Trainer Javed Khan’s long shot Brahmachari (Chevalier-Avec Plaisir) made a mockery of the form book as he lifted the RWITC Cup with a degree of ease at RCTC on Tuesday. In his two previous starts this season, he had ended up an unimpressive fifth and seventh. The eight-year-old was maintained in mid-division by apprentice Tejeshwar and switched to the outside in the straight. He moved with giant strides to sail past Wave Rider while much fancied New Moon from Christopher Alford’s yard faced traffic problems in the straight. Though he was switched to the rails to finish runner-up, it is unlikely that he could have overhauled the winner. Javed’s other horse Riquewihr was a none too impressive sixth.

The afternoon commenced with a dramatic victory for Robert Gowli-trained Pep Talk (Chevalier-Tazarite) in the mile race for the Daring Don Handicap. Available at 6/1, jockey CS Jodha had to pull out all stops atop the filly to keep at bay the fast finishing favourite Glendower with Trevor Patel astride. The latter was gaining on her with every stride and the verdict would probably have been reversed had not the winning post come to the rescue of the filly – a truly nail-biting finish to start the day’s proceedings.

CS Jodha completed a brace of wins with Vijay Singh-trained Inca who made every post of the 2000 metres race for the Sentouki Handicap a winning one. The ante-post favourite Roll Call was withdrawn and the only worthy challenge to the eventual winner came from Raqs Sharqi. Avellino ended up a good third.

Arti Doctor- trained Simply Soaring (Air Support-Systematic) completed a fabulous hat-trick of wins when she came with amazing acceleration in the final furlong to peg back Windchaser at the wire in the race for the Yerevan Handicap. The top-weight mile win speaks well of the winner’s potential. The four-year-old has more races in store for her.

It seems the afternoon belonged to fillies as James Mc Keown’s Apsara Star (Win Legend-Actuate) pocketed the David Jacob Cup without too much trouble. Jockey Hindu Singh cleverly guided her along the rails after Dornish had sailed past front-running Nandini’s Pet and appeared headed for home.

Champion jockey-turned trainer Christopher Alford opened his training career’s account with Sullivan (Phoenix Tower-Lisa’s Kitten) who bagged the Irma La Douce Handicap over five-and-half furlongs. Jockey Trevor Patel did the honours as Sullivan strongly challenged twice-winner Namak Halaal midway up the straight to end his hat-trick aspirations.

Most of the favourites took a beating during the afternoon and punters rested their final hopes on Vijay Singh-trained Advait who was running over five-and-half furlongs on this occasion. The gelding tried to make every post a winning one but fell short close home when Arti Doctor’s filly Sharavati (New Famous-Chitralekha) moved with giant strides in the straight under Imran Chisty’s stick.