Trainer Vijay Singh’s much improved filly Shine produced another scintillating performance to get the better of Merlet and the rest of the field and pocket the six furlong sprint for the Echoes Of Light Handicap with ridiculous ease. Jockey Suraj Narredu had the daughter of  Dreamfield out of Let There Be Light racing in second spot behind front running Merlet despite being drawn on the outside. Once in the straight, she sailed ahead to win as she liked, suggesting that the highest class is well within her reach.

Trainer Rutherford Alford combined fruitfully with jockey Vinod Shinde to bring home the Averoff Cup at lucrative odds with Banduk Wali (Excellent Art-Skyelady). The five-year-old dark bay mare used her inside draw to take pole position in the mile race from the word go, but then gladly permitted Lucky Nine to call the shots till the 600 marker. Thereafter, it was all Banduk Wali. The favourite Star Power was never in the picture. In his post-race interview, pleasant-faced Vinod humbly acknowledged that he is no chip off the old block but a fervent trier at all times.“Dad was a legend” he said, adding “I am no where near him”. With such a humble attitude, he is sure to go far. For those turfites not familiar with that golden era – Vasant Shinde was considered the ‘smoothest’ rider for the glamorous Rashid Byramji stable. His minimal use of the whalebone made him a saddle artist par excellence. 

Earlier, Rutherford and Shinde had caused quite a sensation in the Adiella Handicap. The favourite Cashaban looked headed for home in the five-and-half furlong sprint for the Royal Mantle Handicap before Shinde coaxed a winning gallop out of bottom-weighted Phenomenal Lady (Letir Mor-Alexandra Mills). Rutherford explained later that the mare was treated by a leading vet at Bangalore and seems to have come right now. There’s obviously more to thoroughbred racing than meets the eye and a conscientious trainer bears the brunt of the responsibility for his wards. Sometimes ‘patience’ is the key word!

The day’s opener, the mile race for The Royal Mantle Handicap, saw the favourite Carnation assume command as the gates opened, but stablemate Lochs And Glens stayed with her till the  straight where he took over the running but was eventually pegged back to the runner-up berth by Vikash Jaiswal-trained Simran’s Attitude (Dreamland-Ayanaras) who was ridden ably by Varun.

Apprentice jockey N Darshan impressed all and sundry on both days of racing. He rode a fine winner on Thursday and emulated the feat the next day by bringing home the bacon with Satish Narredu -trained Contessina (Letir Mor – Choose) in the six furlong sprint for The Obligado Handicap. Unperturbed by Honey Cake’s long lead, Darshan brought the favourite calmly with a smooth run on the outside.

The curtain came down with Imran Chisty  guiding home top-weight Deusenberg (Kingda Ka – Sugardrop) to a splendid triumph in the 2000 metres race for The Obolensky Handicap. He was in a box seat throughout the trip and never faced any opposition from the second in demand Multi Success.