The odds-on favourite Upper Crust got up on the last stride to justify the confidence of the punters, who had constantly backed her the whole day to win the feature event of the day’s card. This sprint race for horses in the highest class had attracted six runners. The favourite was the only one with good current form having finished an impressive fourth in her last start at Mysore. But then, class I races are always unpredictable and one has to realize that horses have to be really good to be racing in that company. The lead changed hands four times in this short sprint. It was Hyacinth, who led the field from Flaming Glory, Sugar Blaze and Upper Crust till heads turned for home. Flaming Glory took over the running to the delight of her followers before she was challenged and headed by Sugar Blaze, while the favourite was moving up on the wide outside. To the relief of her many supporters Upper Crust wore down the leader in the last couple of strides to lift the Abbey Falls Cup.

Ganapathy and Prakash combined effectively to land a treble for Dr MAM Ramaswamy. All three were available at backable odds, and to the delight of their faithful followers, each one of them won with a measure of comfort.

They started with Mystified, brother of the famous Mystical, winning the opening event of the day. Nice Guy led this field with Mystified on his heels while Candance and the well-supported Power Punch were running another couple of lengths behind them. On straightening up, it was a procession as Prakash drove his mount to an emphatic victory over Candance, Power Punch and a late finishing You and I.

Their second success came on another fashionably bred horse in the yard, namely Southern Chieftain. The odds on this horse more than doubled from 18/10 to 9/2 in no time. The public, for reasons best known to them, were backing Spirit of China and Astounding Blue in a big way. Spirit of China was at the helm of affairs before Southern Chieftain took over from him in the last couple of hundred metres. It ceased to be a contest thereafter. Jersey Power came with a late run and had to be content with the third prize. It was surprising to note that apprentice G. Sapra, who has ridden 11 winners and has now an allowance of only three and a half kilos, was not given the whip by his master. I can assure you that with a whip, Jersey Power would have finished a lot closer to the winner. Apprentice John rode a peculiar race on joint favourite Astounding Blue. After a level jump from the gates, he dropped his horse to the last position. He then chose to push his mount while taking the rising ground at the 600-metre marker and came eight horses wide into the straight. All this, while he was still running last of eight runners. In spite of his antics, the horse finished a close fourth. It will pay to follow this charge of Irfan Ghatala in his future engagements. 

The treble for Prakash and Ganapathy was completed on Wonder Smile, who won a mile race for horses in class II. Six well-performed three year olds and a couple of no-hopers went to the starting gates. Dancing Highness shared the favouritism with Arabian Knight, both being quoted at 3/1. Wonder Smile, who had run as the favourite in the Deccan Fillies Trial Stakes at Hyderabad last month and performed miserably, was neglected on that run and was freely available at 6/1. The two no-hopers, National Trust and Alejandros, brought the field into the straight with the fancied runners jostling for advantageous positions.

It was Arabian Knight who got a run on the rails and went into the lead before Wonder Smile came with giant strides and went away from the field. Our little Savage was a faraway third ahead of Dancing Highness. The last named was sporting a dull coat and was looking a trifle gross in the paddock. This run will do her a lot of good. The winner is in great heart and should win again. 

The Air Force Trophy was another interesting race in the day’s card. Four well-performed three year olds were making their appearance and all of them were fancied by their respective connections. Ocean Crest, Soberano and My Friend Paul were equally supported in the betting ring. Soberano, with five-kilo claimer Vinod Shinde aboard, won easily from a hard ridden My Friend Paul. Ocean Crest finished a struggling third. River Island was looking heavy in the paddock and yet ran a forward race. She is one for your notebook. 

 Movie Queen and Enforcer won the two divisions of a sprint race framed in the day’s card. Enforcer had run many times in maidens’ company during the last one year. He had finished second on most occasions. Today, while taking on open company, he won the first race of his career. It is estimated that he has won more than a million rupees in his short career. It is a classic case of owners running their charges for stake money.