It was a memorable New Year’s Day at RCTC as several fancied runners obliged turfites to send the 20,000 odd gathering back home on a happy note. However, racing was pretty competitive as two of the winners failed to find any support in the ring in a card of seven events. The two riders who were the cynosure of all eyes were Saqlain and Neeraj Rawal – both of whom recorded cup doubles. However, the trainer that stole the thunder on the first day of the year was Joseph Awale with a cracking brace that stunned punters. Neeraj’s first win of the day was Adhiraj Singh Jodha-trained Euphoric (Planetaire-Court Dancer) who made every post of the 2200 metres race for the JSK1 RCTC Gold Vase his own. Stockbridge followed the bottom-weight all the way but to no avail. The fact that he was conceding 10kg to Euphoric makes him one for the notebook.

Neeraj completed his double as he brought the curtain down in style with his mount White Roses from the Neil Darashah yard This victory completed a hattrick for the mare by Speaking of Which out f Roses In Bloom. The handicapper has penalised her 9kg for this triumph but the classy five-year-old may nevertheless win again when judiciously placed. She possesses a magnificent turn of foot which was amply displayed when Neeraj asked her for an effort in the straight. The favourite Mighty Zo lost some ground at the start and will be worth keeping an eye on as he ended up a creditable second.

One of the two major events of the day – The JSK 1 Indian Produce Stakes -saw only four runners lining up for the starter.Trevor Patel astride Bharath Singh – trained Lady Sunshine (Sir Cecil – Sunshine Girl) made no mistake as she made every post a winning one. The grey filly was however stretched by another greyof the same sex in the small field – Snow Leopard. The latter may well have turned the tables with a little more assistance from the saddle. Trevor held on to his slender advantage by sticking to the rails like glue while Snow Leopard drifted out under pressure.

Saqlain’s first winner of the afternoon was Oh My Darling from Patrick Quinn’s yard who won the seven-furlong race for the Amrit Cement Cup – a ‘no whips’ race. The fashion of victory of the grey filly by Sedgefield out of Spark Of Silver suggests that she may win again. Saqlain then completed his brace with Joseph Awale -schooled Black Coffee which was installed as the favourite in the JSK1 best Odds Cup. The seven-year-old by Win Legend out of Prize Magic won as he liked. Awale went on to complete a double with the friendless Power Of Thea in the six-furlong sprint for the Safari Handicap. The eight-year-old by Oath out of Set Afire made every post a winning one in the hands of Manish. Good Tip was a good second and will be worth following.

The afternoon commenced on a happy note for trainer B Rajender Reddy as his Lucky Nine (One Lucky Dane-Influence) made the mile-and quarter race for the Obolensky Handicap his own at every post in the hands of apprentice Aniket. The fancied runners Nord and Tess occupied the minor placings.