Trainer Bharath Singh’s six-year-old bay gelding Summer Night (Night Of Thunder – Ghar Shoop) made every post of the mile race for The Governor’s Cup a winning one at RCTC on a warm Thursday afternoon. Looking a picture in the paddock, Summer Night was available at 5/1. Using the bottom weight to his advantage, crack low-weight jockey Dashrath Singh took no chances and ensured that his mount showed a clean pair of heels to his six rivals. The Protector and Third Avenue issued their challenge in the straight but had no answer to the long-striding front-runner. It was a well-planned coup by the connections as the race was for horses rated 95 and above – that figure being the rating of Summer Night. Kudos to his mentor!

Champion trainer Vijay Singh was in his element as he led in a well-deserved treble. Also in the limelight was leading jockey Imran Chisty who partnered one of those winners before going on to complete a hat-trick. Vijay opened his account with Beautiful (Speaking of Which-Ice Beauty) who galloped to her maiden victory in the hands of Hindu Singh in the ‘no whips’ mile race for the Flower Dust Handicap. The favourite Reagan ran like a dud while runner-up Asterix is one for the notebook.

The withdrawal of Galen due to his unruly gate-manners reduced The Sky Classic Handicap to a field of four. The race was pocketed by on-money favourite Regency Smile (Stardan- Amanda’s Queen)who was piloted by Imran Chisty without giving any anxious moments to her backers. The handling of Silverita by his rider was somewhat below-par while erstwhile Derby winner Eastwood displayed improved gate manners before trying to run away with the race.. He will be worth keeping an eye on as this was quite obviously an airing run.

Vijay completed his treble with Tycoonist (Multidimensional-Victoria Falls) who bagged the six-furlong sprint for The Topmost Handicap aided by some help from the saddle. Hindu Singh took the 18/10 favourite to the front of the seven-horse field as the gates and posted a narrow victory by staving off a strong challenge from Star Justice. 

Imran Chisty’s second winner of the day was the filly Nautica (Dandified-On Fleek) from Christopher Alford’s yard as she made every post of the Red Chieftan Plate a winning one though running green after the turning for home. Aletta was always in touch and ended up a good second while the ante-post public choice Dance Along was never in it. It was after all her maiden start. Chisty completed his treble in the day’s last race where Rutherford Alford-trained Regency Gold (Strong Suit-Keturah) got the better of Ahren and Indian Tiger.

The costliest loser of the day was heavily plastered Harvestime in the race for the Arabian Prince Handicap. Nikhil Naidu atop Patrick Quinn-trained Dubai Gold (Excellent Art-Blue Ribbon) refused to give up the fight till the very last  stride and eventually gained the day. The favourite may have found his heavy impost a stopper over a mile and seems more comfortable over seven furlongs.