Trainer Patrick Quinn`s firm favourite horse, Assassin, returned to the winning ways. The four-year-old colt had placed a decent fourth in a terms race, after winning two races in a row. On Wednesday, Assassin fully justified his odds while winning the 1,400m S. Rahmathulla Memorial Cup. Visiting jockey Pradeep Chouhan partnered the colt, by Juniper out of Midsummer Romance, who went to the start as an even-money favourite. Trainer Arti Doctor`s Daddy Cool was the only other public-choice who could deliver the goods in the seven-event card which was otherwise ruled by the fancied winners. Jockey Shailesh Shinde and trainer Javed Khan were also among winners, notching up priced doubles, on the day.

Assassin`s easy win hardly came as a surprise after the horse had made his presence felt in the Monsoon Sprint, a terms race, about three weeks ago. On this occasion, the smart sprinter, despite his topweight of 60kg, stood tall against his six rivals, and Chouhan made no mistake on the public choice. The jockey allowed his Assassin`s stable-mate, Monsieur Strauss, and Alcander to call the shots until the home turn before sending the public-choice into the lead to a three-length victory, the horse`s third in his four monsoon season`s start.

In the same race, Chala Ja Bachha was an impressive second after losing a considerable ground at the start. Apprentice jockey Jorawar Singh nursed the horse in the rear, until two furlongs from home before making his late run occupy the second berth, ahead of Lantana Lady, the second favourite.

Half an hour earlier, the apprentice had helped Javed`s Xipen record an easy victory in the 1,100m Flower Dust Plate. Xipen was always up in front with Shafiq Khan-trained Wonder Like You but the New Famous-Xray filly accelerated better than her longtime companion inside the last furlong to retire as an easy winner. It was an open betting race and wagering centered around the top-weighted Dakota Dreamer, Treasure Island, Land Of Glory, besides the winner – all quoted at 4-1 each.

Later in the afternoon, in the 1,400m Mercury Handicap, the 10 horses in the opposition were no match for Javed`s Copernicus, ridden by Shinde. The winner was drawn on the far side of the 11-horse field and almost trailed the field, on the wide out, for a major part of the journey. However, in the stretch run the 4-1 chance in the betting, devoured the ground on the wide to lead 150m from home for a five-length victory, over the longtime leader, Goliath.

For Shinde, it was a chance ride on Spartacus as jockey Christopher Alford had reported sick. Shinde meant business on the Errol Bhungard`s charge, as he was quick to take the lead from the 500m marker, after allowing Happy Princess to test his hooves. It was easy for the five-year-old horse from that point as he made the two three-year-old horses – Queen Of The Winds and the 7-10 hot favourite, Sugar Sweet – in a wild goose chase. Sugar Sweet`s (Chouhan-up) run, in particular, was most disappoint after the grey filly had made a winning debut, and an impressive one.

Daddy Cool`s victory was also on the cards, as the horse`s connections chose to take on a lower set after the horse failed in the higher category. Apprentice B. Nikhil`s riding allowance on the top-weighted runner, also came handy as the was backed down to 17-10 in the upper division of the 1,200m Dorania Handicap. The apprentice managed to hold back the favourite, close behind the two leaders – Songstress and Skyway – and took off, albeit with a marginal lead, to thwart the late challenge from Bond Girl and the weakening Skyway.

Trainer Jasbir Singh pulled off a solid gamble on his trusted galloper, Shivalik Shakti, in the lower division of the Dorania Handicap. The horse was backed from 6-1 down to 7-2 and he also had an easy measure of trainer Bharath Singh`s long-shot, Impression, who was ridden well off the pace as Snow Ball, Silken Senorita, the 6-4 favourite, Legends Order and the winner, were among the front runners.

The day`s opener also witnessed Quinn`s Oak Woods (Chouhan-up) cornering most of the betting, at 6-4, in the 1,200m Green Sari Handicap but the horse hardly justified his odds. It was trainer Manvendra Singh`s Temple Run who pulled off a smart win as the 7-2 chance in the betting as the filly slowly build up a considerable lead for a runaway victory, leaving Secret Blast and the favourite to fight it out for the minor placings.