Almost four months after claiming the Colts Championship Stakes by defeating Synthesis during the monsoon season, Huntingdon entered the winner’s circle with a narrow win in the Turf Authorities of India Cup (Div-II) on Monday. Miss Little Angel showed the way to the field of eight shortly after the start and brought them into the final stretch. Before Miss Little Angel relinquished her lead in favour of Strauss inside the last furlong, jockey Santosh Raj astride Great Guns first tried to force his way through between Strauss and Lucky Zone and later Strauss and She Can. Shortly after Strauss gained the upper hand on Miss Little Angel, Great Guns surged ahead to grab the lead. However, top-weighted Huntingdon, who was racing in the mid-bunch, soon joined Great Guns and in the ding-dong battle that lasted for a few strides, jockey K. Mukesh Kumar’s strong thrust got Huntingdon (Oiseau De Feu – Glorious Hymn) to put his head in front of Great Guns. Strauss ended third ahead of Miss Little Angel. In one of the two reckless acts in the saddle witnessed during the day, jockey Santosh Raj nearly brought down jockey Surya Prakash astride Lucky Zone when, in the course of overtaking Strauss, Great Guns shifted in when not sufficiently clear and knocking Lucky Stride off his stride. Luckily, Surya Prakash, though unbalanced, managed to stay in the saddle.

Apprentice Shivansh was involved in the other incident that happened in the day’s last race. Shivansh aboard Silver Arrow, who was racing towards the rails in the fourth spot alongside My Way Or Highway when the field led by It’s My Life entered the straight with Canterbury in tow, brought his mount outside to make his move. Silver Arrow initially interfered with My Way Or Highway and then drifted out alarmingly to bump Bien Pensant, who nearly came down. He then jostled with Royal Pal whose rider, RS Jodha, had to momentarily stop riding. Meanwhile, D’silva-saddled and Ekram Alam-ridden Canterbury (Shifting Power – Monte Rosa) took charge of the running and went on to score from Silver Arrow, who finished half-length ahead of the heavily-backed Royal Pal. Blue Brigade ran on to be fourth. Jodha lodged an objection against Shivansh but the HRC stewards failed to spot the interference received by Royal Pal and surprisingly decided to overrule the objection.

KSV Prasad Raju-trained Star Forever was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in anticipation of an improved show having finished third behind Lashka on debut. The market forces refused to look beyond Star Forever and the filly was quoted at cramped odds in the opening event for juveniles. K. Satheesh-saddled longshot Get Lucky (Sedgefield – Santamarija Festa) indeed got lucky as he found himself in the front and Nakhat Singh drove him out to score an upset win. P. Sai Kumar-piloted Star Forever faced a torrid time towards the rails as a couple of horses including PS Kaviraj-ridden Vital Sign jostled with him on more than one occasion. Sai Kumar brought Star Forever four-five horses wide into the straight and made a desperate bid to catch the winner but in vain. Dapper Look, the winner’s owner and stable-mate, dragged RS Jodha to finish a short-head behind Star Forever. Rani Ruckus ran a faraway fourth.

The two riding assignments jockey Ashhad Asbar had during the day – The King And I and Minecraft were both pre-race favourites but their odds surprisingly expanded in the betting ring. The King And I lost his footing as he stumbled when jumping out of the gates and faded out to run down field after Asbar brushed him to be close behind the leaders till the turn. High Reward from Satheesh’s yard swept his rivals off their feet with a blazing display of speed and carved the sixth victory of his career. City Of Bliss attracted a lot of smart money and went out as the first favourite but the mare ridden by apprentice Ajay Kumar made no impression when going in a futile chase of the winner in the straight. Thanks, who had won start-to-finish over seven-furlongs on Sunday and was carrying a 5kg penalty, was shorn of the early speed on this occasion and found the scurry a bit short for his liking. Thanks came with a strong run from the rear and almost toppled High Reward (David Livingston – Ultrasonic), who found the winning post coming to his rescue. Bangor On Dee also improved close home to be third with City of Bliss ending a disappointing fourth.

Despite the drift in the odds against Minecraft, Asbar displayed his resolve when partnering the bay gelding to his third straight victory. After a good jump from the barriers, Asbar allowed Malibu to head the field and held back Minecraft as he followed her into the straight. B. Mukesh Kumar-groomed Minecraft (Gusto – Gossip) headed Malibu in the last furlong and half and it appeared that he would sail away for an easy win. But Ekram-ridden Malibu was in no mood to relent and she fought every inch of the last furlong until Minecraft, who was ridden plain hands and heels by Asbar, asserted his superiority. BR Kumar-ridden Ragnarok was the medium of a heavy gamble as he was also bidding for a hat-trick but D. Netto’s ward was beaten for speed on this occasion and finished third ahead of Proud Mary.

Unlike Star Forever, Prasad Raju’s ward Midsummer Star justified the strong support he received in the betting with a facile win in Sai Kumar’s hands. Relegated to the lower class, the recent migrant from Western India was settled within striking distance of the front-runners headed by Swiss Girl and unleashed a big run when Sai Kumar alerted him in the straight. Midsummer Star (New Approach – Ghasabah) wore down Swiss Girl inside the final furlong and drew away for a comfortable victory. Swiss Girl ended runner-up as the other fancied contestants failed to show up in the final run-in. Classy Dame finished in the money ahead of Crimson Rose.

Hoping Star was another well-fancied horse to oblige the punters as he went on to prove that his success earlier this month was no flash in the pan. Treated leniently by the handicapper for his maiden win, Jasbir Singh-schooled Hoping Star ran close alongside Shadow Fax and was set alight by Mohit Singh a little over a furlong away from the wire. Hoping Star (Smuggler’s Cove – Sea Value) soon gathered enough steam to overhaul Shadow Fax, who succumbed far too easily. Deccan Daisy arrived on the scene when the race was in Hoping Star’s kitty and finished runner-up ahead of Shadow Fax, who had That’s My Love a length behind.

N R I Sport, who had no current form for anyone to fancy his winning chances, found his way to the winner’s circle after more than a year. Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) eased D. Netto-saddled N R I Sport into the lead and kept him going for a narrow win. Favourite Reigning Beauty was inconvenienced by the winner’s owner-mate N R I Superpower, who was ridden by none other than PS Kaviraj. Reigning Beauty fell back but improved steadily and came wide into the straight. The filly from D’silva’s barns made a gallant effort to catch N R I Sport (David Livingston – Maid Of Artois) when reminded of her task ahead by jockey Mukesh Kumar but fell short by half-length. Path Of Peace ran on to be third ahead of N R I Superpower.