Havelock Cruise (Chinese Whisper – Yughanni) from trainer D. Netto's yard was driven hard to score in The Dundoo Ekambar Memorial Cup, the feature event on Saturday, 23rd October 2021. As per the trend of the day, Havelock Cruise was offered at lucrative odds owing to the fact that he didn't seem at his best going by his last couple of runs. However, Havelock Cruise bounced back to end his season on a winning note a lot more easily than one could have thought.

Skipton, taking advantage of the light weight he was carrying, tried the runaway tactics as he amassed a big lead early in the race. Havelock Cruise was in second, a good seven or eight lengths behind the leader, with the fancied runner N R I Valley another couple of lengths behind him. Into the straight, Skipton could not sustain for too long and was soon accounted for as Havelock Cruise picked up speed and took charge past the 400m mark. N R I Valley shaped well as she too got past Skipton with ease and was trying to throw in her challenge. However, jockey Vikrant rode his mount vigorously until the post guiding Havelock Cruise past the line well ahead N R I Valley; the latter did well to finish runner-up, well ahead of Skipton.

Ananth Vatsalya trained Wallop and Gallop (One Lucky Dane - Woodchick) scored a dramatic victory, rallying from the last position to score his maiden victory on his sixth start. As expected, Quality Warrior hit the front soon on the jump with Dream Jewel and Aryaman close behind, the first division of the Venus De Milo Plate, a mile event for the maidens. As they turned for home, short priced favourite Aryaman, stepped up pace and had barely taken over when tragedy struck. Aryaman just stumbled and broke down near the 300 mtrs mark, dislodging the rider. While jockey Vikrant escaped unhurt, Aryaman had to be euthanized on humanitarian grounds.

Quality Warrior was back in command and seemed on course, when  Wallop And Gallop produced a scintillating run to storm ahead inside the last 50 meters or so to stun Quality Warrior. Golden Amaris beat Southern Act narrowly for the third spot.

A thrilling finish was presented in the 1800 mtrs, the Red Indian Plate with Moringa and November Rain (Kingda Ka – Soak) fighting stride for stride in the last 100 mtrs, November Rain prevailing by a short-head at the post.

Campania set a true pace for the nine-furlong Red Indian Plate and it seemed almost ideal for the stablemate Moringa as the latter rallied from behind in the home stretch. Campania led them into the straight and the race soon came to a boil with Forever Bond, Moringa and November Rain competing fiercely and coming alongside Campania, all four racing together with just about a furlong to go.

Moringa and November Rain then pulled away from the rest and were involved in a neck and neck battle for supremacy. November Rain nailed it on the last stride with jockey Mukesh Kumar with what seemed a perfectly timed final assault, getting that extra bit to nose out Moringa at the wire. Capania ended a good third just over a length away.

Trainer Laxman Singh led in his second winner of the day when Bandit King (Chinese Whisper – Lady Marmelade) defeated Dream Station by 3/4 of a length in the second division of the Venus De Milo Plate.

Ashwa Migsun and Costello were in a tough battle in the straight when fancied Dream Station charged to take the lead at the distance post. Bandit King, ridden with vigor by Ajit Singh, had to contend with Dream Station and Special Effort in the final furlong. The trio was inseparable and were going all out for the wire. Dream Station had a slender lead until Bandit King straightened course after being a tad erratic in his finish. Once jockey Ajit Singh corrected the course, Bandit King flew in the final few strides and landed the spoils in the nick of time, winning by 3/4 lengths from Dream Station and Special Effort.

 Netto trained Maximum Glamour (Smuggler's Cove - Tejaswini) had a commendable season returning with three wins in a row from four starts. This one perhaps was hardest fought as the entire seven-horse field finished within a length and quarter! Limoncello led them into the straight with Mark My Word in second. Just Incredible and Maximum Glamour were right at the heels of the pair in front. Jockey Vikrant, who has been in good form in the latter part of the season, rode out confidently as Maximum Glamour started to accelerate with a couple of cracks. The surge forward was decisive even though a bunch of rivals was snapping at the tail of the on-money favourite. Limoncello, Just Incredible, Kesariya Balam were all ridden out, yet Maximum Glamour thwarted all the challengers effectively to return victorious by just under a length. Just Incredible beat Limoncello by a neck for the runner-up slot, with Kesariya Balam and Crazy Horse alongside. New Look was way behind at the tail end and had too much to do in the straight, yet ran on well to finish among the
bunch.

Aerial Combat (Air Support - Sheer Class) dropped no sweat while coming from the mid-field position to storm ahead in the straight and add to his solitary win, which was on his debut way back in 2019. Ashwa Jauhar squandered a good lead as he weakened once they turned for home. Aerial Combat warmed up nicely and rushed out in front taking charge with about 300m to go. The moment he picked up speed, he proved far too superior to the rest. He marched on all alone in the final furlong to win easing up. The Sequeira trainee flew past the winning post, sparing close to three lengths to General Atlantic. California Beauty ended a tame third.

Beauty On Parade (Green Coast - Parade Queen), trained by Netto, pulled off a clinical start-to-finish victory following up her last start success three weeks back. She never came under any threat as he entered the straight well clear of her rivals. Jockey Deepak Singh was in complete command in the homestretch as he rode out confidently all the way to the winning post. Curcumin rallied well in the last part to grab the second place from Nearest.

L D'Silva trained Elmira (Green Coast - Tiana) showed considerable improvement over her last few runs to notch up her second victory, the previous once coming in February 2020. Jockey Afroz Khan went to the front with Elmira within the first furlong and stayed ahead all the way. Flamingo Flame tried to make a fight of it in the last 100 meters, but Elmira never let her guard down to hold on by a length eventually to score comfortably. Thunder Road improved positions to finish in the money.

For the professionals, trainer D Netto sent out three winners, while trainer Laxman Singh and jockeys A Vikrant and Deepak Singh scored a double each.