Trainer Patrick Quinn`s new gain from Delhi, Bulgerian (Y.S. Srinath-up), scored an upset but impressive victory in the 1,400m Independence Cup, Wednesday`s feature event. Quinn`s another rank-outsider, Sempre Nueva, too, scored, albeit narrowly, in the hands of apprentice P. Vikram, who literally hung on to the mare for his dear life but maintained his grip and the balance after losing his right foot from the stirrup iron, soon after the start. The afternoon also witnessed the champion trainer Vijay Singh notching up a smart double to join brother, Bharath, at the top of the championship table.

Bulgerian, a two in-a-row winner in Delhi, had failed to do anything worthwhile in his lone start in Bangalore (summer). However, the Top Class/Vijays Rose son did give a galloping lesson to his eight rivals, including those who had performed creditably in their up-country sojourns.

It was a fast run race but the 7/1 shot, was always in close attendance of the frontrunners, the stable-mate, Summerhill (Dashrath Singh), and the fancied Ayra`s Pet, as the rest in the field waited behind, expecting the speed merchants to run short of gas.

Summerhill`s brush with the lead ended below the distance-post, leaving Ayra`s Pet to smell victory after forcing Bulgerian to switch the course – from the rail-side to the wide out. All such hope were dashed, no sooner Srinath gathered the horse again to make him accelerate for a smashing victory. Incidentally, Summerhill is learnt to have burst a blood vessel during the running of the race.

Bulgerian, therefore, is bound to start as a favourite, in the Colts Stakes, if he decides to take a tilt at the monsoon Classic.
Vikram, atop Sempre Nueva, surely displayed a good presence of mind and courage, on his way to winning the 1,100m Great Tribute Handicap. The fact that the apprentice was drawn on the far-side of the eight-horse field, he took all precautions, to maintain his balance, with his right foot hanging out after losing the stirrup iron, as the mare jumped out of the gates with her head high. His progress towards the rails and building up of the lead was also gradual and smooth. However, in his efforts to put pressure on Sempre Nueva as the final 200m approached, Vikram failed to keep a straight course The final moment of glory came when he determinedly staved off the challenge from the champion horseman`s, Trevor Patel`s even-money favourite, Scarlet Emperor, a Vikash Jaiswal trained horse. Vikram will savour this moment for rest of his life.

The 1,100m Calcutta Juvenile Sprint was for Fortune Express`s asking. The Express Wish colt from Manvendra Singh`s stable never disappointed as he went on to give a trouble-free ride to Hindu Singh. Pitted against likes of Gryffindor and Sangfroid – each winner of three races – the even-money favourite went about his task, almost from the start to score by a shade over two lengths. He is also going to be a front-runner for the Colts Stakes, in view of Castlebridge opting for Mysore Classics.

Trainer Raunak Banerji`s Evesham (C. Alford) got his revenge, and with authority as the Tariq son took a full measure of trainer Vijay Singh`s 6/4 favourite, Commander (Neeraj Rawal) in the 1,400m Arktouros Cup. Last winter, Commander had upstaged Evesham, albeit over 1,200m, at similar terms. Allowing the top-weighted Captain Cook to call the shots till about the distance post, Alford pushed the 4/1 shot into a two length lead to spoil Vijay`s party.

Vijay`s Surgical Strike (Trevor Patel) was out to prove that her previous victory was no fluke. He therefore, managed prove the point in the 1,200m Hall of Glory Handicap, which the Abbyyside filly won almost from the start. The 2/1 joint-favourite, with Blaze To Glory (S. John), narrowly beat Shafiq Khan`s Majestic who was ridden by apprentice Ranidan Singh like a Chinaman – belting the hanging-in horse with left-handers in the final 250m of the race.

Vijay`s Romantic Magic (S. John), too, was hard-pressed to beat the long-time leader Adzukis (app. Jorawar Singh) in the 1,800m Bountiful Talent Handicap, when ridden in a check. In the same race Vijay`s Sans Prix commanded some respect in the betting but the China Visit daughter was hard-pressed to place third.

The day started with trainer Arti Doctor`s quietly fancied runner, Flying Cloud (Shezad Khan), taking measure of the Javed Khan-trained Xlite (A. Sandesh) in the 1,600m Argiano Handicap. Both runners trailed the field until the home-turn but jumped on the scene after the front-running brigade of Famous Attack, Sam Houston and Everglow, burnt themselves out.