R.H. Sequeira trained Ambitious Approach (Mathematecian-Dance N Celebrate) maintained its stunning form in the Umraolal Gupta Memorial Cup, a 1200 metres sprint for horses rated 58 to 78 wherein the riders were not allowed to carry a whip. The 4 years old chestnut gelding who is maintaining an excellent form picked up its 6^th win from 8 starts. Sent off as an on-money favourite, Ambitious Approach was smartly out of the gates and settled in third behind Paprika and Seven Colours. Passing the 300 metres board on the straight jockey Aneel started to push Ambitious Approach vigorously and the gelding picked up momentum to overhaul the leader Paprika comfortably. Oh Dear came in late to snatch the second place from Paprika. Green Image completed the frame.

Trainer K.Satheesh sent out four winners from the stable in a card of eight races. Three of them, Racing Ikon, Bouncer and Prince Caspian were ridden by Nakhat Singh while apprentice C.P. Bopanna was astride Dear Friend. Prince Caspian (Excellent Art-Entendu) made it a start to finish affair in the division I of the Mauritius Turf Club Plate. Rushing to the front as the gates opened, Prince Caspian was well up in front all the way and staved off a bid from Highly Acclaimed in the closing stages. Fashion High and Negress Pearl ran almost together throughout and finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey Nakhat Singh was made to work hard on Bouncer (Ontario-Priceless Princess) to beat Sir Legend in the division I of the Grace Hanover Plate. Bouncer was out in the lead from the word ‘go’ and looked good approaching the last 200 metres. Fashion High began to gallop strongly and looked to be travelling the better but Nakhat Singh’s persistence got Bouncer to come up with renewed effort and steal the show. Peagasus and Garib Parwar filled the frame in that order.

Nakhat Singh’s ‘don’t give up’ attitude paid dividends in the lower division of the race with lesser fancied Racing Ikon (Noverre-Isle Of Mull) beating the fancied stable mate Moon Walker in a keen duel. Racing Ikon was the smartest out of gates from the innermost draw and led the pack into the straight. Inside the final furlong Moon Walker slipped in from the inside and headed past the leader and had gone ahead by almost three parts of a length. Nakhat Singh started to ride out his mount and the mare responded brilliantly to get the nod at the wire. Rapidest and Abracos finished third and fourth respectively, in a close finish.

Dear Friend (Noverre-Shirley Moon) won the concluding race of the day, the division I of the Time And Place Plate in an impressive fashion. Racing a handy third along the rails behind Time Is Luck and Reach The Heights, Dear Friend was pulled out rounding the final bend and once on the straight the 6 years old cruised ahead and won drawing away. Reach The Heights, Tough Princess and Fabulous Art filled the frame in that order.

Jockey Prashant P Dhebe who had partnered Newport (Phoenix Tower-Miss Serendipity / Manjri Stud) in its win in the lower class was astride the gelding again to score an encore in the lower division of the Mauritius Turf Club Plate. Newport had improved gradually to be on the haunches of the leader Amazing Venus as the approached the final turn and once on the straight, surged ahead effortlessly. Starlight was the best of the beaten brigade, followed by That’s My Class and Meritocracy.

L.D’Silva trained Somerset (Steinbeck-Royal Confidence) pulled off an upset win in the Soviet Star Plate. Rutilant led from the start and brought the field into the straight. Somerset who chased the leader till entering the straight started to gain momentum and took over the running with a furlong left from home. The favourite Hope Is Eternal came up fast through the shortest way nearing the finish but Somerset and A.A. Vikrant were safely home by a little over a length. Air Strike and Treasure Striker finished third and fourth respectively.

Debutante Realmsoffantasy (Excellent Art-Glorious Fantasy) from trainer Laxman Singh’s yard score a thumping victory in the Medak Plate. Shiloh rushed to the front early in the race and Realmsoffantasy settled nicely to chase the leader. Approaching the last 300 metres Realmsoffantasy took over the running and stretched out effortlessly to extend the margin of victory. Shiloh stayed on in second followed by Tiger Of Sea and Best Friend.