Vijay Singh-trained Multitude (Multidimensional-Haedi/ Usha Stud), the half-money public choice for the Indian Gold Vase, made winning look easy in the hands of S John.  It was Shivalik Storm who cut a fast pace till well past the distance post before John decided to set his mount alight. Multitude moved with raking strides and sailed past his rival to win easier that verdict.

Invincible Prince, the stablemate of Shivalik Storm, was quite obviously not permitted to run on his merit. Though their ratings are virtually the same, Invincible Prince raced in the rear and finished dead last. A former senior stipe of the Club who was present,  was in total concurrence with this correspondent. “ What is the point of fining an upcoming apprentice Rs 5,000 on a ‘donkey’ like Constance – whose current rating is in the bottom half of the lowest category – if the big fish are allowed to escape without a fear in the world?” Rules ought to be the same for all professionals irrespective of caste, creed, clout or the pigmentation of their epidermis.

Trainer James McKeown completed a treble with I Told You Know, Millenium Glory and Nobu.  In a spectacular blanket finish involving four horses, B Mahesh atop I Told You Know got the better of runaway Friendship, fast finishing Top Cat and The Stradle. It’s quite possible that Friendship may have pulled this off with a reliable apprentice who claims an allowance of 2 or 3kg. But then, that’s a part of the game.

Visiting jockey David Allan did not disappoint his many followers when he notched up a short-priced double with Millenium Glory (Win Legend-Integra/ Dashmesh Stud) and Nobu (Burden Of Proof-Soviet Lake/ Kunigal Stud). Both won in near identical manner – following the pace-setter till the turning for home before taking over the running. While Millenium Glory picked up the L Fownes Memorial Cup, Nobu pocketed the upper division of The BOL Publication Cup.

The Horendro Kristo Dutt Memorial Cup was an interesting affair. Nervous apprentice Rupal Singh atop 6/1 shot Cocoanut was rather unfortunate – losing considerable ground at the start, then trying to take the rails and his mount stumbling very badly near the 600m before dropping out last. Nikhil Naidu atop Vijay Singh-trained Half Volley   rode a copy-book race to win comfortably from a creditable runner-up Storm Front.

Young Rutherford Alford did rather well to lift The N Karanjawalla Cup with two-year-old Houtzen (Dean’s Kitten-Ruby Queen). In this race, the ante-post on-money favourite Advika was withdrawn at the starting stalls.

In the day’s opener, The Classic Sky Handicap, Contance was the ante-post rage for touts but not surprisingly, she finished in the ruck. Indus Prince ran a good race to finish third but it was Jasbir Singh-trained Zurvan (Oath-Zauberwelt/Pratap Stud) who sprung the surprise, not his second ward – Auberon. Apprentice Ranidan Singh did well to pull it off after following the pace-setting Indus Prince till into the straight.

Despite this being the first outing of his life, blue-blooded Alldero ( Multidimensional-Allaire/ Usha Stud) picked up a late gallop under Dashrath’s stick to peg back the public choice Aragon close home. The colt looks a nice type who is certain to improve.