Trainer Vikash Jaiswal’s piping hot (10-to-7-on) public choice Kramer, came unstuck in the final furlong of the race for the Deepak Karki Memorial Cup as he failed to match strides with his stablemate Amorous White (Stern Opinion-Adios Meadowlake). The five-year-old grey, available freely at 7/1, was hard ridden by Delhi ace Akash Rajput to peg back the punters’ fancy to the runner-up spot. Both Brahmachari and Copernicus were prominent at the finish and will be worth keeping an eye on for future events.

Champion trainer Vijay Singh combined fruitfully with retained rider Nikhil Naidu to open their account for the season with a well-backed double. Both winners Marigold (Saamidd-Quiet Appeal) and Astoria (Air Support-Saangre Azul) were ridden in a start-to-finish manner by Naidu and had to stave off strong challenges from Xlite and Whitewalker respectively. Had the last named not been slow off the blocks, he may well have turned the tables in the Replicate Handicap as he was the fastest mover at the wire. The opener of the day, The Everynsky Handicap, saw plenty of money come on Xlite and he was indeed prominent throughout the sprint but Naidu kept Marigold going with the help of the stick.

The failure of the day was Magnificent Star, the 11/10 favourite in the Picture Perfect Handicap. Unfortunately, it was anything but perfect for the well-backed three-year-old rig as he finished dead last after setting the pace till near the distance post where he was overhauled by the eventual winner Millenium Glory. The five-year-old mare from James Mckeown’s yard was hard ridden by Hindu Singh to keep at bay the fast finishing Storm Front who threatened to get the better of her.

The Elena Plate for maiden three-year-olds proved to be an interesting affair. Trainer Bharath Singh’s Incendio (Win Legend-Angel’s Glory) was ridden with fine understanding by upcoming apprentice Rupal Singh to land the spoils.  The youngster held the natural front-runner in check as second favourite Miami was travelling well in a box seat behind the front-runner. He made his move astride the 7/1 shot  in the straight and it paid off. The public choice Botswana Star ran yet another dismal race. He looks like another one of those runners which may be branded as a ‘bookies delight’. Wind Chaser finished on well on the wide outside to be third behind Miami. The last named is looking good and will be worth following for the Fillies’ Trial in early September. She may well come up trumps in her next outing and shed her maiden rank.

The curtain came down with the totally friendless six-year-old Airlift, from Shafiq Khan’s yard, bagging The Brush Aside Handicap. The 15/1 winner, by Arazan out of Perpetuate, was guided home by another able apprentice – RS Bhati.  Second favourite Shoin collared front-running Dangal in the straight but eventually finished in the ruck. Public choice Aashna, who has been a bookies’ delight for some time now, struggled to finish runner-up.