Classic hopefuls Pantazi and Charismatic romped home to win their respective races with ease as favourites fell like ninepins in the first half of the seven-event racecard. In the main event- The Royal Western India Turf Club Cup - on Sunday at RCTC, public choice Misty bit the dust as 12/1 shot Kings Retreat (Letir Mor-Balmoral Castle) from the stable of B Rajender Reddy pulled off a magical victory in the hands of Vishal Bundedespite the top-weight he was shouldering. He was conceding 5kg to the mare Misty who was shaping like a winner 50 metres from home.

The afternoon commenced with Vishal Bunde riding his first winner of the day atop Sabeel Shariff-trained Lineupandcollect (David Livingstone – Satwa Pearl). The five year old chestnut gelding was ridden with great aplomb to win The Bergamo Handicap by five lengths from Made In Heaven while the favourite Hermes was a tame third.

The next race – the upper division of the Vibrant Handicap – proved that Patrick Quinn-trained Princess Peach (Amazon-Festival Night) has improved considerably this season as she was guided home by Mukesh Kumar in a tough field of 14 runners. The lead changed hands several times but sadly enough, the favourite Black Diamond, was never in the race. The lower division of the same race saw another favourite get beat – Most And More – but the three-year-old gelding put a good fight before going down to Aashay Doctor – trained four year old filly Impressive Annie (Shifting Power-Aquitania) who moved with telling strides in the straight under RS Bhati to peg back the public fancy.

The Dancing Colours Handicap saw Rajesh Narredu-trained Multi Success (Excellent Art-Phantasmagoric) put his best foot forward in the hands of Suraj Narredu. The gelding got the better of Laamika close home while the other fancied runner Sanaya left all her chances at the gates as she had done in the Monsoon Derby. In the next race – The Own Opinion Handicap –Prasanna Kumar’s three year old chestnut gelding Charismatic (Excellent Art- First And Only One) was on view and boy – did he cheer the hearts of his connections! He made it a one horse race in the straight and won by eight lengths in excellent timing. The Classic hopeful was piloted by Antony Raj who took no chances in the small field of six runners. Not to be outdone by his ‘classic’ adversary, Aashay Doctor-trained colt Pantazi (Western Aristocrat – Waveband) carried top-weight to a facile victory in the Eagle Pines Handicap in the safe hands of P Trevor. The expected ‘clash of titans’ on Saturday, December6, should be worth watching. Another notable colt – Abhicandra – finished runner-up to Pantazi.