Importance of handicapping in the field of youngsters came to the fore once again when Miss Burgeon wrapped up the Delhi Race Club Managing Committee Juvenile Sprinters Cup, the main event of the Delhi races on Monday. Saddler Magan Singh, who saddled the champion sprinter, shared a brace with Aleem Khan and jockey Syed Afsar Shah. Sitting well on handicap against top-notch Goodwood Park, Master Belief and Equal Luxury, Miss Burgeon (Ontario - Thunderlite) came out quickly from her stall to lead all the way for the fastest six-furlong timing for the three-year-old horses this season – 1 min 12 seconds.

The speedy customer Master Belief, who once looked all set to pose a big threat, found the scale a stopper and settled for the runner-up berth. Equal Luxury, who ran second in The Northern India Cup before annexing the Sports Lifestyle Million, was unable to deliver her best, and finished late third pipping King Of Lords. Made Of Gold, who ran on to be close fifth, would be in different shape next season. The victory of Miss Burgeon was well overshadowed by an enthralling nail-biting finish between Real Smasher and Master Blaster in the class one Azaad Plate. The sophisticated photofinish camera even failed to segregate them.

Jockey SA Shah, who replaced unfit Rajinder, quickly put the Derby winner Real Smasher (Ontario - Smash For Cash) on the right path of making every post a winning one but Chhotu did not spare anything by asking for an effort from his mount, Master Blaster. The son of Hymn and Velocette responded brilliantly to his call and the duo started travelling nip and tuck till they succeeded in clocking the fastest 1,100m timing of 1 min 5.69 seconds. Shah, later, tried unsuccessfully to convince the stewards through his plea of having had received interferences in the last furlong. The in-form pair should eye for more achievements in near future.

Magan Singh's Don't You Dare (Ansbach – Donna Mia) not only came out of the maiden status but also provided Hyderabad-based jockey Nitin Singh his first victory on the soil of the national capital territory. The favourite Master Speed was seen gathering momentum at the eleventh hour to occupy the next best slot in The Johnie Walker Plate. Mohsin Khan-trained Game Of Talent (Diffident – Shocking) eventually raised a winning gallop in The U Dear Plate. Resilience warmed up late to play the role of second fiddle. Daytonas Beauty bears watching. The lower division of The Ashav Plate saw Tempting Thought (Ontario – Thirtysomething), a failed favourite of two occasions, foiling the start-to-finish bid of Valour by a neck.

However, Valour should make amends soon. Red Cat ran on to be close third and is expected to earn his long overdue win before the closure of the season. The upper division of the plate, which was the curtain-down event, had Rawsom (Ontario – Night Of Gaiety) turning out to be an impressive winner ahead of Jewel Star. Kohinoor Beauty and Amity, who finished third and fourth respectively, found the distance a bit short. They should be followed up to the mile.