The ninth day of the season saw two top contenders for the forthcoming first classic race - 1000 Guineas registering victory in their events respectively. Mrignainee succeeded in lifting the Dasmesh, Hargobind Stud and Livestock Farm Cup, while Rock Ing Star survived in a nail-biting finish in the lower division of the Ilheus Plate. Trainer Magan Singh had reason to smile with three wins to his credit, while Kolkata-returned Pradeep Kumar earned creditable double.

Three-year-old bay filly Mriganainee, who had earlier scored in a start-to-finish attempt over the mile, repeated his feat. A furlong less to travel proved to be vital for the daughter of Brave Hunter and Shanavi. "I never worried about her performance and moreover, what God gives is acceptable," Mrs Anita Chauhan, owner of Mrignainee, said. "Being the racing lovers, we do love our horses standing tall but whether she is capable of springing surprises in the Guineas is the matter of future," Ravinder Chauhan, husband and co-owner of many horses with his wife Anita Chauhan, said. "Our change of strategy is now paying dividends," Roopendra Singh Shekhawat, trainer of Mrignainee, said. "Jockey Gajendra Singh Shekhawat alias Bunty, who guided the victor on both the occasions, once had discussed in detail about letting her run freely in front of the horses and that bore fruits," Roopendra added.

Just Like A Woman, who has been looking for a victory for the last couple of years, came with a late surge to occupy the runner-up berth. Opera Royale, who had dazzled with two runaway wins in the lower classes, was unable to repeat and had to satisfy herself with the fourth place.

Rock Ing Star, who was adjudged the best horse of the previous calendar, managed to survive a scar on her reputation by a head under the strong handling of champion jockey Rajinder, who has guided her fortune for seven consecutive times barring debut run. The highest stake earner in the history of Delhi racing, began the second phase of her career on a fluent gallop over five furlongs and looked set to garner yet another glory. "Let’s see how she takes up the run," Rajesh Sahgal, part owner of Rock Ing Star, told me. "She might race before the 1000 Guineas, it totally depends upon how she behaves," he said.

It was quite evident that she needed that run. To face almost all the top-ranked horses in an open class after performing among the age group and being unbeaten in seven outings in as many starts is not an easy task. Since she has crossed the phase, one can now expect her to maintain the winning streak in the first blue riband event of the season in mid-November. Red Cat should make amends.

Apprentice Pradeep Kumar, who rode Red Cat, earned his corn-bill through Buddy Brothers in the upper division of the Ilheus Plate. The seven-year-old gelding from Hyderabad proved to be too good for the rivals in a customary pillar-to-post affair. Pradeep, later, showed his prowess by helping Gamati to earn her long overdue victory in the concluding event - Dance Away Plate. Beyond Compare was other impressive winner after Buddy Brothers and Gamati from the yard of Magan Singh. Beyond Compare should be eyeing for an encore. The day's opener saw Mumbai-imported Mazan raising a winning gallop within a short span of 15 days after the arrival.