Trainer Pesi Shroff’s Duke of Tuscany (Cougar Mountain-Nicollini) was given a measured ride by experienced saddle artist Suraj Narredu to lift the mile-and-quarter race for the Indian Champion Cup – a Grade I affair – at RCTC on Friday. Tracking the runaway Golden Kingdom till into the straight, Suraj turned on the heat on his mount to collar the front-runner opposite the grandstand and pull away to win fairly comfortably. It was a regulation win executed with precision without any frills.

Suraj opened his account for the day atop Vijay Singh-trained filly Silver Dream (Dreamfield-Silver Bracelet) who made every post of the 1100metres race for the Aggregated Plate a winning one to notch up her second successive victory. Her fashion of winning suggests that she may well win again if there is a suitable sprint for youngsters before the season ends. Incidentally, her dam Silver Bracelet was a speedster who reached the highest class at this centre. Suraj next won atop Deepesh Narredu-trained Mindful (Deauville-Armally) who won the mile race for The Zelda Cup without much ado. The colt tracked pacemaker Lucky Nine till the straight where he shot ahead and kept at bay his nearest rival Cigar Galaxy without too much trouble.

Trainer Vijay Singh picked up his first of two winners for the day when his colt Blaze In Blue ( Dali-Bella) who won the day’s opener – The Ophion Handicap – by the proverbial whisker from a fast finishing Lahina. Jockey Nikhil Naidu had his mount racing behind Diamond Gold till the top of the straight where he shot ahead and held on to his advantage by a nose.

The two ‘No Whips’ races went more or less according to script. The first of these was The Police Cup run over 1400 metres. Jockey Trevor Patel rode a forceful hands-and-heels finish to power the favourite Brave Majesty (David Livingston-Indispensable) from mid-division to ultimately sail past the front-runner Sky Hawk in the final furlong. Trainer Neil Darashah was mighty impressed and commented post-race that he doubted that if any jockey of a lesser calibre could have guided home the winner without a stick.

The second of the two ‘No Whips’ races was The Dancing Phoenix Handicap, also run over 1400 metres. Sabeel Shariff-trained Jimmy Bee (Multitude – Skylight Express) was installed as the firm favourite and jockey Vishal Bunde made no mistake as he rode a copy-book race. He placed his mount behind pace-setter Cristaldo till the top of the straight and thereafter took over the running to win as he liked from second favourite Keitaro.

Jockey Gaurav Singh achieved a personal milestone on this day when he guided home B Rajender Reddy-trained Ruling Star (Roderic O’Connor- Sweeping Star) to a stylish victory over favouriteWhirlwind in The Albert Piperno Memorial Cup run over 2000 metres. It was Gaurav’s 100th win of his career. The 6/1 winner carried top-weight and won by a distance. He has incurred a penalty of 6kg and is now in the highest class where one wouldn’t be too surprised if he wins again if judiciously placed.