Veteran trainer Janardhan pulled off a lucrative gamble in the very first race of the day and saddled another winner a couple of races later at nourishing odds to return home for a real ‘Party Celebration’.

Allectus, who opted to run in the lower class carrying the top weight, was partnered by ‘gamble’ jockey T. Mahesh and went to the starting gates with the odds backed down to 6/1 while the connections had their bets at longer odds. Hisham began in his customary front running role, led the field homewards and faded. Alectus, who always stayed well in touch, got straight down to business in the home stretch with jockey Mahesh going all out freely, using his whip hand. Allectus responded well and kicked on gamely regardless of any possible challenge and romped home a good 2 ¾ L clear of Gold Biscuit (TS Jodha). Wells Fargo (Alam), who raced well up during his last start victory over 7 furlongs, this time however, chose to race from the rear. He was kept too far back to make any headway and ended a tame third.

Hitz (Narredu) was the other Janardhan ward to delight his connections. Racing in the rear Malesh was quick to switch on the outside and alerted the gelding around the 400 metres and Hitz put in a dazzling response to collar all and sundry to win comfortably. Multicultural once again failed to produce that late finish which saw him win on his first occasion but managed to find a place in the frame in a three way photo finish. Lightning Bolt (Vikram) put in a decent performance and ought to be noted over a shorter scurry. Honey Day (TS Jodha) improved in the straight and finished on a clear third.

Top Romance (Srinath) came good after a forgettable last start and won decisively from end to end. The Diffident – Mulberry filly shot into the lead soon on start and maintained a handy margin all through. Srinath nursed the Karthik charge well into the homestretch and went for the whip nearing the distance post. El Bunduq (Fargeat) tried his best to catch up but Top Romance galloped gamely away. Blue Blaze (Ruzaan) who was third for most part of the journey finished so without making any impression on the leaders while Pomme De Terre came from a long way back to peg back Musical Rhythm for a place in the frame.

Kishore Kadam is improving leaps and bounds and this was evident in the 3rd race. Medtias Pride (Belose) tried the runaway tactics and built a sizeable lead as they entered the home stretch. Mazan (Grant) who was racing alongside Arabian Speed quickly moved to top gear and started to bridge the gap. At the same juncture, Game Of Power who was fifth was being asked for an effort and Kishore got her on the outside and after a couple of reminders resorted to vigorous urging and timed his finish to a nicety. The photo finish could have gone either way - it was that close. Mazan, the camera decided, was the gallant runner up.

Medtias Pride held on for place money, however, The Right Man did well to end just off the frame behind Arabian Speed, despite a sluggish start and Benfica also finished on close to the bunch after being a detached last at the home turn.

Feet Of Flames (Modigliani – ESharp) was the piping hot favourite and was backed even at the cramped 4/10 on odds. The Shroff ward did not cause even a hint of anxiety and won convincingly. Rajendra settled the chestnut filly in third behind Madamme Bijoux and Kimaya and soon took over on straightening up. Once he hit the front Rajendra never looked gettable and Hymns To Freedom’s (Dasharath) continued effort to get closer were in vain. Supreme Falcon’s (Srinath) was an educative run and he will improve. He ran on towards the end and finished a close third.  The rest made little impression.

Pampered Princess and Schubert were the joint favourites and both were involved in stubborn fight for the initial advantage. The former, however, had a slender advantage, which she enhanced as they turned for home. Pampered Princess was pushed to increase her lead as Schubert showed no sign of troubling her. Elmwood (Hughes) was travelling well in hand shifted gears past the 400 metres and began to devour ground. At the distance post, Pampered Princess was fighting hard but it was obvious that Elmwood was travelling better of the two. Elmwood finally got past with the winning post in sight and won clocking a smart timing of 1:10.67. Pampered Princess implied that 5 furlongs is her optimum trip. Schubert disappointed, as did Shyboy.

Daniel Grant should take a bow. His assistance to Party Celebration was superlative as he guided the Bharath Singh ward from the back bunch to navigate his way through a rough passage and put in a timely final burst to spoil the party of Athena and Mysterious Star close home. Party Celebration was sluggish during the initial part of the race and Grant cajoled him right through the resorting to using the whalebone even before the turn. In the straight, he had a wall of horses in front and the favourite Mysterious Star had already taken charge way too ahead of him. As if that was not enough, he saw Athena (Rajendra) ready to race forward. It must also be mentioned that Rajendra too was stuck in the rails with nowhere to go, and had to skirt around the horses past the 400 metres to make his run on the outside. Just then, Grant too poked through and found his mount rising to the occasion and in the dying moments of the race Party Celebration produced a scintillating burst and drew away form a fighting pack of horses shocking them all. Both Grant and Rajendra gave a good account of their skills but as they say in sports, the winner takes it all.

McCullagh finally came into his own and dished out an authoritative win partnering River Dancer to an emphatic victory. Sitting well up with the front bunch – The Brave Heart, Councilofthegods & Covenant, In the straight, Mccullagh waited till he passed the leader and then urged River Dancer, who responded ably to eat up ground rapidly adding to the margin. Councilofthegods got between horses and had to check at a crucial juncture from which he could never recover. Major Roberts (Fargeat) gave a chase that was only good enough for the second spot. Convenince (Nirmal) came from behind to land place money warding of a fast finishing Ming. Covenant‘s was a poor show. Strathendrick was never in the hunt.

Rage Of Angles was a rank outsider but had shown enough in her earlier starts that she needed a longer distance. Trainer Amjad Khan deftly placed her in the 2000 metres and the mare relished every inch of the extra turf and obliged by galloping away merrily to outlast all her opponents. Settling well and early unlike her past slow starts, Rage of Angels was in striking position as the heads turned for home. Johnny Bravo looked a spent force giving way to Brezhnev, Dragonair (Hughes) was right up with them when Rage Of Angels made her move. Anil Bandaal switched her on the outside and together they sped past the leaders to romp home with minimum effort. Brezhnev (Alam) held on to retain the second spot from Dragonair while Temptation who lost ground at the start finished in the frame a long way off.

Xiamen (Shailesh) called the shots all the way to post a very authoritative win. Hitting the front early, Xiamen quickly established a handy lead and accelerated even better in the straight. A fair amount of smart money had come on Tehrani (Ruzaan), who tried hard but found the winner just too good. Hymn Star chased the winner all the way but was piped for the second spot. Phi (Nirmal) came from a long way back to fill the frame and is one for the notebook. Tribal Warrior disappointed and got nowhere despite an all out effort from the jockey.    

Trainer Janardhan was the lone professional to score a double.