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Trainer John Stephens very shrewdly declared 5kg allowance -apprentice Sk Israil to ride Blood Rayne who was penalized 4.5 kg for his last victory. That did the trick as the five-year-old shot ahead at the bend and held on by three-parts of a length from the fast finishing Apyrous.
Veteran trainer Richard Alford was a delighted man as his speedy filly She’s Superb finally came good in the hands of apprentice B Srnivas Rao. She made every post of the Zipper Handicap a winning one. The favourite Secret Move tailed the winner all the way while Abaya and Saddlers Star finished on the board.
Arktouros was the on-money public choice in the Bhishma Cup but the gelding had no answer to Samarkhand’s fluent run in the straight to put paid to the pretensions of runaway Piato. Both Fighting Star and Steal the Glory raced in mid-division and will be better for this run. J. Chinoy atop the Patrick Quinn-trained winner timed his run to perfection.
Vijay Singh-trained Arctic force was the afternoon’s most facile winner. The three-year old colt by Razeen out of Forest Paradise won as he liked in the safe hands of Christopher Alford. Top-weight Spectacular Style was hampered by the heavy impost while the other fancied runner Special Star raced in the rear.
After his forward lung-opener on Wednesday, second favourite Alamgir made the field of the Kingcraft Handicap look ordinary. He won as he liked to increase Sarfaraz Khan’s tally in Rajinder’s hands. Flaming Comet was a creditable second while the favourite Forest Music was simply outclassed by the winner.
