Two good youngsters, Obsidian from leading trainer Prasanna Kumar’s yard and Promise Kept under the care of Arjun Manglorkar sent out a message that in the months ahead the railbirds will certainly get to view many top draw performances from the duo. Promise Kept made a smashing debut, justifying her top billing in the RWITC Cup, while Obsidian confirmed that he has the required potential and temperament to graduate to the big league.

After Oswald from Prasanna Kumar’s yard was withdrawn in the morning, Promise Kept garnered the maximum support in the RWITC Cup. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and that was enough for most old hats in the game to pass the good word that this debutant will be hard to down. The talented Darshan produced a stellar effort on the winner, biding his time despite the fact that Promise Kept’s stablemate Millbrook had taken charge and looked in complete control before Darshan setalight the public choice and the promising youngster produced a sparkling gallop to overhaul the leader and score in resplendent style. The effort from the talented filly delighted the Aggarwal brothers, Rajan and Gautam, who it must be mentioned are enjoying a good run this winter.

Harmonica in the next event, the Classic Story Trophy helped the owners record a double. The winner piloted by apprentice jockey Arul tracked the two leaders, The Response and Aachen for most part of the sprint trip before quickly assuming command and putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Alberetta from Irfan Ghatala’s yard caught the eye, while storming through to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Perfect Rendition, while the topweighted favourite Set To Win was never in the hunt.

De Villiers from the stables of Sulaiman Attaollahi who beat Sacrament by the shortest of margins on the opening day of the season was the top fancy in the upper division of the Linganamakki Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The fact that Sacrament went down tamely to Icelandic yesterday did not stop the punters from pinning their hopes on the Sulaiman ward. N S Parmar astride De Villiers was in a spot of bother the moment his mount was running out. To the credit of Parmar, it must be mentioned that he managed to keep the favourite in touch with the leader Obsidian for most part of the journey before the winner detonated his seven rivals and thundered home in emphatic fashion. The Gautam Maini owned Obsidian on the strength of this performance will be hard to down when saddled next and kudos to Prasanna Kumar for helping Obsidian make a superb winning comeback after his listless last essay.

The lower division of the event earlier was claimed by the half-money favourite Morganite powerfully piloted by jockey Imran Khan. The Lokanath schooled Unique Style piloted by four kilo claimer Saqlain threw a scare, challenging the public rage in the final furlong before Imran digging deep on his experience reserves managed to gain the day, ` neck’ separating Morganite from Unique Style. The Inheritor from Sharath Kumar’s yard was strongly fancied by the insiders and the right connections to upset the applecart of the favourite but the Sharath ward was withdrawn resulting in Unique Style pushing Morganite to stretch every sinew before entering the winners’ circle.

It was good to see Faraz Arshad lead in Southern Power, the winner of the opening event, the lower division of the Sutlej Plate. On the strength of his satisfactory effort in his last essay, Commandpost from trainer Narayan Gowda’s yard was fancied strongly, but Faraz it was clear was also very bullish of Southern Power’s chances and the supporters of the two top fancies went hammer and tongs in the bookmakers ring before Commandpost closed (6/4), while Southern Power was close on the heels, offered at (18/10). Southern Power in the hands of Nazer-ul-Alam justified the confidence of his trainer powering home ahead of the favourite while Eco Friendly managed to save money in place.

Spurred by the success of Southern Power, Faraz dropped the biggest bombshell in the next event, the Sharavati Plate run over a mile, the friendless Trensetter from his yard registering a big upset.  The winner piloted by Rayan Ahmed paid a rich dividend of Rs, 458 on a tenner at the tote window. The favourite Star And Garter after raising hopes at the top of the straight failed to keep going and eventually finished a poor fourth behind the runner-up Legendary Princess and the second in demand at the betting ring Marco Polo.

Sharath Kumar brought off a fairly good gamble in the concluding event, the upper division of the Sutlej Plate. Extraordinary from his yard was backed down from (5/1) to (13/4) while Impeccable was easily available at (2/1) and Code Of Honour (7/2). The favourite in the hands of Yash Narredu held the advantage in the final furlong before Sai Kumar packed punch on the Sharath ward and Extraordinary stormed through to gain the day close home. Impeccable finished a game second ahead of Raw Gold while Code Of Honour, it was clear needed this run.