who recorded a double struck through Prince Azeem in the final event, the Sans Craintes Stud Stakes. The winner who had caught the eye in his earlier essay had impressed most in his final preparatory gallop and it came as no surprise when he reproduced his morning work to snuff out the challenge of Irish Prince comfortably. Amalfi Cioast who was fancied most by the insiders and the right connections flopped badly and failed to make the frame.

Syed Imran who booted home Anmol Hira in the opening event registered his maiden double on Saptajit in the Jayant Shah Memorial Trophy run over a mile. The winner from Azhar Ali’s yard edged out the favourite Super Smart piloted by Trevor. Courtship raced in patches and yet managed to come home third ahead of Raw Gold who appears to be a moody customer.