Trainer Neil Darashah’s Sea Lion (Phoenix Tower- Tropical Blue) got the better of the course favourite Victorious Sermon at the wire in the seven-furlong race for the Stewards Cup at RCTC on Wednesday. Jockey A Imran Khan rode a calculated race as he settled his mount a close last of six till the mid-way marker and then gradually improved him, travelling three wide. Consigliori set a hot pace with the public choice in tow. Sandesh on the favourite made his move at the top of the straight and shot ahead but was soon joined by Sea Lion. The duo went hammer and tongs till the winning post with an elated Imran pumping his fist at the all important end, having gained the verdict by a neck.

Trainer Javed Khan notched up a lucrative double with Exotic Queen (6/1) and Devushka (4/1), both ridden by apprentice S Saqlain who is unlikely to remain an apprentice for long as he is improving with every passing race-day. Five-year-old Exotic Queen (Letir Mor-Star Of Venus) was given a forward ride by Saqlain in the Join Us At Eexchmarket.com Handicap. She was lying a close third while Trump Girl and 12/10 favourite Baaeed called the early shots. The latter took the lead briefly in the home stretch but had the misfortune of bursting his blood vessels and bleeding through both nostrils, eventually finishing in the ruck. Exotic Queen was the handicap horse and took advantage of that factor to sail past the favourite with Secret Pearl in hot pursuit.

In the Sreepriya Handicap, Devushka (Roderic O’Connor-Chase The Sun) was very cleverly piloted by young Saqlain, gradually improving along the rails from the eighth draw. Speedy The Mentalist was setting a good pace but went unnecessarily wide at the home turn leaving Devushka an invitation at the rails which she gleefully accepted.

Trainer Rutherford Alford led in his first winner of the season when his 4/1 shot Jinsoku (Speaking Of Which – Abronia) triumphed in the opener. Tracking Lion Queen till well into the straight, jockey A Imran Khan turned on the heat in the final furlong to land the spoils close home from a fast-finishing Ashwamegh.  Jockey Sandesh took no chances on the public choice Full Volume (Fast Company – Moynsha’s Girl) in the sprint for the SkyExch Multimarket Handicap. After tracking Indian Tiger till the distance post, the six-year-old won as he liked with second favourite Thiago ending up second. The curtain came down with the on-money public choice Divya Shakthi(Sedgefield – Rio Rojo) outclassing Dream Chaser and Revolution who occupied the minor placings. Jockey Sandesh rode a  regulation race atop the Vikash Jaiswal ward in the Golden Praise Handicap.