It was an amazing penultimate afternoon of racing at RCTC on Thursday as Aashay Doctor-trained seven-year-old dark bay horse Raffaello lifted the Bangalore Turf Club Cup to take Aashay to the top of the trainers’ championship table by virtue of more second placed runners than second placed Rajesh Narredu. However, a brilliant ride by Imran Chisty on 10/1 shot All Time Legend (Top Class – Angeling)  in the seven-furlong race for The Network Handicap kept trainer Rutherford Alford and jockey Imran Chisty in the running for the two prestigious prizes. The man currently at the top of the jockeys’ championship table is none other than Suraj Narredu who recorded a brace on Thursday.

The main event – The Bangalore Turf Club Cup – saw Flying Scotsman close as the 4/1 favourite in an open betting race. However, the bottom-weight may have chosen the wrong path as he appeared to be blocked along the rails and had to switch out. In contrast, Ashhad Asbar was a picture of confidence as he maintained the ultimate winner in a handy position behind pacemaker Thousand Words and took over the running in the final furlong to put the race beyond the reach of ‘The Scotsman’. Owner Sumant Dalmiya was all praise for his trainer after the race and complimented him for keeping the aged ward in tip-top condition.

The afternoon commenced with Shyam Habbu-trained Oishika (Dali-Lucy In The Sky) winning the Theogundi Handicap quite easily from Jean Lafette at nourishing odds of 5/1 in the hands of R Vaibhav. The favourite Sabar fizzled out at the top of the straight. Patrick Quinn-trained Madras Cheque (Top Class – Immortal Story) behaved herself at the gates and gave jockey P Trevor a regulation ride on the favouritein the Aayush Handicap.

In the next event – The Network Handicap – both Aabushan and Aeropoli were backed heavily but All Time Legend (Top Class – Angeling) surprised the duo. Suraj Narredu ended the afternoon in great style as he guided home 7/1 shot Asagiri (Win legend – Mannat) from the stable of brother Rajesh to a smashing three-length victory over hot favourite Booster Shot. The victory kept Rajesh in the running for the championship. 

In the final event of the afternoon, The Succeeding Star Handicap, both Suraj and Imran Chisty fought tooth and nail all the way down the straight on their respective mounts –Dancing Queen and Made In Heaven. The former, a seven-year-old  chestnut mare by Lord Admiral out of Crown Vision from the yard of Vikash Jaiswal prevailed by half-a-length.