There was some buzz at the Malakpet racecourse on Saturday as the prestigious President of India Gold Cup (Gr.2) was the main event in the small card of six. Pesi Shroff-groomed Zuccaro looked a cut above the rest in the seven-horse field and, not surprisingly, he was the half-money favourite in the mile and a half contest. Six-year-old Zuccaro gave no quarter to his rivals, easily tackling owner mate Dyf about a furlong away from the winning post and drawing away to post authoritative victory, his sixth in a row. Earlier, Duke of Tuscany surged into the lead amid heavy showers, calling the shots ahead of Ramiel, Miracle Star, Vyasa and the rest. Zuccaro was ridden well off the pace by Vivek G. and was settled behind Dyf while High Command trailed the field. The pattern of running remained the same until the horses went off the bridle with Miracle Star and Dyf both making their moves before approaching the final turn. Miracle Star overtook Duke of Tuscany at the two-furlong marker but had Dyf breathing heavily down her neck. Yash Narredu-driven Dyf overpowered Miracle Star after a brief tussle and led for about a hundred metres where Zuccaro came with a lightning run to range along his stable mate. Dyf fought hard to retain the advantage but Zuccaro (Kingda Ka – Mahali) snuffed out his challenge half a furlong from the wire. Vyasa ran third ahead of Miracle Star. Bred at the Nanoli Stud Farm, Zuccaro is the joint property of Messrs Khushroo N. Dhunjibhoy, Zahir K. Dhunjibhoy, Ms. Anosha Meyers, Messrs Vispi Patel, As Narielwala, Eruch A. Mody, Ms Anita J. Captain, Mr & Mrs DP Adenwalla.
 
Zuccaro was not the lone fancied horse to succeed, punters were treated kindly by the five other favourites whom they had entrusted their money with. French Lieutenant, who decided it was time to earn a bracket, set the ball rolling at the start of the day’s proceedings in the Rock of Gibraltar Plate. LVR Deshmukh-trained French Lieutenant stayed on the haunches of his main adversary My Touch soon after the start and moved forward steadily to gain the upper hand in the final stages of the race. Antony Raj then drove French Lieutenant (French Navy – Turf Dancer) to a comfortable win over My Touch, while Gacchanmanasvin managed to edge out Costa Mesa for third place.
 
Trainer A. Imran Khan-saddled Cosmic Gift was backed to the exclusion of his rivals in the lower division of the Falaknuma Trophy, a handicap event for Class IV horses. Trevor Patel aboard Cosmic Gift allowed My Way My Rules to dictate the terms early into the race and until they entered the home stretch. With about a furlong and a half left for the wire, Trevor changed gears on Cosmic Gift (Chinese Whisper – Diamonite), who stretched out well to wrap up the race. My Way My Rules finished runner-up ahead of Beverley, while Timeless Elegance ran fourth.
 
Entrusted to 5kg-claimer Surendra Singh, D. Netto-saddled She’s A Bomb registered an encore in the first division of the Falaknuma Trophy. La Quinta sprinted ahead from the gates while American Affair and Coming Home were in close attendance. After racing in the fourth position in the early stages, She’s A Bomb was pulled out by Surendra to make her bid on the outer flank and the filly gained ground gradually to close in on the leader. She’s A Bomb (Knotty Ash – Hit A Bomb) soon overhauled runner-up La Quinta less than a furlong from home and scampered home for her second successive win while American Affair and Coming Home followed them home.
 
Netto-schooled One N Only also went on to achieve an encore in the Totaram’s Cup, the supporting event of the day. One N Only came out well from the wide draw to join Calista Girl in the front and they both disputed the lead while Celestial moved swiftly ahead to be in the vanguard. Akshay Kumar spurred One N Only (Akeed Champion – Magical Night) to wrest the initiative immediately when the heads turned for home and did not ease the pressure until the race was in safe keeping of the even-money favourite. Emerald Touch ended a length behind the winner while Black Onyx ended in the money, just in front of Uchchaihshravas, who inexplicably receded to the fourth spot.
 
December Rain seized the initiative from the gates to lead ahead of Valledonna and Quintessential while favourite Onslaught was settled in fourth in the close bunched field of ten horses. In the final run-in, Antony Raj went all out on Valledonna to overtake December Rain while Imran Chisty-ridden Onslaught inched closer. Both Valledonna and Onslaught (Air Support – Jezzabelle) went stride to stride thereafter in the final furlong with Imran eventually packing enough punch in his riding to drive Raza Shehzad’s ward to a narrow victory. Hoping High finished on well to be third, while Quintessential receded to be fourth.