The opening day of the Christmas Meeting at RCTC on Saturday – the first day of December – ushered in the festive season with thrills galore. Shyam Habbu -trained Tigrio (Phoenix Tower-Tigresse Noire) continued to dazzle with yet another comprehensive victory over a Class I field. All credit to Vinay Jaiswal for riding a calm and collected race. The six-year-old was neglected in the ring and was available at 12/1. Summer Night and Tactical Command set a cracking pace till the distance post where the likes of Tigrio, Awesome One and Stockbridge made their move. However, Tigrio was easily moving the best of all. Summer Night held on to the runner up berth. A gamble on Savvy Chic fell apart although she did end up a fair third.

Jockeys Neeraj Rawal and Nikhil Naidu notched up a double each. The former’s brace consisted of the classy White Roses and gutsy Sonata.  Neil Darashah-trained White Roses (Speaking Of Which – Roses In Bloom) pocketed the Noble View Handicap in great style as she collared the front-running duo of Dragon’s Gold and Jean Lafette on tight reins to win as she liked. This filly is quite obviously destined for the highest class. The handicapper did not spare her as she was penalised 8kg.Neeraj completed his afternoon’s duty with a thrilling victory atop Bharath Singh-trained Sonata (Win Legend-Bold Reply) who got the better of front-running Dubai Gold close home in the 2000 metres race for The Icelandic Handicap. The one for the notebook is the favourite Euphoric who will be much better off next time out with this top-weight run under his belt.

Naidu’s pair comprised Tropical Lady and Burmese, both of whom won in similar fashion. Christopher Alford-trained Tropical Lady (Arazan-Fire Song) moved up smoothly from the fourth slot to sail past pace-maker Italian Gold  after the favourite By The Book had cried off – unable to match strides with the front-runner. In the very next race, Rajesh Narredu-trained Burmese (Multidimensional-Skylight Express) was similarly handled by Naidu to get the better of Horus The Great and Devushka. Heavily gambled Celtic Harlequin finished a none too impressive fifth. Perhaps, the reason for money pouring in on him was that he had been successful in a ‘no whips’ race earlier in his career. Burmese is a light -weight filly who was well rested and this tilted the scales in her favour heavily. She may well win again.

Trainer Patrick Quinn had an early finger in the Christmas pie when his grey gelding Nord (Kingda Ka – Snow Cannon) was rather shrewdly accepted in a mile race to prove his worth. The recent import from the west was expertly handled by western India apprentice AK Aniket. The favourite Lucky Nine appeared to be weighed down by the heavy impost.