Ashwa Pratap showed a clean pair of heels while returning to the winning bracket in the Nandan Plate, which was earmarked for class II horses, and incidentally being the main event at the Delhi races on Tuesday. Trainer Syed Mazhar Abbas turned out be a great opportunist by saddling three winners for the second time in his decade-long career. Jockeys Irfan Ali and Faiz Ali Khan were the other jubilant professionals who shared a brace each.

In spite of lack of matured horses, a card of seven events was framed with the help of final entries. Interestingly, the previous three days have also been organised with final entrants. The racegoers once again found themselves at the back foot in picking up winners in most of the races as only three favourites obliged. The other four had their connections' faith in them.

A heavy downpour recorded a couple of days prior to the races had made the going heavy; the penetrometer reading was 3.3 cms. But the timings clocked by the horses were almost the same as generally recorded on the normal days.

The second class II event of the season saw 14 horses to come under the starter's order from the seven furlongs post. Gutsy runners - Spot Hit and Real Queen - from the yard of champion trainer Aleem Khan competed fiercely till the corner of the final curve. Improving from the mid bunch, Ashwa Pratap managed to snatch the issue from the latter soon after entering into the homestretch and but retired home only under the use of excessive whip.

"I'm not happy with the performance of the gelding as it was only the whip that made the difference," Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who rode the winner, told me. "He was not responding to my urgings at all and if the assistance of quirt was not sought at the time of need, his defeat was certain," he said. "I'm happy with his turn of foot, he simply delighted me with his sparkling performance," Mrs Anita Chauhan, the owner, told me. "Though the horse has reached his level but we are still hoping him to bring another laurel for us by winning the class one event," she added.

Ashwa Pratap, undoubtedly, has the potential to become a class I winner. King Challenge, who came from the hind group, was the best among the rest. The gelding has three wins to his credit over the shorter trip but the acceleration towards the finish may enable him to become a miler. Real Queen, who has been a good sprinter, also showed the staying capability which brought her the third place ahead of the ownermate Spot Hit. Spot Hit did not have much preparation but the way he was handled, he should soon return to the winning bracket. The other horse who bears watching is Middle Man, who came from tailend to run fifth.

The day's proceeding started off with Lady's Crown justifying the top billing under all-out effort. Her drifting odds, however, made the racegoers sweat, until Irfan Ali showed his prowess which continued while completing his double through Kerry Blue in the lower division of the Kadambani Plate. The second race of the day saw Private Eye posting remarkable victory in the upper division of the Kadambani Plate. Sitting at the tailend before the curve, jockey Faiz Ali Khan showed his patience till the field of nine scattered in the straight. Waiting for such an opportunity, he opted to run through the fence which really paid him off. Faiz continued to show his skill by guiding the fortune of Rainbow Shine, another horse from the yard of his cousin Abbas. Later, Five Star became the third successive winner saddled by Syed Mazhar Abbas.

The remarkable performance of the trio may continue if the connections show their interest. Ironically, the punters did not dare to follow Rainbow Shine and Private Eye as enquiry regarding their previous performances was still pending. The Hindustan Times Cup saw champion jockey Rajinder coming to his terms on Gallopinggoldmine. Utilization of the benefit of tongue strap may bring another win her way.