In terms of speed, A khan-trained horses have no match. Brahmaputra and Forcado already hold the 1,000 m and 1,100 m track record respectively. Now, Trinity seemed to be following the path of the pair. Though she failed narrowly to sink the latter's land mark, yet the achievement she received reveals the potential of the horses under Khan’s brigade. Trinity was slower by decimal 39 seconds than Forcado in the Mysore Race Club Cup, the last class one event of the season. The favourites continued to entertain the race goers.

Coming out of the shadow of nightmare of a narrow defeat at the hands of Taurian in the Unitech-sponsored Grande Stakes, which had the highest stake money for the top-class runners in the Delhi circuit, on the first Sunday of this month, she made every post a winning one with plenty in saddle. In the field of 14 horses, she undoubtedly was the sitter of the day and it proved true when she completed the courses by stopping the watch just under one minute, 5.91 seconds. "She turned out to be outstanding at the end but the time she clocked was unexpected," Aleem Khan, the trainer, told me. "It was her ill-luck, otherwise she would have won in her last outing,” he said. "She still has a vast scope for improvement and I think she should at her best in the next season," he added further.

The four-year-old filly had almost made the stablemate Soul Satisfaction run in the 1000 Guineas during winter. If the run is considered, she should definitely achieve success over the longer trip. Little Master, who picked up form in the later half of the season, played the role of second fiddle at the fly weight. The gelding should crack a race in the early part of the next venture. Degas, the track record holder of 1,200 metres, continued to show his consistency. That’s what he has been maintaining for the last three outings by filling the place boards. Ashwa Paratp, who had been defying the penalty, found the widest draw coming a cropper. Gin And Tonic, the youngest horse who had earlier completed a quadruple, ran true to her stamina till the final furlong and finished close fifth. She will be in a different shape in the following calendar.  However, the most impressive run was of Dilnawaz. The gelding, who was not punished hard in the previous outing, made a late leeway to finish close sixth.

The opening event, which was slated for the maiden horses, was at the mercy of Dolton Power. After coming out of the stalls, the chestnut gelding had two runners following him:  Vagabond and More Than A Woman. The race ended so. The son of Classic Tale and Witness To Class has also the capability of staying power. The beaten pair would not keep the maiden portfolio longer.  

Picking up momentum from the last setback against one of the speediest customers, Black Chetak, the bay mare Silver Girl scored a fine victory over Invisible Force. Waiting for her turn in the fourth place, she caught up the eventual beaten leader Invisible Force halfway down the straight to live up to the expectations. She should complete an encore. Invincible Force may curse Private Eye for her defeat as the latter never allowed him run freely. Silver Zara, who had earlier left the field in lurch over the mile trip in pillar-to-post affair, adopted the waiting tactics which only enabled her the fourth position. The filly has a bright future.

The senior division of the Mysore Palace Plate saw a keen tussle between the favourite Barchetta and Al Jawat. The former prevailed but the latter took him to the stewards' room for interference during the closing stages. Al Jawat failed to impress the body but the performance may help him to run for top prize in the next trip. Minha Carina, a Mumbai runner, ran on gamely to be third ahead of the late galloper Real Scotch, who came from the hind group.

In the lower division of the plate, Ready To win showed a sparkling turn off foot. The filly, who was looking for an overdue victory this season, had the early hiccups before guiding the way from the 900 m. She should maintain her continuity. Doon Boy, after receiving interference at jump, ran widest of the field throughout. He should shed the maiden status.

Striving Higher got the short-head better of the public-fancied Wild West in a breath-taking finish in the Chamundi Hill Plate. Wild West, a consistent performer, and Striving Higher, who had been looking for a wining for a long period, started making a duel from the last furlong, before seeking the help of photo-finish. At the back of them, Painted Boy made a scintillating run to displace Yare with identical margin. Putting blinker on Painted Boy saw a sea-change in his strides.