Jockey Nikhil Naidu timed his run to perfection to land the spoils in the 1800m race for The Alternator Cup while astride Mallesh Narredu-trained Whomakestherules – the eleven- to-ten favourite. The six-year-old by Multidimensional out of Pricewise was last but one with barely 300 metres to go, but his amazing turn of foot did the trick as he pegged back the surprise runner-up Breezeofthesouth close home. The ante-post second favourite B FiftyTwo was withdrawn on veterinary grounds on the eve of the race. Jockey Trevor who was declared to ride the horse failed to fulfil his other engagements and was fined Rs 5,000/-.

Naidu completed a brace when he piloted Vijay Singh-trained Sniper (Kingda Ka-Zellers) to a start-to-finish triumph in the race for Adriana Handicap. Stablemate Smith And Wesson was installed as the even money favourite but Sniper’s runaway tactics left him floundering.

The leading trainer completed a double when Vrishank (Abbeyside-Star Selection) edged out Rustler by the proverbial whisker in the last race of the day. Avebury tripped early in the race and lost his stride while bottom-weighted Cool Conqueror set a fast pace. Rustler ran a good race and shot ahead at the distance post. He did look like a winner at one stage but Suraj Narredu atop the favourite kept persevering with his mount and it paid dividends. Jasbir Singh must be complimented for trying Rustler over middle distances as he seems to enjoy it. He was very much classified as a sprinter in his younger days.

The only other professional to complete a double was jockey Dhanu Singh Deora. Deora opened  his account with Vikash Jaiswal-trained Fantasia (Midnight Interlude-Opera Ridge). Much was expected of the piping hot favourite Adhirit but he failed to collar front-running top-weight Reincarnation. It was Vice Admiral who took the lead at the distance, soon to be challenged by Big Star and the fast finishing Fantasia. The last named pulled it off. Deora rode a similar race for eventual speed while astride Aashay Doctor-trained Popcorn (Diffident-Winged Light) in the six-furlong sprint for the Grey Wings Plate. The favourite Manzoni was a fair third. It was after all his first run on a rain-soaked monsoon track. He is one for the notebook.

Trainer Farley Rodrigues opened his account stylishly with a six-length victory by his speedster Gramercy Park (Win Legend-Manhattan). Apprentice Vikram took no chances and took the 2/1 public choice to the helm of affairs as the gates opened. The filly’s sheer pace was too hot to handle for the others. There are more races in store for her. Shivayy was a worthy runner-up.

Trainer Javed Khan landed a good gamble with seven-year-old Tough Enough (Ontario-Thorns Of Life) in the six-furlong race for the Rockefeller Handicap. Apprentice Sujit Kumar Paswan did the honours. The winner’s only competitor was the natural front-runner Aquitania. What was disappointing was the run of the others. Trevor was declared to ride Mr Fogg’s. In his absence, C. Alford was the replacement. The horse ended up ten lengths behind the winner. Was it poor assessment by the connections or poor riding by the replacement? I leave it to my respected and  knowledgeable readers to come to their own decisions.