Murky weather, slightly soft going and intermittent drizzles could not deter Christopher Alford-trained New Moon (Dean’s Kitten-Atmosphere) from lifting the Hyderabad Race Club Cup at RCTC on Tuesday. However, the five-year-old gelding had to fight tooth and nail with Javed Khan’s Riquewihr to bring home the bacon. The duo went stride for stride all the way down the straight with Trevor Patel’s power-packed finish having the final say. C. Alford completed a treble during the afternoon, his other winners being Abenaki and Summer Air. The latter fetched Trevor a double. Also among the forerunners was jockey Imran Chisty with a brace. Chisty has taken over the leadership at the top of the jockeys’ championship table as Suraj Narredu drew a blank on this day. The last five racedays in March should witness an exciting duel between these two forceful riders.

The afternoon commenced on a happy note for punters as the 5/2 favourite Raqs Sharqi (Royal Gladiator-Safe Keeping) made every post of the Bold Chieftan Handicap a winning one in the hands of Dashrath Singh. The Javed Khan ward was 3kg out of the scale but the bottom weight and mile-and-quarter trip suited him to the hilt. Dashrath’s gamble of hitting the front early paid off. Handicap horse Gold Bond followed him all the way to end up a good second.

Shafiq Khan-trained Artiste Royal (Tariq – Absolutely Royal) produced an encore with jockey RN Darshan in the saddle. He had to be hard ridden to get the better of Supernormal. As jockey Mukesh Kumar was indisposed, Darshan substituted him in all his mounts. The disappointment in the race was second favourite Silver King who ran like a dud despite being fancied by the connections. Favourite Popcorn continued to earn his corn bill with yet another minor placement, finishing up third behind Supernormal.

The first of Christopher Alford’s three winners was Abenaki (Chevalier-Abdicate) who showed a clean pair of heels to his nine rivals in the race for the Star Contender Handicap run over the metric mile. Sitting in the saddle was Shezad Khan who has been having a lean season, this being his first winner of the winter meet. Though running in the lowest class for the first time, Abenaki was neglected in the ring and available at 10/1.

C. Alford completed his treble with recent western India import Summer Air (Phoenix Tower-Musical Note) who won the last race of the day in great style, thanks to Trevor Patel’s powerful finishing drive. Trevor positioned him well despite facing a lot of traffic till the top of the straight. Under Trevor’s whip, the four-year-old gelding raised a late gallop on the wide outside to sail past San Remo who was shaping like a winner in the straight.

Jockey Imran Chisty was at his best this afternoon as he notched up a difficult double. The first of his winners was Vikash Jaiswal-trained Fenicia Mist (Saamidd-Yamuna) who won the 1100m race for the Amberetta Plate start-to-finish. Favourite Court Jester was breathing down his neck all the way but in the final furlong, Chisty rode out his mount hands-and-heels in impeccable fashion to land the spoils. In the very next race, Chisty piloted Arti Doctor -trained Pelion (Tazahum-Allandra) to a narrow short-head victory over Mckeown-trained Manzoni in the seven furlong race for the Kabuki Handicap. Farley Rodrigues, deputising for Mckeown, objected against the winner on the ground of interference near the top of the straight but it was overruled. Jockey Hindu Singh atop Manzoni was not alert enough and allowed Chisty on Pelion to gently squeeze him out of a favourable position. This definitely cost him a certain race.