The excitement and suspense is writ large on every race enthusiast’s face and every attendee on Saturday's races evidently emitted the expression. The Invitational weekend has its own charishma and bares a festive look. The music playing and the services' band marching on the lawns in between the intervals between races is a sight to see and behold. Amidst this, Champions like Oasis Star and Arabian Knight create new records in thrilling, fighting finishes. Oasis Star simply scintillated while burning the turf with his awesome speed covering the 1200 metres distance in under 1m -10 secs  Barely had the shocking speed performance had been stomached by the race goers and Arabian Knight comes out with a facile victory over the gruelling distance of 3000 metres and he did it start to finish.

A visibly excited Srinath was very positive in his post race bytes. “The track was fast and I went for running up with the Pace and she settled beautifully. In the straight she was keen and the moment I let her loose she responded promptly and I knew we would make it without any strain. I did get a minor 'bang' on straightening up but she went on, regardless." On her chances today in the Dhinjibhoy Million, Srinath simply said "She will win again"!

Samuel Fargeat was delighted with the display of Arabian Knight. “He travelled beautifully and was keen from the start. I only let him settle into a comfortable pace and he never tired. This is a splendid showing and he would have gone on. He is a complete stayer and has the speed to match" he concluded. Fargeat was seen patting and kissing the Champion horse fondly even in the paddock when she was paraded during the presentation. 
 
That was Yesterday and a new today the Invitation Weekend is peaking to a great climax. The Super mile will be a close and fiercely fought race. Rhapsidion Snow posted a very impressive and fashionable victory in A.B. Stud Fillies and Mares Million coming around all through on a tight rein. Now this kind of an easy victory needs special quality especially when dished out against another top quality horse like Wonder Smile. Rhapsidion Snow did just that, thus implying that that she is extremely good and in the best form. The connections of Deigo Rivera will sit up and take notice. The Shroff ward does still garner the major support as he too displayed a lot of class in his last victory in Mumbai. Deigo Rivera has also travelled well and looks in fine fettle and Rhapsiidion Snow will surely not find it as easy this time. Then there is Badge Of Gold from Ramu's yard who has a lot of quality but somehow has under played his talent and would be looking to set the record right. The Hurricane from the stables of Altaf Hussain will be rearing to go. He as the feel of the course and his run in the Golconda Derby would have richly educative. He did not too badly in the Derby and the connections will be very optimistic about his chances. Local challenger Vijayraaj has put on a lot of condition at looks his best. He has a reputation to redeem after taking a beating in the Derby. He is not going to go down without a fight. It would be safe to assume that the winner could emerge from the above bunch. Although it is not beyond the others in the fray to land the spoils teh former bunch looks formidable and it seems difficult to look beyond the top contenders. 

Bourbon King must be smarting form his McDowell Derby loss and what better opportunity than the Invitation Cup. The hugely reputed King could only show a glimpse in the Indian Derby of his staying prowess and in this relatively small field he could possibly stamp his authority and shake off the Derby loss. The multi classic winner is shaping up well and there is no doubt he has retained his form and the equine emperor his sights firmly on the immediate task at hand. Bourbon King is all set to recapture his crown. "Everyone knows about his unfortunate Derby run, so I won’t take that loss too seriously. He is in good touch and I have a lot of faith in him. He should run a good race" opined Ganapathy modesty.
 
Hotstepper has a big heart and Kinane got the best out of him on 'D' day in Mumbai. " Hotstepper has beaten Bourbon King once and I don’t see why shouldn’t do so again. He has travelled well and has maintained his form and I am prepared to wait and watch" quipped veteran trainer SS Shah. Nobel Prince and Retribution are also knocking on the door. They finished up close in the Derby and would only do better. Nobel Prince flew in the last part and must be still rueing why the winning post couldn’t come a wee bit later. He was catching up fast with the fighting duo ahead and was easily the fastest travelling horse in the final 100 metres. He just missed out narrowly. Retribution wins the Derby here and knows the track too well. That would be a huge advantage that he could press to produce a positive result. His class is never in question. The one you just cant discount is Regal Connection, The Manner of his victory in the Calcutta Derby was simply marvellous. His Indian Derby assignment was not worrying either. He may find his feet to throw the Khaitan camp into ecstasy. 

The HRC has put up a great show and the Indian Racing Awards was a hugely successful event on the Invitation Cup eve. Well attended by the who's who of the racing fraternity, the night was lit up and well organised. The awards were swept by the "Goldie Brown" camp. Dr. MAM Ramaswamy won the Award for the Leading Owner, Robert Fowley, the baron’s Chennai based trainer won the award in his category. Dr. MAM owned Southern Empire won’t the title of the Best Horse for 2006-07. Mr. Bhupal Reddy was touched when his was conferred the honour of the 'Hall Of Fame'. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and the multi cuisine dinner with a sumptuous spread was befitting a kingly buffet. The music and performances were well worth watching. Cyrus Madan a great human being and current Chairman of RCTC let his hair down briefly and graciously sang along with the orchestra and entertained the elite audience. You just can’t keep cyrus from having a good time and the charismatic Gent was genuinely sounding great.