Thursday turned out to be a memorable afternoon for trainer B R Reddy and apprentice Prasanth Thapa who pulled off a magnificent maiden victory with top-weight Black Eagle (Excellent Art-Classic Sky) in the six furlong sprint for The Star Superior Cup. Jumping out first, Thapa never looked back and kept his nerves to take the shortest route home. The favourite Pluto was outclassed in the straight as he failed to match strides with the winner.

One race earlier, in the Bountiful Treasure Handicap, Suraj Narredu rode a power-packed finish astride Javed Khan-trained six-year-old gelding Outlander (Phoenix Tower-Slippers Best), after a tardy start, to sail past the field from last spot and peg back la Dominate who was shaping like a winner at the distance post. Suraj however lost out to Hindu Singh who rode a gem of a race atop Vijay Singh-trained three-year-old bay gelding Anigraha (Win Legend-Twice Over) to push back hot favourite This Is Gold into the runner-up berth. Using his whip in his left hand, Hindu urged the youngster to cut a path down the centre of the track from the rear of the field and record a spectacular triumph. The runner-up is likely to win her next outing in the upper class. Winning owner Vikram Bachhawat said later that “I needed this victory and so did my trainer Vijay Singh with whom I have had a long association.” Vijay Singh commented post-race that he is a difficult horse to train but has improved a lot after being gelded.

Most of the races witnessed close finishes. In the day’s opener, Rutherford Alford-trained Made In Heaven (Kingda Ka – Vanity Fair) just edged out fast-finishing Macchiato at the wire. Vishal Bunde on the latter appeared to have left  it too late, other than which the verdict may have gone the other way. Dubai Prince had to be withdrawn as he got himself into a tangle at the starting gates. In the very next race – The Aladancer Handicap- Vishal made amends astride the favourite Cashaban (Surfrider-Silken Eyes) from Sabeel Shariff’s yard. It was a No Whips race and Vishal made no mistake as he took the filly to the helm of affairs from the word ‘go’.

The curtain came down with Neil Darashah -trained-Sea Eagle (Phoenix Tower – Tropical Blue)pulling off a narrow victory over course favourite Cortado. Darashah lauded his rider Arul JH for riding a measured race and added that this was the mare’s final race of her racing career as she will be retired to studded now.