Jockey Dashrath Singh was in his element at RCTC on Saturday as he notched up a well-backed treble comprising Alldero, Ayra’s Pet and Malana. Bharath Singh-trained Ayra’s Pet lifted the Republic Cup after a tooth and nail battle with Knighthood. Heavily gambled public choice Arakawah failed to find his footing and finished in the ruck. It’s possible that this Mumbai import may have needed the run. Bharath’s other winner Alldero has now won three races from as many starts and is likely to make the St Leger his next target.

Trainer Javed Khan also enjoyed a successful day at work with a high-priced treble consisting of Bambini Festa, Tough Enough and Malana. Both Bambini Festa and Tough Enough are owned by Vikram Bachawat and syndicate. The afternoon commenced on an ominous note for punters as jockey Mahesh fell off the top-weight favourite Rising From Ashes. The other rider to fall was Ranidan Singh from Admantium. Second favourite Bambini Festa (Royal Gladitor-Markova/ Pratap Stud) was hard ridden by Shezad Khan to land the spoils in a close finish from Mythical Sunrise in the upper division of The Alavarada Handicap. The lower division of the same race saw Daniel David’s Aquaticaa come good with a degree of comfort in the hands of Ashaad Aasbar. The ante-post favourites Timeless Treasure and Adriatic Sea never seemed to have a chance. Solid Steel was a poor performer.

Apprentice Nikhil Naidu is a promising lad who was having a bit of a lean time. However, on Saturday, he derived maximum benefit from his two mounts – Tough Enough (Ontario-Thorns Of Life) and Roman Flame. The former lifted the upper division of the Treasure Land Handicap rather comfortably after lying in mid-division for most part. Shyam Habbu’s Roman Flame (Holy Roman Emperor-Christel Flame) pocketed the BK Poddar Cup after lying front-running Born To Win for most part before shooting ahead.

The outsider of the day was Sarfaraz Khan’s Power Of Freedom (Sharp Attack-Sweet Pea Jamie) who won the King Wajid Ali Shah of Oudh Cup with a late run from the rear of the field. Rage of  the ring Desert Falcon ran a forward race but faded out in the final furlong. Prolific Visit and Demonstrate dead-heated for the runner-up berth. The winner was piloted by apprentice RS Bhati who has been pretty successful this season.

Vijay Singh-trained Magique (Air Support-Crown Princess) lifted the David Jacob Cup in the hands of PS Chouhan.  The favourite Exclusive Power was right up there with the forward runners but failed to accelerate at a crucial juncture. Magique moved up from the fifth spot on the wide outside to win well.

Fashionably bred Alldero (Multidimensional-Allaire/ Usha Stud) is enjoying a wonderful start to his career. He has won three races from as many starts and may well take a tilt at The St Leger next in the middle of March – after the Invitation Cup weekend. On this occasion, he made every post of the 2000 metres race for the SS Bala Memorial Cup a winning one quite comfortably. The connections are well aware that he is bred to stay and are placing him extremely judiciously over increasing distances. Shrewd placement is half the battle won and that has been very much the case with this Bharath Singh ward owned by sporting owner Joydeep Dutta Gupta and his band of merry men.

The curtain came down with Dashrath Singh completing his treble with Javed Khan-trained Malana (Western Aristocrat-Understood/ Yeravada Stud). Ante-post favourite Monaco added to the list of failures from the Mc Keown stable. However, none of these failures can be discarded as they are blessed with the potential to perform. Hence, as a rational punter, it may be wise to follow them closely in the future.