Master Harmonica justified the top billing by raising a winning gallop in The Powerglide Plate, which was the main event of the Delhi races on Thursday. The trainer of the victor, Ishwar Singh Parmar, later went on to earn his double through First N Impression. Incidentally, the fortune of the winning pair was guided by the visiting jockey Chhotu Singh Jodha.The daughter of Majestic Missile and Andillisa, who was termed as the next best after Tempting Thought by the turf accountants, displaced the latter before making it to the starting marker. She took a couple of furlong to sit behind the speedy Tempting Thought and found the second favourite grasping for breath soon after entering the straight.

However, the victory of the Fillies Trial stakes winner wasn’t easy. Abdullah inavded Master Harmonica’s territory after coming from the fifth position to complete the event at her haunches. The runner-up, who was observed to be running green in the final furlong, has the strides to stay. On the other hand, the run of Tempting Thought, who settled back to be third, should be kept aside. HA Khan-trained Spot Hit (Case Law – Spring Water), who was supported well by the connections, rose to the occasion by making every post a winning one in the 1600m The One Touch Guy Plate, which was earmarked for the class two horses.

Apprentice jockey Sandeep Rajput appeared to have learnt a lot from his paternal uncle and the local top-ranked jockey Rajinder as to how a horse is given a breather over the longer trip. His mount has clocked the second fastest timing of the season - 1 minute 38.75 seconds. The stablemate Theodoros was handled poorly and occupied the second berth. The favourite Devputra never looked to be anywhere near to what he was in his last appearance and finished off the board. Syed Mazhar Abbas's Private Eye (Warrshan – Frequency), under the handling of jockey K Narender Kumar, finally landed spoilsport after a gap of a season in the upper division of The Natural Craze Plate. One of the aged runners in the field for the lower class, Private Eye made the public-fancied Ashwa Paddma scapegoat. Prince Railco, who finished close fifth, bears watching. The lower division of the plate saw three horses staking a claim.

However, it was Roopendra Singh Shekhawat's charge Elementto Trance (San Francisco – Divine Fantasy) who succeeded in prevailing over Stunning View by a neck. Kamakhya, who looked all set to spring a surprise by leading from the front, finished a neck behind for the third slot. Sangeet Charan's Red Reef returned to the winning block in The Guest Alliance Plate, meant for class three horses. The chestnut horse of Classic Tale and Red Rosette, who overcame the fitness problem he had developed during the last month, may set his sight for the class two meet.

Jewel Star and Skyros ran on to be impressive second and third respectively. The day's concluding event, The Perfect Host Plate, came as a shock for the racegoers when a rank-outsider First N Impression routed the field. Gangajal, who tamed the hot favourite Legendary Hero for the second position, is knocking at the door.