After the confusion and chaos on Thursday, the tote operators going on a flash strike which led to the cancellation of Chennai off-course betting at this centre before they decided to returned to punch tickets at the tote windows for Mumbai races, the on course action on Friday won the hearts of many a lover of sport, the first classic of the winter season, the Shapoorji Pallonji Oil And Gas 1000 Guineas producing a pulse-pounding finish and to the delight of the followers of form, the Mumbai challenger Windsor Forest `heading’ out the local mainhope Kangra. Top gun Trevor Patel produced an exemplary effort on the winner and full marks to Pradeep Chouhan too, he did his best on the Sulaiman ward and was a trifle unlucky going down by the shortest of margins at the shadow of the winning post.

Champion trainer Pesi Shroff was delighted and so too the owners who incidentally have sponsored the 1000 and 2000 Guineas this winter and at the time of writing, the 2000 Guineas too appears to be in their bag, Tutankhamun, another from the Manjri Stud Farm fit and ready to register his second classic success on Saturday.

After the nohoper As Time Goes By set a decent pace all through the backstretch in this mile long classic journey before he shot his bolt at the top of the straight, Chouhan stole a march on Kangra and Windsor Forest now needed to produce her best to justify her top billing. The classy daughter of Phoenix Tiger out of Samsa did just that to gain the day in a thriller. Sedulous did well to take the third spot ahead of Glittering Gold while the Ganapathy ward Turf Magic, it was clear found the mile long trip beyond her compass.   

Earlier the principal added attraction, the air Force Trophy produced a shock result, rankoutsider Regal Music from trainer M R Singh’s yard piloted by apprentice darshan upsetting the applecart of the two most fancied contestants, Attorney General and Star Carnation.  The runner-up from Ganapathy’s yard it appeared suffered from an interference at a crucial juncture but it was clear at the end that Regal Music was travelling better and came home a deserving but yet a shocking winner. The Neil Darashah schooled Attorney General performed below par and finished in the ruck.

Lady Majestic was one other public rage who finished of the frame. Competing in the upper division of the Mekedatu Plate, the Satish Narredu ward was backed to the exclusion of her 13 rivals, but the on-money favourite after being favourably placed when the heads turned for home lacked the gas in the gas in the tank to stay in contention and was out of it even before the race came on a boil. The 15 to one shot Lunar Storm in the hands of Ryan Ahmed won the event in a pulsating finish from lesser fancied Kasauli and the grey Brunesco from Sandhu’s yard.

Trainer Lokanath Gowda who led in Lunar Storm had failed to strike on Oasis Breeze in the upper division of the event,. The topweighted contestant opened firm favourite in the event and even before the horses left the paddock the bookmakers sitting outside offered double the price and this was enough for the punters to understand which way the wind was blowing  and the result only confirmed it, Oasis Breeze not figuring in the first four. The lesser fancied Paradiso from Satish Narredu’s won the event from Eye Sign while Bellarive took the third spot.

In the opening event, the old at tooth but yet game to put his best stride ahead, nine-year-old Game Guy from Samar Singh’s yard justified the confidence of his master winning the Somnathpur Plate in the hands of Nazil. Masters Glory surprised most while gaining the runner-up berth ahead of Happy Hours who brought off a successful gamble in place.

The Sandhu schooled Admiral Hatsu who had caught the eye while winning his last start in Mysore produced another stunning effort in the upper division of the Kodagu Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Back after recording a fine treble at Mysore, Imran Chisy had it easy on the Sandhu ward who is in line to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next.

The lower division of the event was claimed by the second in demand at the betting ring, Iron Man from Pradeep Annaiah’s yard. Leading pro Srinath produced a copybook race on the winner who looked a picture of fitness at the paddock parade but the fact that Iron Man has a blood vessel problem stopped many from putting out a bet on the winner and  this only helped the Agarwals gain a good price on the winner.