Full Race-Day Recap with Horses to Watch

The race card on Saturday turned out to be a fantastic gift for punters, especially as it coincided with the Eid celebrations. Except for the opener, where Master Way caused a major upset, most of the fancied horses delivered as expected. They returned at fair, backable odds, much to the delight of punters. As a result, many regulars and serious bettors left the course smiling, pockets filled with their winnings. It was a welcome change after a few unpredictable race days, and the energy in the paddock and stands reflected the success of the racing crowd.

Champions Way Turns the Tables in Style

Trained by Satish Narredu, Champions Way came into the Nawab M Arshad Ali Khan Memorial Cup with a point to prove. In his last race, he had been narrowly beaten by his stablemate Casteel in a mile-long contest. This time, he dropped down in distance to seven furlongs, a move that clearly suited him better. With ace jockey Suraj Narredu guiding him from the front, Champions Way set the pace and held his ground gallantly to edge out the consistent Kalamitsi, trained by Sulaiman Attaollahi, in a tight finish. The thrilling contest confirmed that Champions Way is better suited over this shorter trip and has the heart to fight in close finishes.

Eagle Day Proves a Class Apart

The highlight of the day, the Brig. RCR Hill Memorial Trophy, featured a strong lineup, but the spotlight was firmly on Eagle Day, trained by Pesi Shroff. Coming off a good workout at this centre, the talented colt was backed with confidence and didn’t disappoint his supporters. With Vivek in the saddle, Eagle Day displayed an electric burst of speed in the straight, zooming past Gordon to win stylishly. Mindful, trained by Deepesh Narredu, did just enough to place and save money for place bettors. In contrast, Scarlette Lady, who had won easily in a lower class previously, found this stronger opposition too much to handle and never really got into the race.

Don Carlos Runs Away with Rare Gem Plate (Upper Division)

In the upper division of the Rare Gem Plate, the Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Don Carlos was the clear top fancy and he lived up to all expectations. Looking extremely fit in the paddock, he jumped out well and took control early. From there, he simply dominated his nine rivals, pulling away in the final stages to win by an impressive six lengths. The margin of victory and ease with which he won suggest that he can handle tougher opponents in future outings. Eastern Gold, who had clocked some smart workouts, was second in demand in the betting ring but failed to fire, leaving her followers disappointed. The Grey Geranium, however, ran a solid race to finish second, just ahead of Able One.

Darrion Delivers in the Lower Division

In the lower division of the same event, Darrion, trained by Pradeep Annaiah, bounced back after a narrow loss to Glaze in his previous run. Well-supported in the betting ring, Darrion made sure there was no mistake this time. Jockey Vivek gave him a confident ride, and the result was never in doubt as Darrion strode clear in the final furlong. Glorious Spectre, who was initially the favourite, saw the betting interest shift away when support started flowing in for Quebec, trained by Prasanna. While Quebec, ridden by apprentice Darshan, did well to finish second, Anchorage followed in third. Glorious Spectre, however, was nowhere in contention, clearly indicating something was amiss.

Mazal Tov Wraps Up the Day with a Smooth Win

The final race of the day, the Manjri Stud Plate, was a sprint, and the focus was on Mazal Tov, trained by Nevil Devaney. After an eye-catching final workout, the gelding topped the betting charts and fully justified the faith placed in him. Jockey and horse combined beautifully, and Mazal Tov had everything under control from the start. He cruised home with ease, showing that he is now in peak racing condition. Dynamic Force, not so well-fancied, ran on late to take second ahead of Gimmler, while the pacey Lauterbrunnen ended up finishing fourth. If Mazal Tov is raced again quickly while in this form, he can definitely land another win, even in a slightly tougher class.

Elysium Gallops into the Limelight

There was little doubt about who would win the Ascot Plate once the runners were parading. Elysium, from Sulaiman’s stable, had made a big impression in her debut and came into this seven-furlong race as the public favourite. She didn’t disappoint. Breaking well and travelling easily, Elysium simply coasted home without being pushed too hard. She was far too good for this set of rivals and looked like a filly with more to offer. Kiss Of Grey finished second with a decent effort, while Machiavellian, a visitor from Mumbai, appeared slightly unfit in the paddock but still managed to finish third. With this run under his belt, he could improve dramatically next time.

Master Way Steals the Show in an Open Race

The opening race of the day was an open contest, and while many expected Sunlit Path, trained by Purshottam, to take the honours, it was Master Way who stunned the field. Ridden by Saikumar, Master Way showed early speed and led from the word go. Though challenged late by Princess Jasmine, he fought on bravely to win in a start-to-finish manner. Sunlit Path, who had run a decent third last time, failed to show the same spark and couldn’t keep up with the leaders. Another runner who caught the eye was Double Scotch from Shoban Babu’s yard, who appears to have improved and will be worth watching in his next start.

Horses to Follow: Punters’ Notebook

Here are the standout performers from the day worth tracking for future races:

• Champions Way – Bounced back strongly over seven furlongs.
• Eagle Day – Top-class win; strong turn of foot.
• Don Carlos – Impressive six-length victory.
• Darrion – Dominated his division after previous narrow loss.
• Mazal Tov – Won comfortably; in peak condition.
• Elysium – Easy winner; more to come.
• Double Scotch – Ran better than expected; watch next run.