Bangalore-based trainer Prasanna Kumar left his visiting card in style when his crack sprinter Knotty Ash (Gusto-Dovers Hill) made mince-meat of his six rivals in the six-furlong race for the Indian Gold Vase. Top-weight jockey S John was all business from the outset as his mount took up a handy second position on the flank of front-running Amorous White, right after the jump-out. The handsome horse with a blaze changed gears in the straight and it was all over bar the shouting. Post-race, the six-year-old’s trainer commented that he will take a call next week on his ward’s next course of action. However, after the manner in which the horse demolished the field, he is more than likely to be a final entrant for the Champions’ Sprint Trophy on D-day.

The rest of the afternoon belonged to leading trainer Vijay Singh who added four more winners to his already bulging tally. Three of those were with ace jockey Suraj Narredu in the saddle. The duo opened their account with Abhya Gama (Multidimensional-Violet Honey) who won the mile race for the Star Contender Handicap start-to-finish. Exception ran on to be a fair second. Suraj next guided home recent western-India import Resolute (Air Support-Set Alight) in the 2000 metres race for the Pa bear Handicap. Seasky did pose a threat in the straight, but the ace rider managed to get that extra-mileage from his mount to see him home. His trainer opined that he is a bit of a one-pace horse who may prefer an even longer trip.

 The hat-trick pair next lifted the S S Bala Memorial Cup with Moskova (Multidimensional-Brushed Aside). When asked to comment on his success rate at this centre by paddock commentator Melissa Alford, Suraj was humble as they come. “There’s no magic involved. The trainer does most of the hard work. Thereafter, it’s routine”.  The fourth Vijay Singh winner was the filly Mystic Wonder (Win Legend – Aerona) who brought the curtain down on the day’s proceedings without much ado – giving Hindu Singh an armchair ride.

Two trainers who pulled off successful gambles on a difficult afternoon were Shafiq Khan and Vikash Jaiswal with Think Big and Krishaa’s Choice respectively. The former’s victory with K Sai Kiran astride was truly amazing. The filly by Green Coast out of Golden Chain lost five lengths at the start, took the bend ten wide and yet won The Roubaix Handicap by five long lengths. The handicapper has penalised her a whopping 7.5kg for this triumph – which places her virtually at the bottom of Class III.

As for Krishaa’s Choice (New Famous – Striking Beauty), the speedster finally had things going her way. She was blocked in her opening essay and got an unfavourable draw in her next effort. On this occasion, PS Chouhan utilised the inside draw to good effect to make every post of the M B Medhora Cup a winning one.