While Christopher Alford enjoyed an armchair ride on Arielle, he had to earn his victory points on Ascriptive in the race for the Prince Blossom Cup. Touch of Magic it was who shot to the front in the mile race and was running freely enough to suggest that she may show a clean pair of heels all the way. Just before the turn, Alford urged his mount to narrow the leeway which he did admirably well. At the distance post, it was all over bar the shouting.
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A Imran Khan opened his account with a great win astride King Of Dance. The Daniel David ward was in the rear of the field till the straight while the lead exchanged hands. Malikah’s early exuberance was dampened by Brave Move and Glorious Knight but Imran’s power-packed finish did in the lot.
Imran completed his double astride the on-money Ardent Prince who chased Cromwell till the distance post before shooting ahead for a fairly comfortable win. The disappointment in the race was Blazing Beauty who finished a poor fifth.
The last race of the afternoon was a real thriller. Errol Bhungard, who trains Ardent Prince, had a runner in the final event (Elusive Warrior) which closed as the favourite. Sea Sprite and the ‘Warrior’ were the duo up front till the distance post but were soon overhauled by the pair of Flying Jaguar and Bravo Italiano. It was however Vikash Jaiswal-trained Mirror Image who won the day as brother Vinay brought the chestnut mare with a telling run in the straight to peg back the Jaguar.
The most facile winner of the afternoon was Arielle who won the Arcaro Handicap as she liked. The fact that Cuba Libre conceded 7kg and gave her a beating last time out speaks well of the former.
