The saying that handicap matters most in youngsters was proved wrong by the top-weighted Goodwood Park while bagging the Northern India Cup, the feature event of the Delhi races on Friday. Trainer Aleem Khan was the lone professional to notch up a creditable treble.Goodwood Park (Sussex-Venice), who just joined the bandwagon of Manbir Singh, started off being the third favourite against the Sports Lifestyle Million winner Equal Luxury and Skyscarpper. The weight made his chances bleak. On the other hand, the distance of mile was befitting for him. Tracking the pace of Master Of Illusion, Master Harmonica and Skyscarpper, Parmod brought the mount into top gear at the corner of the top curve.

By that time, Equal Luxury also made his presence felt and the duo succeeded in pushing back the front-runners at the top of the home stretch. Running cheek by jowl, the duo was unaware of the turn of foot of Skyscarpper, who came with a scintillating late burst of speed to make it a three-way finish. However, the effort just fell short by a whisker as Goodwood Park headed out Equal Luxury and pegged her further into third place. Skysrcapper, who had to overcome the rough passage while trying to get past the leader after entering into the straight, had to slip back to re-gather momentum. She will be in different shape in the next season.

The winner and the runner-up have already proved their merit. This was the first major success for Manbir Singh. Aleem's Derby hero Real Smasher scripted yet another facile victory by lifting the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup. En route to completing a hat-trick in the top class, the son of Ontario and Smash For Cash left the field yawning with plenty in saddle. Yet another win is round the corner for the victor. One of the top-ranked horses in India, Sonic Boom occupied the next berth despite carrying the heavy impost of 67.5 kilograms. The day's opener, which was the upper division of The City Of Joy Plate, saw Odds N Evens (Ontario-Against All Odds) making every post a winning one. A suspicious handling of Hashim Ali Khan enabled the favourite Extraordinaire go down narrowly. Bay Of Thunder, who finished close third, should soon strike over the longer trip. The lower division of the plate saw Legendary Hero (Flitch-Magic) following the path of odds N Evens.

Flyby, who ran second by taming the late-finishing Nonios, should make amends. Genius Boy and Jewel Star (Eljohar-Fair Counsel) shared the plum in the Tollygunj Plate, which was earmarked for the class three horses. Skyros, Revengeful Knight, Devputra and Kohinoor Beauty, who finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, should soon return to the winning block provided for. Aleem's Steel Force (Emerald Cat-Ballynahinch) emerged victorious in The Howrah plate. Though the original runner-up Master Speed had lodged an objection against the winner for hampering her way inside the distance, it did not bear fruit. Instead, he was further relegated to the third spot by the stewards who held an enquiry into the race. Kerry Blue (D K Ashish atop), who was awarded the second position, could have easily won the race had he not been sandwiched between Steel Force and Master Speed at the head of the competition. However, Ashish might face action for not taking his stand in this regard.