A overconfident Saqlain lost a race which he should have easily won and this cost all the big bettors dear at Guindy on Monday. Saqlain astride the public  rage Tesorino from Darius Byramji’s yard hit the front and called the shots for most  part of the seven furlongs trip in the feature event, the Madras Gold Vase. The (45/100)  public choice was travelling nice and easy and approaching the distance post Saqlain had a look over his shoulder before he relaxed and at this juncture Ashhad Asbar guiding the fortunes of winner on debut, Persian Rock, packed punch and Persian Rock responding gamely to his master’s call produced a good gallop to pip Tesorino at the post. It was clear that an overconfident Saqlain was caught napping. The Stewards held an enquiry immediately after the race and later decided to conduct a detailed inquiry into the running and riding of the race at a later date.

Cavallo Volante, who had finished second behind Persian Rock in his maiden start was rightly fancied to score in the principal added attraction, the PT Rajan Memorial Cup taking into account Persian Rock’s second straight success, but  the strongly fancied favourite in the hands of leading pro Antony Raj hit the front and established a clear three lengths advantage turning for home before he went `phut’ like a pricked balloon and eventually finished a tame third. Lavish Girl in the hands of Vikram zoomed past the public choice and emerged a good debut winner. Stablemate Go For The Moon partnered by Franny Norton finished on purposefully at end to gain the runner-up berth and is one for the notebook.  Vikram gained a chance ride after AS Peter failed to report to fulfil his riding engagements for the day. Earlier, Ram Nandan Manjhi scored on Paris O’Connor, another ride of Peter.

The Suraj Shaw-trained Ugly Truth and Presto Power from the stables of Ramanathan garnered the maximum support in the concluding event, the Multidimensional Handicap run over 1000 metres. But in what appeared an open affair, the `Jodi’ went out of t he window and it was the ten to one long shot Bay Of Naples who sprinted through to post an effortless victory. Presto Power finished second ahead of Dazzling Princess, while Ugly Truth, it was clear was never in the hunt.

Sunny Isles from trainer Mandanna’s yard was strongly tipped top score in the lower division of the Gold Digger Handicap and the  well-backed contestant produced a sparkling gallop in the hands of Ashhad Asbar to come up trumps to the delight of her large following. The lesser fancied Gajabo Grande followed the winner home ahead of Prince Purple, who after opening the favourite was offered at (3/1), indicating that all was not well. The moment the price on Prince Purple shot up, the punters smelling a rat shifted and got into the winning boat, toeing the line, `go with the flow’ and the money was flowing on Sunny Isles.

The upper division of the event was claimed by the on-money favourite Groovin who proved too good for his seven rivals, cantering home in the hands of Kaviraj. Second in demand at the betting ring, Desert Star piloted by Pradeep Chouhan produced his best, but that was just not good enough to stop the much superior Groovin from romping home nice and easy at end.

Truth In Wine was fancied most in the El Gran Senor Handicap run over a mile, but all that the public choice did was take a lot of good money down the drain failing to even save money in place. Royal Falcon from Govindrajan’s yard shocked the followers of form edging out Element, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Samurai Blue drifted out alarmingly to the outer rail and as a result failed to make the frame.

The eight to one shot Paris O’Connor came up tops in the Curragh Handicap, the opening event run over a distance of seven furlongs. The winner piloted by Ram Nandan in place of Peter after a ding-dong battle in the final furlong with the lesser fancied Three Of A Kind gained the verdict on the final stride to the delight of his supporters. Grand Royal finished third ahead of Glorious Evensong, who failed to display his true potential and deserves another chance when saddled next.