Excellent (Excellent Art – Skyelady, Villoo’s Greenfield Farm) scored a clinical victory, without having to put in any extra effort. The much expected close finish, with Spitfire and Texas Gold looming large, did not materialize as neither adversary was up to it on the day. In It To Win It was the one to show a semblance of fight and all he did was to get a little bit closer at the finish. 

Jockey A Sandesh was always in control as he guided the Dallas Todywalla charge into the lead soon on start. He settled to a suitable pace for the mile race and made every post a winning one. Into the straight, Excellent had a slender lead with Zenon and Spitfire just over a length away. In It To Win It improved positions, emerging from the rear. As Excellent kicked on at a fast clip, In It To Win It get past Spitfire with ease and drew closer to the leader. Texas Gold was a shadow of what he was over his winning run and was never in the hunt. Spitfire too was pale and ran under par making it easier for the winner. Excellent himself ran a good race and left nothing to chance snuffing out the challenger even before it could sprout. Excellent recorded his fourth career win from 10 starts out of which he failed to touch the board only once; and that was in Sir Cecil’s Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr1). 

Arc Shine (Pinson – Scholarship, Nakul Stud) produced a terrific burst of speed to pip El Comandante on the post to snatch victory and claim the Amateur Riders’ Club Trophy in a scintillating finish. Gold Field led them into the homestretch and was hounded by a bunch of horses. Flower Dust picked up well early in the straight to get past Collegium and Goshawk with ease and pounce on the leader. However, he failed to sustain and paid the price. El Comandante moved up nicely from the outside and had a clear run to make rapid progress. Arc Shine weaved her way between horses and was presented with a clear passage along the rails. Jockey Nazil seized the opportunity and pushed his way past his rivals and Arc Shine was finishing on at a good clip. El Comandante did his best and looked the winner until the last stride when Arc Shine just managed to place her nose in front at just the right time to clinch the issue. Timeless Deeds was too far back coming into the straight, yet covered a lot of ground to run into the money. Gold Field held on to find the remaining slot in the frame, while Epiphany, who too was kept too far back, finished on well to end a close fifth. 

Malesh Narredu trained first timer Mystic Bay (Leitir Mor – Memory Bay, Poonawalla Stud) looked impressive while scoring a facile victory over a more experienced opposition. It was all smooth sailing for jockey Suraj Narredu as Mystic Bay settled beautifully in third after taking a smart jump as Gallant Star and Powerful Star led them into the straight. 

Mystic Bay surged ahead soon on turning for home and galloped fluently justifying the strong support he garnered. Within split-seconds he was rushing away leaving the field far behind, looking the winner long way from home. He displayed a good galloping style and was mean and fast flashing past the stands to notch up an eye-catching debut win. Galloping Goldmine beat the rest with ease while Taarradhin ended a faraway third, well ahead of Golden Steal. 

Sharareh (Varenar – Pointillist, Equus Stud) trained by Rehanullah Khan, did commendably well to carve out a very comfortable victory in the concluding race of the day. She had to cover a lot of ground in the straight as Bonafide had a big lead and was threatening to build on it. Sharareh set about in chase and worked her way closer to Bonafide. It took her all the way into the final furlong to draw level and then she accelerated fiercely to storm ahead and post a handsome victory, her second this season. Bonafide held on to take the runner up berth, edging out Lord Commander. Slam Dunk who finished fourth, could have done with better skill from the saddle.  

Trainer Faisal Abbas’ ward Agrami (Excellent Art – Only For Gold, Poonawalla Stud) was another one to make a winning debut on the day. Jockey G Amit had a tough time in keeping the erratic course the filly was taking, drifting outward in the straight. Fire Flame was kicking on past the distance post when Grand Sinatra arrived with a big run. He shaped like a winner when he surged past Fire Flame and Grand Sinatra nearly won too, however, Agrami stole it away with an aggressive finish from the wide out to nail it close home, carving out victory by half a length. Grand Sinatra was unlucky not to have pulled it off. Fire Flame ended in the money. 

Adhirajsingh Jodha’s Fencing (Sedgefield – Saffro, Jai Govind Stud) smashed the opposition in the first race of the day, winning by a big margin. Fencing moved up nicely from the bunch soon on turning for home and once Sandesh got her going, she simply drew away to win by five lengths. Honourable Eyes ended a tame second ahead of Power of Thor who improved in the final furlong to beat long-time leader Whoopsidaisy for the third spot. 

Faisal Abbas trained Dance Emperor (Dean’s Kitten – Sciunfona, Sohna Stud) also won by a wide margin and effortlessly at that, confidently ridden by apprentice jockey AS Peter. He won start to finish, quickening well on entering the homestretch. He sailed ahead unchallenged and he rolled on and on to stay out of reach all the way past the post. Macgyver and Outstanding took the minor placing, without troubling the winner. 

For the professionals, trainer Faisal Abbas saddled a double, while jockey A Sandesh scored a double as well.