Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Time And Tide made a mockery of his so-called competition in the Gr 1 Zavaray S Poonawalla Sprinters` Cup, leaving his rivals gasping for air in a race that, quite frankly, was over before it even began. The feature event of Saturday`s racing extravaganza—part of the two-day Indian Turf Invitation Cup weekend—was hosted by Madras Race Club out of turn in what can only be described as a case of "better now than never." Given the club`s ongoing battle to keep its racing premises intact (thanks to the government deciding to yank the lease two decades ahead of schedule), the urgency to put on a grand show was understandable. After all, hosting the Invitation Cup weekend after losing the racecourse would be quite the logistical nightmare.

But back to the track—Time And Tide clearly didn`t believe in fairytales, especially the one where Meropi was supposed to sweep in and stamp her dominance. The speedy son of Dali, who had won this very race a year ago, proved that age is just a number—at least when you have gears that others simply don`t. Though his Pune monsoon campaign was as forgettable as a bad bet, the long break his trainer gave him clearly worked wonders. He returned with a bang, pocketing the Gr 2 Dr S C Jain Sprinters` Cup in Mumbai, a race that has historically served as a golden ticket to this very contest. And sure enough, the script played out true to form.

Meanwhile, Meropi—the pride of Kolkata, trained by Aashay Doctor—arrived with a reputation bigger than the question mark over her head. Could she hold her own against the best sprinters in the country? She answered with a resounding yes—only to be reminded that Time And Tide waits for no horse. She finished a commendable second, but let`s be honest, she was never a real threat. She was running in enemy territory—a trip too sharp against battle-hardened speedsters. Still, she fended off the late-charging pack and early pace setter, which included Masato, Miss American Pie (who played the role of the early speedster before fizzling out), Magileto, and Beretini—a mix of hopefuls who probably realized too late that the race had already been won.

In the end, Time And Tide didn`t just win—he dominated, dismantled, and dismissed his rivals with effortless ease.

The race was as straightforward as a well-placed bet—no hard luck stories, no excuses about traffic woes or unlucky draws. Simply put, the fastest horses got into the best positions, and the rest were left playing catch-up.

Miss American Pie, eager to make a statement, bolted to the front, but Time And Tide was right on her tail, with jockey Sandesh exuding the confidence of a man holding a royal flush. While the others—Magiletto, Meropi, Masato, Constable, Dream Seller, Berretini, Aldgage, Tom Cruiser, and O Hansini—jostled for relevance, it was clear that the Mysore duo were simply not built for this blistering pace, fading into the distance like forgotten lottery tickets.

As the field straightened for home, Sandesh—cool as ever—lit the afterburners on Time And Tide, and within seconds, the race was as good as over. Meropi tried, but let`s be honest, it was a battle she was never winning. She had to settle for silver, while Masato clawed his way into third in a photo finish for minor placings.

Sandesh, having steered Time And Tide to victory last time out, knew exactly when to push the button—and he did it with style. The moment he asked, the champ responded with authority, sealing the deal inside the final two furlongs.

Jockey Sandesh is riding a wave so high, even Poseidon might be jealous. Fresh off three Derby wins in a month, he continued his red-hot form, proving yet again that when he`s in the saddle, rivals might as well be racing for second place. Not only did he guide Time And Tide to a stunning victory in the Sprinters` Cup, but he also made the Gr 1 Coromandel Gromor Stayers` Cup his own, delivering yet another masterclass aboard Ramiel.

The Stayers` Cup, a race traditionally dominated by battle-hardened veterans, had just one four-year-old hopeful in Golden Thunder. But all eyes were on Sreekant-trained Truth, who had been bulldozing the competition in marathon races and was backed as if defeat was out of the question. The betting boards practically dismissed the rest of the field.

Sandesh, riding for Bharath Singh-trained Ramiel, played it cooler than a poker champion, sitting pretty in fifth of sixth place, biding his time. As they straightened for home, the son of Win Legend shifted gears like a turbocharged sports car, surging past the leaders and putting the race to bed well before the winning post. He bolted clear by a commanding five-plus lengths, leaving his rivals floundering in his wake.

Trevalius, the designated early speed, set the tempo, with Golden Thunder, Mescalito, Casteel, Ramiel, Evaldo, Truth, and Queen Anula in tow. But when Ramiel hit the front inside the final furlong, the race was effectively over. Truth tried to mount a challenge, but it made no impression. Ramiel had too much in the tank, too much class, and absolutely no intention of being caught.

In the end, Mescalito did well to grab third ahead of Golden Thunder, but the race belonged to Ramiel and the man of the moment—Sandesh. With the way he`s going, his biggest challenge might not be the opposition, but finding enough space in his trophy cabinet.