December 3, 2022, A red-letter day it was for the promising apprentice jockey Likith Appu and in the years to come, the youngster will love to take up any challenge on this day, be it climbing Mount Everest or going on a first date. A popular treble on Saturday provided a new saddle in his journey and the onus is now on the youngster as to how he shapes up his career. 

On a day he will always remember and cherish, Likith opened his account on the Md.Khan-trained Flying Quest in the lower division of the Udupi Plate run over a sprint. The Pradeep Annaiah schooled Mr Humble opened the favourite (5/4) in the event before money came pouring in on Flying Quest, smashed down from (11/4) to (11/10) in the betting ring. Likith guided the strongly fancied public choice, nice and easy all through the sprint trip before he assumed command at the distance post and then gallantly pegged back the belated effort of Jokshan. Domina from Arjun Manglorkar's yard partnered by Vinod Shinde took the third spot ahead of the front runner Anne Boleyn. Mr Humble who opened at (5/4) and drifted out alarmingly and closed at (7/2) in the betting ring, was never in the hunt.    

Next astride the half-money favourite Moon's Blessing from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard, who shared the professional honours with Likith leading in three winners, the four-kilo claimer took the public rage to the front soon after the nine contestants came under the starter's flag for the Alydar Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs and never let the initiative slip,staying calm and composed and successfully snuffing out the challenge of  Zervan astride Etosha in the final furlong. 

In line for a treble on the topweighted Cool Rider from trainer Neil Darashah's yard in the upper division of the Udupi Plate, Likith was aware that this was one good chance to make a mark and register a treble. The youngster again employed pillar to post tactics and on a horse, who was head and shoulders above the rest, it was easy and Likith was on the moon. It really was a special day for the lad who booted home three well-backed favourites from three different stables and Likith will be hoping to maintain the winning streak in the weeks ahead. 

Sulaiman first proudly led in Silver Canyon who made a fine impression in the lower division of the World Conservation Day Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The bred in the purple three-year-old filly proved too good for her 10 rivals, the moment the top saddle artiste Trevor Patel eased the iron grip at the top of the straight. Silver Canyon pulled the plug and detonated her 10 rivals, powering home without unduly being extended by more than four lengths. The Darius Byramji schooled Balor gained the runner-up berth ahead of the topweighted favourite Nikolina who will benefit most from this exercise. Trevor, who had it easy on Silver Canyon needed to stretch every sinew and dig deep into his experience reserves to gain the day on the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Pinnacle Point in the upper division of the event. The six to one shot powerfully piloted by Trevor hit the front 100 metres from home and held on gamely to score from the two joint favourites Kings Speech and Twilight Tornado. The former could well have come out on top with a better and more stronger rider to assist the `King' in his journey and his final `Speech'.   

After leading in Moon's Blessing, Sulaiman completed the treble on the five to one shot De Villiers who won the plum event, the Madras Race Club Cup in resplendent style. The winner piloted by another promising apprentice Shreyas Singh produced a good turn of foot in the final furlong to zoom past Star Glory and the public choice Kensington Court who were locked in a ding-ding battle before settling to take the minor placings behind the worthy winner. Star Glory finished second ahead of the public choice while Aztec Queen completed the frame. 

In the golden era of the many Western Hollywood classics, Magnificent Seven is on top of the leader board with the Good, Bad And The Ugly, Mackenna's Gold and For a Few Dollars More to name a few. The cult movie made the number 7 lucky and soon it was Lucky Seven, Seven In Heaven and hundreds more making 7 a a lucky and winning number. It proved again, the seven-member owner syndicate, (K Kamesh, Srikanth Badruka, Balamukunda Das, Swaroop Kumar, Dharmesh Mehta, M N Nambiar and Sanjeev Basapa)  of  Knotty Charmer winning the first juvenile race of the season. The Prasanna Kumar ward despite getting a little nervous at the start made every post a winning one in a smart time of 1:12.69 seconds and this certainly is a good effort taking into account that this was Knotty Charmer's maiden appearance. The on-money favourite Anzac Pipernal from Dominic's yard found the winner too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth.