Trainer Rajesh Narredu’s Global Influence (Roderic O’Connor-She) left Lady Sunshineand jockey Trevor floundering in the final furlong of the seven-furlong race for the AB & M Champagne Stakes for three-year-olds. Piloted by Suraj Narredu, the chestnut colt made every post a winning one, widening the margin of victory in the straight. He stopped the clock at 1min 26.03 sec on a cloudy afternoon and looks good for more races to add to his kitty. His mentor remained non-comital about his future but hinted that he might target one of the races framed for youngsters during the Invitation weekend in early March.

Trainer Patrick Quinn was a little more vocal about the future of his ward Destroyer (Exceed and Excel-Abaq) after the latter pocketed the Star Superior Cup effortlessly, making the mile race a start-to-finish affair in his customary style.  Quinn said that the bay’s next target would be the Super Mile during the Invitation weekend. After three resounding victories, White Roses was finally calibrated in the highest class. She finished three lengths behind Destroyer under the stick. She was undoubtedly the best of the rest.Quinn completed his cup double with the five-year-old bay Black Eagle (Excellent Art-Classic Sky) who lifted the Republic Cup hard ridden by Sujit Kumar Paswan to stave off a serious challenge from Clifford. Top-weight Hidden Gold was a faraway third.

Apprentice N Bhosale rode a clever race atop Shyam Habbu-trained Ciana(Nathaniel-Carved Emerald) to pick up the 2000 metres race for The Accalia Handicap. Tracking pace-setter Lucky Nine along the rails, the apprentice managed to squeeze his mount through a narrow gap after the turning for home and ward off a stiff challenge from Tiger Shark who may have failed narrowly again due to the heavy impost. The ones for the notebook are Primo Victoria and Lucky Nine – both of whom ran forward races.

Trainer Aashay Doctor’s pair of Zucardi and Archway were at the fore-front of the Arabian Prince Handicap as they photo-finished for top honours. Jockey Yash Narredu astride Archway (Top Class-Aceempressjessie) had to pull out all stops to get the better of his stablemate close home. The favourite Fort Nelson was a good third and will be worth keeping an eye on. The one for the notebook is the narrow loser Zucardi.  Her forward speed may fetch her a race or two at this centre.
The afternoon commenced happily for the ‘man with the Mandolin’  as Christopher Alford led in his six-year-old by that name for the second time in a fortnight and commented that he is very happy with his ward as he keeps ‘the home fires burning’. Alford also said somewhat emotionally that he will be retiring ‘soon’ while being interviewed by his daughter Melissa. It is reliably learnt that he is likely to call it a day after the Invitation Cup in March. It was a sad day at this centre when he decided to hang up his riding boots several years earlier . His innumerable fans and followers here will be equally disappointed to learn about his retirement from the training track!