With a set of opponents that looked more like extras gathered to perform mundane duties on the sets of a film studio, Pradeep Chouhan-saddled El Greco had little difficulty in carrying home the Karl Umrigar Salver on Thursday. Moreover, El Greco’s task was rendered easy as he was in receipt of 11kg from Mojito, the only noteworthy rival in the field of five. Regardless, El Greco reached the pinnacle of his career by posting a clinical victory in the hands of Neeraj Rawal. Settled on the haunches of leader Coeur De Lion, El Greco (Multidimensional – Alice Springs) surged ahead when the field turned for home and took a couple of backhanders from Neeraj before striding clear of his rivals to make it two in a row under Chouhan’s care. Mojito was clearly done in by the weight difference and finished runner-up with It’s My Time and Rasputin following him home.

SS Shah-saddled Turn And Burn also achieved an encore by claiming the Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia, a five-furlong sprint for horses in Class III. Goddes of Dawn showed plenty of early speed to dart ahead with Mustakim Alam in the saddle while Nikhil Parmar-steered Turn And Burn raced in close attendance. Top-weighted Turn And Burn launched his assault with about a furlong and half still to go for the wire and moved up steadily to collar Goddes of Dawn at the two-furlong marker. Parmar then powered Turn And Burn (Western Aristocrat – Celestrella) to wrest the lead and scampered home for a convincing victory. Goddes of Dawn held on gamely to keep the second place from Aries, who had Fast Approach behind him. Bottom-weighted Credence was entrusted to rookie S. Siddharth and was fancied to succeed in her hat-trick bid. The filly however flopped badly when failing to raise any hopes at any stage of the race.

Pesi Shroff-schooled Oliver showed good improvement over his debut run to graduate from the maiden ranks in the YM Chaudhry Memorial Million. Jockey G, Vivek had Oliver racing well up with the pace as no-hoper Phantasmique made the initial running over the seven-furlong journey with David Allan-steered Pristine Glory in pursuit. Pristine Glory took charge of the running shortly after entering the straight but was soon joined by Oliver and Warlock. Oliver (Deauville – Majestic Opinion) asserted his superiority after Vivek drove him past Pristine Glory, who was edged out from the second place by Warlock. Debutant Fynbos, the winner’s stablemate, was off to a slow start but improved slightly in the home stretch to finish fourth.

Vivek completed a double when he partnered Bezan Chenoy-trained Flashman to a comfortable win in the lowest class. Flashman raced within striking distance of leader Lightning Blaze and We Still Believe as they entered the final run-in to join the issue with the pair ahead. Vivek soon alerted Flashman to his task and ranged alongside We Still Believe, who was poised to overtake Lightning Blaze in the final furlong. Flashman (Dali – Hallelujah) gathered momentum under the whip and stretched out well for his maiden success. Between Friends rallied well towards the end to deny We Still Believe the runner-up berth while Lightning Blaze retired to be fourth.

The grey filly Medusa justified her favouritism in just the second run of her career over the mile long trip for the FK Vakil Salver. A. Sandesh pushed Medusa to hit the front from the innermost draw and the Faisal Abbas-groomed filly made every post a winning one with Fable going in futile chase throughout. Desert Classic ran thereabouts to end third, a whisker ahead of debutant King Ke.

Earlier, at the start of the day, Champagne Smile from Dallas Todywalla’s gave a solid performance to strike in the lowest class. Apprentice Navnath Bhosale-ridden Champagne Smile tracked Golden Goose, who burst into the lead from the gates, into the straight and stepped up the pace to tackle her inside the last two furlongs. Favourite Ekla Cholo tried to come through the shortest route but apprentice Siddharth was unbalanced and almost got dislodged. Although Siddharth regained his seat, Ekla Cholo found Champagne Smile slip away towards the winning post. Champagne Smile (Roderic O’Connor – Chase The Sun) won sparing a length and half to Dagger’s Strike, who ended under a length clear of Ekla Cholo. Secret to Success ran fourth.