What a smashing year it has been for the stable of Dr Vijay Mallya and URBB. With still a month left before the New Year, the famous White-with-Black ‘V’ silks already have seven classics to their name and an astounding 102 winners. When the three-year-old filly Conquistarose won the lower division of The Romantic Notes Handicap in the hands of apprentice Shezad Khan, she became the 100th winner for the yard this year. The on-money favourite Alice Springs won the 1000 Guineas after a brief tussle with Arti Doctor’s Amouresque.

Cambiasso lifted The RWITC Cup to complete a well-deserved treble for Dr Mallya’s stable. The city, which Dr Mallya has always claimed to be close to his heart, played host to his 100th winner last year as well. The long afternoon with a card of nine races commenced well for Arti Doctor. The much-fancied Andromache (Alnasr Alwasheek-Aroma) won the 2,000 metres race for The Safari Handicap in a canter to sound a warning to her rivals for the Calcutta Oaks at the end of December. The fashionably bred filly is a full-sister to the illustrious Radical Force and has more wins in store for her.

Jockey Kamlesh had his mount racing behind top-weight Avon Creek till the bend before smoothly sailing away for a comfortable victory. The withdrawal of Eros in The Regal Star Plate for two-year-olds meant that the betting was shared between Vijay Singh-trained Accoast and Patrick Quinn’s Lake Spirit (Black Cash-High Shaan). Under Culhane’s strong handling, the latter prevailed despite being taken out by Shershah who was entrusted to Shabbani. Apprentice Shezad Khan has been riding out his mounts purposefully.

Trainer Farley Rodrigues and his owners made the right move by declaring the lad on recent winner Reams Of Gold (Western Verse – Golden Future). The rider took her to the front as the gates opened and stayed there all the way. He had to, however, contend with a late challenge from Diyena who was gaining ground at one point. Fancied runners Vence, River Divine and Torrential failed to run to expectation.

Apprentice Shezad went one better in the lower division of the same race when he resorted to the liberal use of the stick on Conquistarose (Diffident-Conqueress) to win by the proverbial whisker from a fast-finishing River Pride. The latter’s last poor run saw the suspension of Md Islam and this run (over a trip a little sharp for him) vindicated the action of the Stewards. The upper division of The Romantic Liaison Cup was annexed by Pesi Shroff-trained Delphi (Emerald Cat – Bongusto) without being stretched.

She completely outclassed the field once Kishore Kadam decided to take up the running before the half-way mark in the six-furlong sprint. Though second favourite Oceanaire showed some early speed, it was in fact Missoni who ran on to occupy the runner-up berth. In the lower division of the same event, the heavily fancied Arbroath showed plenty of early speed. But that’s where his story ended – rather early. Shafiq Khan-trained Mandira (Gaswar-Essential Elegance) was having her first outing after the monsoon Fillies Trial but produced a winning gallop under apprentice Babu Singh in the straight. Arbroath ultimately finished in the ruck, while aged runners like Brave Move and Rebellious occupied the minor positions.

The first running of The Haskell David Memorial Trophy would have been Avesco’s for the asking if he had been positioned early in the race. Jockey Shailesh Shinde complained after the race that Awesome Indian was not maintaining a straight path ahead of him and he opted for the rails after heads turned for home, hoping to take the shortest route home. Unfortunately for him, Nirmal Jodha on the winner rode a copybook race in that he positioned Generous Thought (Bee’s Prospector-Waggamama) behind the pace-setter and surged ahead in the straight.

By the time Avesco was making his bold bid for victory along the rails, Nirmal had already put the race out his reach. All credit to him for notching up his first winner this season. Hopefully, that will bolster his confidence for the rest of the season. The favourite Moon Flower was never in it and finished in the ruck. Art Excellence and Zoffany were the early pace-makers in The Calcutta 1000 Guineas. Chris Hayes had Pesi Shroff-trained Alice Springs (Razeen-Allinda) handily placed in fourth slot while Kamlesh on the second favourite Amouresque chose to lie a couple of lengths behind her.

At the home turn, Hayes went hell for leather while Kamlesh was having trouble finding a passage for his mount. By the time he did issue a useful challenge, Alice Springs was in no mood to relent under her rider’s strong handling. Cambiasso (Razeen-Gourgandine) completed the treble for Pesi Shroff in The RWITC Cup. The well-bred stayer made the local lot look pedestrian as he shot ahead of the field in the final furlong. The on-money favourite was ridden confidently by Hayes who was well aware of his mount’s potential. As expected, Adriano and Aamar Kaku filled in the minor placings.