Trainer Pesi Shroff’s Duke Of Tuscany (Cougar Mountain-Nicolini)was given a perfect ride by Suraj Narredu to lift the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Cup run over a mile-and-half  in great style at RCTC  on Saturday. He spared over seven lengths to the runner-up Golden Kingdom. Lying a handy third till the turning for home while Golden Kingdom and High Command showed the way. Suraj chose the rails thereafter and there was no stopping his mount in the straight.  The ‘Duke’ won as he liked. In his post-race interview, Suraj replied he has “no idea” when asked whether he will ride the same horse in the Leger scheduled to be run at the end of the month. That is quite understandable considering that Rajesh Narredu’s Gold Empire is likely to run the Leger as well.

Suraj Narredu completed a treble during the afternoon commencing with Deepesh Narredu-trained Mindful ( Deauville-Armaity) in the mile race for the Philippines Cup. Trevor atop Aeropoli rather cleverly tried to steal a march on his rival at the top of the straight and very nearly succeeded. Suraj had to pull out all stops at the distance post to get the better of the runaway front-runner at the wire. Suraj completed his treble with a relatively easy ride atop Enchanting (Win Legend-Nanhipari) who won the upper division of the Mamma’s Mink Handicap by over four lengths from Adeya.

The afternoon commenced with 15/1 outsider Godsend Divine (Phoenix Tower-Jolie Rue) winning the sharp scurry for The Contralto Handicap with jockey SF Ansari astride. Trainer Rutherford Alford’s wards occupied the first four slots while the ante-post favourite Blazing Black finished in the ruck and was given a 2kg drop by the handicapper. Another fancied runner Star Pride was withdrawn. 

In a ‘no whips’ race for the Ich Dien Handicap, 8/1 shot Merlet from the stable of S Waheed jumped back to form after a long lay-off of nearly five months. Jockey Imran Chisty used the filly’s initial speed to position her behind public choice Resplendence despite being drawn on the extreme outside of a 14-horse field. Merlet (Letir Mor – Merietta) sailed ahead in the straight and there was no looking back thereafter. Another four-year-old filly Xanthe (Deauville-Sheryl) from the yard of SS Attaollahi recorded her first win at this centre thanks to Trevor’s power-packed finish which saw her get the better of Cash N Run at the winning post.  Vishal Bunde atop Cash N Run however had the last word as he brought the curtain down with Rutherford Alford-trained Bandukwali (Excellent Art-Skyelady) who edged out Trevor and Amaza And Inspire at the wire in the lower division of The Mamma’s Mink Handicap.