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As expected, trainer James McKeown`s piping hot favourite, Shivalik Showers (Hindu Singh-up), scored a decisive victory in the 1,800m Alternator Cup, Wednesday`s feature event. The afternoon also witnessed the former Australian cricketer, Mark Waugh, giving away the trophy to the winning owner, Erico Piperno, as three other odds-on favourites – Cadman, Namcha and Mocha Locha – also justified odds fully in their respective events.
Hindu hardly needed to anything special on the 4/10 favourite, Shivalik Showers, on his way to winning the trophy. Allowing Captain Cook (C. Alford) to show the way till the half way stage, the winner, a Dancing Forever son, was sent into the lead and the victory followed easily, over his two rivals, who had no current form to go by.
Trainer Vijay Singh`s Cadman (S. John), a 15/20 strong favourite, too, found the going easy in the five-horse field. John, too let the Jasbir Singh-trained Rewalding (Mohit Singh) call the shots till about the distance-post. Given the ‘go` signal, Cadman, also a Dancing Forever son, won with fairly ease from the long time leader.
Half-an-hour later, Vijay`s baby, Namcha (John) made his own running to march to the winning post, unchallenged, in the 1,400m Grey Wings Plate. The Arabian Gulf colt, a 13/20 hot favourite, performed like a seasoned galloper, in spite of it being second run of his career. The youngster is definitely going to be in the news again.
The expanding odds – from half-money to 9/10 -- of trainer Arti Doctor`s filly, Mocha Locha (C.Alford) may have given a wrong signals the punters but the Western Aristocrat daughter won the 1,400m Arizona Pie Handicap, the way she liked. She was, of course, pushed a bit in the final 150m but it was for no rhyme and reason. Her six-length-plus victory was indicative of more honour coming her way. In the same race, trainer Harvinder Bath`s Demonstrate (Shezad Khan) was an improving second. Keep an eye on the three-year-old horse who may surprise soon, albeit over a slightly longer course.
Shezad, however, started his day on a winning note when trainer Farley Rodrigues` long shot, Major General, won the curtain raiser, the 1,200m Fly High Handicap. The veteran trainer`s draught of wins had ended last week with the victory of Magic In The Air.
A slight drizzle, during the race, had worked to the advantage of Major General who otherwise wore a dry coat in patches. Shezad held the Arabian Gulf son, in the mid division but improved significantly in the final 300m of the race to score, despite shifting out badly. In doing so Major General came close to Looking Good (Ashhad Asbar), a heavily fancied favourite from Richard Alford`s stable. As a result of this, Major General had to win the race again in the stewards` room.
The last two races in the day`s card, were also claimed by rank outsiders. Trainer Raunak Banerji`s King`s Crown scored a back-to-back win, albeit more comfortably, from Bharath Singh`s promising and speedy youngster, Sangfroid (C. Alford), Amicus Curiae (Ashhad) and a strongly fancied Ashi Nangsey (John) to claim the 1,200m Bello Rock Handicap. The winner was ridden in a slight check; until shooting into the winning lead, about 100m from home.
Trainer Vikash Jaiswal, as usual, had a long knife preserved in the concluding event, the 1,200m Prudential Handicap, won by a friendless Jabble (Vinay Jaiswal). The Samhoon son was brought with a late run to overhaul, Carralisa (app. Ranidan Singh), Kaartiken (Rajinder Singh) and Atheist (Alford) -- all quietly fancied – as most of the wagering was cornered by Tibidabo (app. Nikhil Naidu), Queen Command (Ashhad) and Ascend (Shezad).
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Shivalik Showers (Hindu Singh up) winner of the Alternator Cup
Major Colours (Shezad Khan up) winner of the Fly High Handicap
Cadman (S John up) winner of the Gloriosa Cup
Namcha (S John up) winner of the Grey Wings Plate
Mocha Loca (C Alford up) winner of the Arizona Pie Handicap
King`s Crown (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Bello Rock Handicap
Jabble (V Jaiswal up) winner of the Prudential Handicap
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