Trainer Vijay Singh’s colt, Acrider, scored a decisive victory in the 1,600m Madras Race Club Cup, on Tuesday. Singh was widely expected to win the trophy as each of his three runners, merited attention in the seven-horse field. With the stable’s money riding on Acrider (Shailesh Shinde-up), and the expanding odds of Vijay’s other runners -- Fly Like The Wind (Christopher Alford) and Falcon (apprentice Munna Alam) –the winning chances of the four-year-old colt gave a clear indication. More importantly, Acrider was clearly better off at the weights against the other two, and also the rest in the field.

The afternoon also witnessed trainer Daniel David announcing his arrival, after serving about a year-long suspension, related to the drug offences. The champion trainer notched up a priced double through Earnest and Duke Of Earl.

In a seven-furlong race, Acrider who is better known for his exploits in the middle and long distance races, had troubled Mr Gorgeous, a good horse. The slated mile circuit, though was also trifle short to the liking of the Placerville son, the form displayed by the horse in his previous outing was the chief factor which attracted wagering in the betting ring; resulting him going to the start as an even-money favourite.

Shinde rode Acrider in a check behind Fly Like The Wind and Aashikaara, a 9/2 second chance. Acrider took over the running nearing the distance post and went on to beat Shourisha comfortably.

Daniel’s day started early. In the day’s opener, the 1,600m Coppella Handicap, the trainer’s charge, Earnest Ruler (Surjeet Singh) underwent punter’s rejection, on the ground of the horse’s paddock looks. The horse did look on a heavy-side but the Rebuttal son could not conceal his last winter’s form against a formidable opposition. Earnest Ruler opened as a 13/10 favourite but gradually slipped to be a 4/1 chance as money came on trainer Christofer Gleich’s Zurvan who went to the start as an 18/10 favourite.

Earnest Ruler did gallop leisurely in the early stages of the race after being up with leaders – Ace Bid, Zurvan and Sanjit for a while. The colt was further eased up approaching the home turn but gained the ground past distance post to lead 150m from home, and also to score. Earnest Ruler is expected to improve further after this run and his progress in the morning track needs to be watched.

Half-an-hour later, Daniel was again in the winner’s enclosure, having saddled Duke Of Earl (apprentice Azharuddin) to victory in the 1,200m Amor Amor Handicap. The 6/1 shot galloped in close attendance of a heavily fancied, Winning Fortune (Sehzad Khan), the speedster Songstress and the last outing winner Passionate. The Noverre son made his winning move nearing the distance-post when the 9/10 favourite Winning Fortune looked like pulling it off. The Duke, however, got the measure of the favourite 75m from the winning post. In the same race, another strongly fancied runner, Maharana – from Richard Alford’s stable, performed poorly, prompting stewards to open an ‘inquiry’ into the running and the riding of the horse.

Trainer Manvendra Singh’s filly, Astral Dancer (apprentice Hindu Singh), was backed to exclusion of her six rivals in the 1,400m Sparkling Clear Handicap, and rightly so after she had troubled Classic youngsters like Waveafterwave and Pujarin in her recent encounters. The half-money delivered the goods without giving worries to her backers. The apprentice, however, rode an over-confident race, having held her far too back and for far too long. Yet she delivered the goods with plenty to spare.

The change of name, from Cixi to Atheist, brought the winning luck to trainer Bharath Singh’s filly. The grey filly, ridden by Dashrath Singh, was freely available at 3/1 but scored untroubled after allowing Oath Of Valour and Temple Run to call the shots; until 300m from home. In the same race Surjeet Singh, riding Lovely Magic, was unseated from his horse, nearing the distance-post. The jockey is learnt to have exscaped with minor injuries.

Bharath and Dashrath were not so lucky in the concluding event when their horse, Bold As Brass, chased Bath-trained 6/1 chance, Dino (Shezad), all through the 1,600m journey in the Analogy Handicap. The Declaration of War son got much stronger in the home-stretch and he simply drew away from the field, particularly from Bold As Brass. In the same race, trainer Richard Alford’s 11/10 favourite, Murlough Bay, failed to stay the mile course and finished nowhere.