The expected duel between Governor General and Multitude for The Army Cup ended in a one-sided show of strength by the former. Trainer MK Jadhav’s crack sprinter Governor General was ridden to his second victory of the season at his new home by ace horseman A Sandesh. Tracking front-runner Amorous White till the top of the straight, Governor General (Phoenix Tower – Dancing Highness) stole a march over his nearest rival Multitude who failed to make any notable impression. However, the winner was is in receipt of 5.5kg from the beaten top-weight. It is most likely that at the same weight, Multitude will get the better of the ‘Governor’.

Though out of station, trainer Vijay Sigh (with Farley Rodrigues deputising) notched up a brace during the day with Darsh and Adhirit. The latter, a two-year-old by Arazan out of Meohmy, won the CM Varma Memorial Cup by a street making every post a winning one.  Darsh (Win Legend – Ice Point) bagged the 2000m race for the Aphroze Handicap while second favourite Duchamp finished an unimpressive fifth. Aged Cool Conqueror was a notable third and one for the notebook.

The afternoon commenced with trainer Daniel David getting a long-awaited winner in Star Phoenix (Arabian Gulf-Star Princess) who picked up the mile race for The Topmost Handicap. Apprentice RS Bhati rode a clever race to win well from Adriatic Sea. Following Indus Prince till the straight, the 4/1 shot won quite easily as he drew away.

The Gen AS Vaidya Cup saw money coming on Shyam Habbu-trained Raise A Grand who closed at 2/1. The well-prepared grey filly was in rear of the field for most part while Millenium Glory and Panchovilla cut the wind. However, when Shezad Khan gave the daughter of Ravel out of Lothian Lass the green signal, there was simply no stopping her as she won by over three lengths from heavily fancied Kantai.

Vikash Jaiswal-trained Denny Crane defied the 4kg penalty for his previous win, in the six-furlong sprint for the Madrace Race Club Cup, as the big boned top-weight won from pillar to post in the hands of apprentice Tejeshwar. Though Multitude finished runner-up, he returned bleeding from both nostrils. Both Gryffindor and Mygrator ran well below par.
The curtain came down with James Mckeown-trained Novikov springing a bit of a surprise in his first run this season. While Fabienne lost her rider, Sereno finished a poor last. Beatles Bible too was an unimpressive fifth. Novikov (Holding Court-Dancer’s Fan) won effortlessly in Hindu Singh’s hands.