On a day most favourites chose to take a back seat, the on-money favourite Exceed from Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard made a smashing debut cantering home in the CM Varma and BM Varma Memorial Million, the plum event for juveniles on Friday.

A picture of fitness at the parade ring, Exceed had consistently impressed most in the morning trials and the Sulaiman camp were very bullish of his chances in the feature despite the fact that more than five juveniles from Sulaiman’s yard had failed to make an impression after catching the eye in the morning trials.

Trevor astride Exceed settled the goodtype of youngster nice and easy behind the early leaders Makoto and  Mericle Beauty before he released his iron grip on the promising youngster and Exceed simply detonated his seven rivals sending out a strong message that he is one of the talented juveniles in this campus. The Dominic schooled Art Of Romance, who lacked the speed and was not favourably placed at the top of the straight finished on strongly to gain the runner-up spot ahead of the early leader Makoto.

Head honcho of Cherie Sports, Cheriyan  Abraham and Smita Bajoria, sponsors of the event, pleased with the response the event generated disclosed that they may do it again next year following the buzz the `Million’ generated.

In a  tight finish, the top weighted Promise Kept reigned supreme in the principal added attraction, the SM Ramakrishna Rao Memorial Cup run  over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner from Arjun Manglorkar’s yard piloted by

John produced a winning gallop in the final furlong to peg back the belated effort of the advantageously placed at the scales Aherne from the stables of Imtiaz Khan. Devils Magic in his effort to make every post a winning one lacked the gas in the tank to keep going in the final furlong and finished third ahead of the strongly fancied last start winner Armory from Narayan Gowda’s yard.  

John and Arjun combination earlier struck on the seven to one shot Aldila who proved too good in the January Stakes . The winner travelling smoothly all through the seven furlong journey hit the front approaching the distance post and quickly put the race to bed in the final furlong. Vyasa from Darius Byramji’s yard partnered by Imran Chisty gained the runner-up berth ahead of Isabelle, while the well-backed favourite Mystikos from Imtiaz Khan’s yard failed to save even money in place.

The first division of the Abbey Falls Plate, the concluding event run over a sprint saw the lesser fancied Ultimate Striker from Lokanath Gowda’s yard strongly piloted by Darshan romp home to the delight of his supporters. Silver Swift  made all the running and looked good to score before the Lokanath trainee stormed up to win close home. Silver Swift managed to gain the runner-up berth ahead of the much fancied Jokshan who was a medium of a well planned coup which failed to come good to the disappointment of the Komandur camp.

The second division of the event was claimed by another long shot Altamonte who convincingly beat the favourite Remontoir to record her second win this season. Altamonte in fact brought the smile back on the face of trainer Inayathullah, who fancied Lady Godiva strongly in the upper division of the Alaknanda Plate to only see it going down by a `neck’ to rankoutsider Way Of Life from MR Singh’s yard. Way Of Life paid a rich dividend of Rs 218 on a tenner at the tote window.  Emeraldo finished third ahead of She’s A Lady .

Seven to one shot Southernaristocrat came up tops in the third division of the Abbey Falls Plate run over a sprint. The winner piloted by the in-form Delhi boy G Vivek produced a sparkling gallop to outclass his nine rivals while romping home in emphatic fashion. Embosom from Lokanath’s yard finished second ahead of the well supported Domina from Warren Singh’s yard. The winner appears in good nick and it will pay to again follow this Azhar trainee next time out.

In what was a very open affair, the lower division of the Alaknanda Plate, the opening event was claimed by Marco Polo, another from Azhar’s yard who powered home to the delight of the railbirds, who had strongly fancied him to come good in this moderate set. Marco Polo who looked good and keen at the parade ring justified the confidence of his supporters easily snuffing out the challenge of Raffles and Bellissimo, who surprised many gaining the third spot ahead of Sacred Creator.