Arjun Mangalorkar trained Common Wealth defied odds and not so perfect a lead up to the classic while nosing out Hyderabad challenger Aika Aika Aika in a desperately close finish of the Gr 1 Fillies Championship Stakes, the first classic of the season on Sunday. The race had an open look about it with half a dozen fillies having a chance of landing the spoils and in keeping with this expectation, the first four finishers were little more than ½ a length of each other.

The race had its share of hard luck stories. Common Wealth could be classified as belonging to the lucky brigade. Common Wealth had an episode of fever in the early part of the season which made her go to this race without a race run. Her mock race last week was far from inspiring. She did not look in great shape till lining up for the race. However, things fell place in the race as jockey S John got everything right though her wayward drift could have cost her dear. La Donna had a troubled passage when in full flight and had to change course while the outward drift of the winner also saw Aika Aika Aika go further out which also affected Aster Rose who was making her run the widest. The verdict of nose, long neck and half-length between Common Wealth, Aika Aika Aika, La Donna and Aster Rose had its own tale to tell, with the field spread right across the track. Common Wealth stayed the mile-long trip capably contrary to expectations that she may find the trip taxing to land the first success in this race for her trainer Arjun Mangalorkar. For Iris Racing & Livestock Pvt Ltd, which is also new into the game, this classic success is sure to boost their participation in the sport. The winner was bred at the Ruia Stud Farm.

Darius Byramji trained La Donna got more support than the rest to end up as a favourite while the others, led by Cataleya and the rest were quoted at liberal odds. Snow Crystal set a fast pace as the field set out for the mile-long trip, with stablemate Fabulous Touch in close proximity, followed by Cataleya, Common Wealth, Dancing Leaf, Aika Aika Aika, Aster Rose, Siobhan, Ice Glacier, La Donna, Lochness and Serene Ballerina. Approaching the final bend, Snow Crystal and Fabulous Touch were going nowhere while Cataleya was unable to gain ascendancy. John who brought Common Wealth with a ground saving run, shot through the rails to assume command. La Donna made swift progress, with Aika Aika Aika and Aster Rose showing up on the wide outside. Common Wealth rolled over under pressure and cut across the field causing La Donna who was in full flow to change course towards the rails while the outward drift of the eventual runner also caused bit of bother to Aika Aika Aika and Aster Rose whose jockeys had to be wary off the horse in front completely running across. However, Common Wealth was steadied by her jockey and the filly bounced ahead to narrowly stave off the strong challenge of Aika Aika Aika by a whisker. La Donna who had shaped to win along the rails and Aster Rose were close behind. There seemed to be something amiss with Lochness who finished in distress.

While Common Wealth was the gutsy winner of the day, the narrow defeat of Aika Aika Aika was a heart-breaking experience for trainer Sequeira who had ambitiously brought the progeny of Win Legend to race in the more competitive centre and he was very nearly rewarded for his confidence. La Donna and Aster Rose should show improvement and should be in the line-up for the Derby. One is not sure whether Common Wealth would tackle the longer trip effectively. Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar could not have hoped for a better gift exactly a week before his birthday!

Many professionals felt that the inner portion of the race track which had been re-laid, was used for the first time on the classic day. Horses which went to the rails found the going on the heavier side so much so that La Donna who ducked towards the rails appeared to have been affected by the going because the momentum at which she moved to make her assault in the final furlong was not as forceful when she raced along the rails in the closing stages of the race. It was the same with those who suffered defeat while making all the running along the rails.

Padmanabhan trained Invincible Prince who was running for the first time in a handicap race after 569 days, brought off an upset in the 1200 metres Managing Committee Gold Cup, a newly instituted race for horses rated 75 and above. Invincible Prince had showed some spark when finishing a suggestive fifth to Acclaimed in a graded race and that effort was an encouraging one which was bound to stand him in good stead in a handicap race where modest lot of horses were contesting. Invincible Prince also benefitted by the three kg drop in weight due to apprentice Ajinkya declared to guide the six-year-old gelding. The market favoured Satellite to have a decisive say with Pentagram and Smile Stone enjoying support in lesser measure. Topspot led the field followed by Ungoogleable, Pentagram, King Julien, Smile Stone, Invincible Prince, Royal Salute, IM Different and Satellite who was tailed off last, racing in that order. Ungoogleable led the field into the final furlong with Smile Stone looming large on the outside while Invincible Prince and Satellite were coming up with hurried efforts on the wide outside. Even as Smile Stone edged past Ungoogleable in the shadow of the past, Invincible Prince who produced a powerful effort in the hands of apprentice Ajinkya, managed to neck out the front runner. Satellite came home with a strong run but found the winning post coming too soon. The winner clocked a smart time of one minute 12.39 seconds.

Competing in the lower category (45 to 65), Rashid Byramji trained Dubai One was a runaway winner of the Y S Surender Memorial Cup (Div I) by a widening margin of six lengths over Knighthood and Hillsboro. Dubai One who was quoted at cramped odds, was taken on a start to finish mission and the progeny of Declaration of War left the field standing in the straight to win in a good timing of one minute 12.91 seconds. Attaollahi trained Sans Peur who has been relocated from Mumbai, won the lower division of the race at the expense of Downton Abbey whose jockey had to change course towards the rails at a crucial stage of the race which cost him a possible winning chance. Favourite Sir Majestic was a tame third.

Neil Darashah trained Attorney General was an emphatic winner of the 1400 metres Justice P Medappa Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 30 to 50. Attorney General was backed to the exclusion of the rest to record an encore and the favourite did not disappoint such an expectation. Pradeep Chouhan pushed Attorney General to take over the running inside the final 200 metres and the progeny of Mull of Kintyre bounced clear to have the race sewn up long way from home. Smart N Noble ran above expectations when beating Racing Fire to the runner up berth.

James McKeown trained Running Hand received solid support to win the 1200 metres His Majesty Plate, a race for maiden three year olds, on the basis of the filly`s eye-catching second last time out. The favourite though was River Dance who had let down as a short priced horse last time out. Running Hand shaped to win when she shot into the lead with 300 metres left in the race and went sailing clear. However, the filly began to send distress signals and began to slacken. Star Cracker who was many lengths behind, covered ground swiftly to edge past the fancied runner in the final moments of the race. Star Cracker who was running for the first time having been gelded in the month of April, had the credentials but with the market trend not suggestive the possibility of his win, the focus of betting was on the outstation challengers.

Hyderabad contender Mahathi was another well backed favourite to let down in the 1400 metres Cape Dance Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. Mahathi did not show early speed and was in the rear even as Nazailla showed the way. Good Wishes who was in about the sixth position, steadily improved places and was in a handy position to take charge with 300 metres left in the race. Sandesh on Mahathi had to goad the favourite to move up and the progeny of Carnival Dancer came wide into the straight. Mahathi came up with a strong run and looked capable of overhauling the well backed Good Wishes but the latter pulled out that bit extra and skipped away to record a comfortable win. Debutant Buscadero was a suggestive third without an aggressive effort on the part of his jockey. Arjun Mangalorkar firmly believes that Sheryl has the potential to be a classic horse but her debut was marred by jockey Trevor Patel suffering a fall while taking a narrow gap. Sheryl went to the post for the lower division of the race at a very short price. Sheryl had no problem in steering clear of the rest to record her maiden win. Secret Pursuit showed plenty of improvement over her only effort in winter, by finishing a good second.

After many failed efforts as a fancied runner and classified as a chronic bleeder, Youre Ashwashakthi finally obliged in the 1100 metres Fire Haven Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35. Youre Ashwashakthi proved too for the opposition to win as he pleased from Rakshitha who nosed out Astral Spirit to claim the runner up spot.