In the afternoon’s main event, the Calorific Cup, Royal Charter (which was a C. Alford mount) had to be withdrawn. Celtic Charm closed as the favourite but the speedster failed to collar the speedy Arkhos who was on a start-to-finish mission. Both Anastasia and Everybody Salsa took the bend eight wide and engaged in a duel for supremacy. Kishore Kadam on Anastasia kept her going and pegged back Islam and Everybody Salsa at the wire. Both the low-weight riders declared 1 kg overweight.
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Despite riding in only three races, Christopher Alford managed to score a brace with Adriano and unfancied Twice Over. In the Irma La Douce Handicap, Spectacular Style opened at 7/1 and closed at 7/2 while Adriano increased from 10-to-6-on to even money. Apprentice Arman Khan opened a long lead astride Spectacular Style and looked as if he may pull it off as Adriano was several lengths behind. However, Spectacular Style started to shorten his strides from the distance post while Adriano was gaining ground on his adversary. At the wire, the favourite prevailed by a neck.
Twice Over won the Allodium Plate in amazing fashion. The maiden filly from Vijay Singh’s yard looked a beaten lot at the distance post but came on with a second win to go past the on-money favourite Glorious Invention close home. Kayadhu was a disappointment in the race as indeed was Chief Justice.
Trainer Christopher Gleich opened his account for the season with a narrow win as Mahesh and Tigana got the better of Little Mombo and Arman Khan in the last stride. Fancied runners Havana and Smiles finished in the ruck as they were both out at weights to Little Mombo. The soft track did not help front-running Manjhale Nawab’s cause. He is worth keeping an eye on.
Blazing Beauty (earlier known as Last Nights Sonnet) won the lower division of the same race in a start-to-finish manner. Trainer Patrick Quinn had another worthy runner in the afternoon’s final event in Highland Magic. The top-weight failed to collar Witness who produced an encore despite a 4kg penalty.
