Punters enjoyed a fruitful afternoon at RCTC on Saturday as four strongly fancied runners obliged in a card of six events. Three of these were from the leading stable of Vijay Singh and were piloted by ace jockey Suraj Narredu. 

Trainer Bharath Singh’s crack sprinter Agnostic (Top Class-Kabini) won his fifth consecutive outing when he pocketed the Mayfowl Cup run over seven furlongs  in style. Saddle artist Trevor rode quite a spectacular race to land the spoils. Languishing in the rear of the seven-horse field for most part of the trip, Trevor chose the shortest path home and the gelding’s amazing turn of foot did the rest as he sailed past front-running Mystic Bay along the rails. 

Trainer Vijay Singh had the mortification of seeing both his fancied runners – Yazh and Prosperous Prince -being withdrawn in the first race of the day as they refused to be stalled. The race was reduced to a four-horse field. Of the quartet, Eastern Empress ran detached from the field, which left Daddy’s Dream, Mars and Script to fight out the finish.  The last named from the Vikash Jaiswal stable was ridden to a narrow victory by leap-year jockey Md Imran. The six-year-old by Whatsthescript out of  Shenliyka thus won his first race after 39 attempts!

Trainer Vijay Singh’s first winner of the day was Southern Lad (Be Safe – Striking View) who won the Romantic Zeal Handicap. Suraj rode a forward race on the three-year-old colt and he collared run away Lightinthesky without much ado to be first past the winning post with Dr Doom making a futile attempt to catch up.

Vijay's Leonardo (Speaking of Which – La Dona) was the shortest priced favourite of the day at half-money but struggled to collar Devushka close home. The latter stole a march as the favourite was blocked along the rails but Suraj did well to switch him to the outside and show him daylight. The three-year-old gelding edged out Devushka at the wire but not before giving the favourite-backers a heart-stopping moment. Monteverdi (Roderic O’Connor – Arabelle) sealed the Vijay Singh treble by winning the last race of the day – The Regal Star Handicap -  by eight long lengths. The colt made it a one-horse race after the turning for home. 

Apprentice Tejeshwar rode a measured race atop Aashay Doctor-trained Cape Tanaros (Western Aristocrat -Laurita) to bring home the honours at long odds in the sprint for the Winter Renaissance Handicap. Following Trump Girl till the top of the straight, he sailed past her to win well from Secret Pearl. The favourite Bahuleyan was examined by the vet and found to be suffering from EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage).