It was good to see popular owner Dhruv Futnani, talented trainer Fahad Khan and leading jockey Umesh corner glory on the third extra-day's races at Guindy on Sunday. The two pros Fahad and Umesh combined successfully to make Dhruv proud, striking it rich through Black Label and Rise Again, the winner of the upper division of the KN Subbiah Cup, the plum event run over a distance of seven furlongs. 

On the strength of his suggestive second behind Maduva Thalaivi in his last start, Black Label competing in the Gourgandine Handicap run over a sprint garnered the maximum support . The Rupa schooled Sea Waters who, finished behind Black Label in  his last start had his share of followers, the Rupa camp hoping to reverse the verdict. But Black Label who looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring again produced his best in the hands of Umesh to go one better and stand tall at the podium. The topweighted Royal Exemplar partnered by apprentice Ritesh Gochhi gained the runner-up ahead of Sea Waters, who edged out Marshall by the shortest of margins to save money in place. 

Astride Rise Again, one of the fancied contestants in the upper division of the plum, Umesh settled Rise Again nice and easy in the mid-division as Suryakrishi from James McKeown's yard and Red Falcon from the stables of  Suraj Shaw hit the front and set a decent pace for most part of the seven furlongs trip. Umesh at the top of the straight  reminded his mount of the task ahead and Rise  Again responding gamely to his master's call produced a winning gallop at the all-important end to romp home a deserving winner. Suryakrishi  held on gamely to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Sweet Fragrance, while the Sebastian schooled Swarga, who ended the favourite, raced in patches and eventually finished in the ruck.. A delighted Fahad Khan revealed that he and his owner Dhruv were school mates and that they share a special bond and it pleased him most to lead in two winners with Dhruv before the curtain is drawn on March 23. 

Fahad, Umesh and Dhruv apart, leading trainer B Suresh and Crown Drive stole the limelight, the game galloper recording his sixth win this season. Competing in the Maandavi Handicap run over a sprint, Crown Drive was the top fancy to come out on top for the sixth time. Sai Kumar guiding the fortunes of Crown Drive tracked the leader Pneuma for most part of the six furlongs trip before Sai Kumar packed punch at the top of the straight and the in-form colt produced another stellar effort to quickly kick clear and put the race to bed in the final furlong. Second in demand at the betting ring, Golden Marina again finished second behind the winner, while last start winner Constant Variable who was fancied sweetly in place did well to edge out the Vijay Singh-trained Dedicate for the third spot. 

The Robert Foley schooled Illustrious Ruler who led all the way over a mile long trip before he finished a suggestive fourth in his last essay was surprisingly ignored in the betting ring, the Foley ward offered at the nourishing odds of (8/1) despite the fact that he was going over a reduced seven furlongs trip which suits his style. Farid Ansari pushed the Foley ward to the front soon after the nine runners came under the starter's flag and to the delight of his die-hard supporters Illustrious Ruler made every post a winning one. The favourite Element followed the winner home ahead of Multiwave, while the second in demand at the betting ring, Cloud Jumper found the going tough and only managed to complete the frame. 

In a pulse-pounding finish, the Vijay Singh schooled Straordinario edged out lesser fancied King's Guardian in the concluding event, the Nauvka Handicap. Hindu Singh astride the winner produced a heartwarming performance, stretching every sinew to gain the verdict at end. The vastly improved War Emblem, another owned by Dhruv finished a game third while the two other fancied contestants Avicena and Larado performed below par much to the disappointment of the followers of form. 

The Robert Foley-trained Aurora Borealis powerfully piloted by Farid Ansari and last start winner Maduva Thalaivi from Ajith Kumar's yard partnered by the promising five-kilo claimer Jitendra Singh flashed past the post locked together in the opening event, the Lady Harriet Handicap before the `magic eye' nodded in favour of the Foley ward who had his nose in front when the two hit the wire much to the excitement of the railbirds who enjoyed the pulsating finish. The favourite Arise And Shine was never in the hunt, while Summer Song managed to save money in place. 

Waitara from James McKeown's yard proved too good in the Clocked Plate romping home sparing four lengths to the runner-up Roxxane, while the favourite Elsa never got going and it was clear half-way from home that the public choice was only taking a lot of good money down the drain. The winner on debut appears a goodtype of youngster and it will pay to follow the prospects of Waitara if racing continues in Guindy next season.