Bushtops (Archipenko – Etroubles, Nanoli Stud) dazzled yet again while beating Adjudicate a second time, inflicting a telling blow on the image of the star filly winning the Idar Gold Trophy in style. While Adjudicate was not below her par, it was Bushtops who raised his game and showed tremendous improvement in recent times to notch up his third successive victory this season. Veteran trainer MK Jadhav deserves high accolades for bringing the gelding on to her peak and the superlative leap he has taken with the Indian St Leger (Gr1) around the corner. 

Vulcan set a steady pace and led comfortably with Adjudicate going hard held and Bushtops settled back in the rear. Adjudicate made the first move as she coasted past Vulcan at the turn and eased into the straight to take the early charge. Whatever hopes the large number of supporters of the filly had, soon vanished when Bushtops arrived with a fiery gallop approaching the distance post. Bushtops, with jockey NS Parmar in the saddle, stormed ahead and then drew away from Adjudicate to score an even better victory than the one he had in the Eve Champion. 

Nirad Karanjawalla trained Sandman (Kingda Ka – Sultry Me, Nanoli Stud) scored a facile victory and justified the strong flow of money heaped on him at even money or thereabouts. Jockey A Imran Khan improved positions soon on start and hustled the favourite to settle behind chief rival God’s Decree. He stalked the leader well into the straight and then changed gears and quickened sweetly to surge past and draw away to post an impressive maiden victory and clinch the upper division of the BK 
Lagad Trophy. God’s Decree kicked on to finish second well ahead of Princess Avika. 
Malesh Narredu trained Sachertorte (Chinese Whisper – Mishri, Tohna Stud) benefited from a good dress rehearsal three weeks back. He showed good early speed to dart ahead from the gates and had Cest L’Amour close behind. Prime favourite Pezula was slowly off and had a forgettable debut. 

Sachertorte kept a firm grip on the race on straightening up for home and unleashed a nice gallop to steer clear of Cest L’Amour. Jockey Yash Narredu had the luxury of easing up his mount and yet spare a length and half at the wire. En Sabah Nur finished on well to beat Cest L’Amour for the runner-up berth.

Trainer AM Jadhav’s Jetfire (Total Gallery – Daffodils, Bishan Stud) finally shook off his maiden status after a frustrating run of finishing second best on seven previous occasions. Jetfire made progress in the straight taking the shortest way through along the inner rails. Julio Cesaro led them all the way into the straight and looked on course until Jetfire started to draw closer in the final furlong. Jockey NS Parmar managed to get Jetfire going past the distance post and accelerated strongly to romp home a clear winner. Julio Cesaro held on to take the second spot from the fast finishing Aurora Australis and Night Hunt. 

Trainer Imtiaz Sait started the day on a winning note with an impressive double strike in the first two races. Findlerhof (Phoenix Tower – Mabaahej, Manjri Stud) was backed confidently and boy did she oblige! 

Jockey Trevor settled the filly towards the rear end of the field as Ustad Pedro set off to lead them all the way into the homestretch. Findlerhof got going soon on entering the homestretch and soon assumed charge. Findlerhof galloped gamely and soon stretched out beautifully to pile up a massive lead and win with a huge margin. Adonijah improved considerably from the last position and did well to pip Ustad Pedro for the second slot. 

Imtiaz then saddled Truly Epic (Mull of Kintyre – Sun Control, Sohna Stud) who put in a strong finish to score. FavouriteTasawwur led them all the way into the straight with Arrowfield tagging Truly Epic improved considerably while taking the turn and was right behind the front running duo. Arrowfield worked hard to draw level with Tasawwur but before he could get past, Truly Epic arrived with a powerful run to simply collar them in front of the stands and then surge past to score by a narrow margin. Arrowfield finished a neck ahead of Tasawwur, the later was clearly short of a run and deserves another chance. 

Adhiraj Jodha trained Dazzle N Daze (Sedgefield – Dixie Dahlin, Jai Govind Stud) produced a timely gallop to win the concluding race of the day. Settling in the fourth spot Dazzle N Daze, with Neeraj Rawal astride, started to make headway as Vitesse had piled up a huge lead. Dazzle N Daze soon caught up with the leader and galloped on leaving the others to chase him down. She’s a Tiger moved up in the straight but had too much to do and ended up second to Dazzle N Daze. Zeemo improved to save place money. 

For the professionals, trainer Imtiaz Sait saddled a double, while jockeys NS Parmar and A Imran Khan scored a double each.