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Though she had last run almost nine months back, Bharat Singh’s Everybody Salsa was considered to be a ‘good thing’ by quite a few knowledgeable punters at the racecourse. The Case Law filly closed as the on-money favourite for the five-and-half furlong sprint for the lower division of the Octogonal Handicap. Jockey Kamlesh gave her a ‘measured’ ride, collaring Crush On You within 300 metres of the start before making a beeline for the finish along the rails. Things looked rosy for her till Nirmal Jodha on Soldier’s Quest decided otherwise. This rank outsider got the better of the favourite close home. Bharath and Dashrath bagged their first win with Best Bet. The speedster came in nicely from an outside draw and put paid to the pretensions of the favourite Carmen in the upper division of the Octagonal Handicap. The other runners were simply not in it though Pat rick Quinn-schooled Dreamcatcher did finish a fairly good third. Monsoon winner Ashwa Gamini set the pace till the bend before calling it a day.
The filly Aemilia was backed to the exclusion of all others in the mile race for the Regal Star Handicap. Considered to be a 1000 Guineas candidate, the fashionably bred three-year-old by Placerville out of Queen Ann was taken on a start to finish mission by Christopher Alford. As the pace was pretty gentle, one would have expected her to accelerate in the straight. Unfortunately for her connections, that was not to be. She seems to be a one-pace filly and was involved in a blanket finish with Moment Of Love and Local Warrior. The last named had his head in front to pick up the prize.
The Bharath-Dashrath combo annexed The Wheels Cup with the on-money Galashiels. The colt responded brilliantly to the pressure applied by the rider in the straight. He thus collared Palme D’Or who was threatening to post another upset. Dynamic Move moved up to be an impressive third.
Countess was well ridden by apprentice Israil to take up the running in the straight in his quest to win the Mr Mauritius Hndicap, a seven furlong race. However, the filly had no answer to the powerful gallop unleashed by Special Star in the straight. This was the first of Arti’s three winners. The surprise even-money favourite Highland Magic was never in it. Elegante ran a fair fourth while Acrology may find it tough to win in this class.
Despite a light-weight on his back, the even-money favourite Credit Squeeze was seen to struggle all the way in the seven furlong sprint for the Hilliard Cup. Grand Madame was the early pacemaker while Adamaris and Raghuvansh were involved in a keen tussle for supremacy close home. Kamlesh’s hard riding on Raghuvansh paid off. Kamlesh and Arti completed their hattrick with Pocket Rocket who won the Fair Haven Handicap by a short-head from Exclusivity. In this sprint, both Artistical and Good Time Sally planted. Pocket Rocket ran a forward race and had to thwart apprentice Ajoy Roy’s keen effort to open his account.
