Altaf Hussain trained Spades showed quantum improvement over his previous run to record an emphatic victory in the 1400 metres Amorous Knight Trophy, a race for maiden three year olds, which highlighted the card of nine events that were gone through on Friday.

Pepito who had finished second best on three occasions at Mumbai was widely expected to do one better and accordingly was accorded the status of being a favourite for the race. Spades who had finished fourth in the only run at Mumbai was another who was backed along with Athens at nourishing odds. The latter however was withdrawn at the gates. The speedy Pepito led the field till entering the straight but it was clear even at this stage that he was only leading on sufferance as Spades was cruising up. Spades easily overhauled Pepito in the straight and bounced clear to win as he pleased. Simply Divine came up with an aggressive run but found the front runner unrelenting. Midnight Dancer was third while Pepito faded out without any resistance to finish a poor fourth.


Glorious Crown who was systematically backed albeit at lucrative odds, obliged in the lower division of the race. Ember Lady was the favourite. Admiral Gray dropped his jockey S Kamble soon after jump out as his horse possibly clipped Annabeth. The riderless hose then raced right in front of the field. Ember Lady had to bear the brunt of the riderless horse in front and jockey Trevor had to be wary of this horse running into his path and as a result, could not ride out his horse aggressively. Glorious Crown came on the outside of the front runner, had a clearer passage and managed to get stronger in the final furlong. Annabeth came up with a good rally only to lose by a whisker.

Imtiaz Sait trained Trance had been a letdown because the filly had not translated ability into winning performance more than once. Her last win was 537 days ago as a debutant but since then, she had been campaigned ambitiously in bigger races. Also when she was switched back to handicap races, she still did not come up with winning performance. However, she looked to have the best chance in the 1400 metres Ruben Star Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 66, as the horses she was taking were of modest ability. Jockey Dashrath Singh waited with her in about the fourth or fifth position, before producing her with a strong run in the final furlong The four year old filly easily overhauled the front running Oriental Rocky, Halle, Shygirl to record an emphatic win. Royal Passion, who came in for spirited betting, thrashed the field in the lower division of the race. Royal Passion raced in second position till the straight before sailing clear. The three year old was so superior to the field that the jockey could ease up the horse long way from home as he saw no threat in close vicinity. Favourite Zenofic disappeared from the scene after racing fourth till the final bend. Merchantofvenice was unable to make any impression on the eventual winner who carried too much class and finished second best. Fire Engine came from the rear to finish a suggestive third.

Sunshine Heart just about managed to prevail in the 1000 metres Agni Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Cut Diamond was backed down spiritedly to oblige but the four year old filly faded out of contention after staying in touch with front running Light of Arabia and Sunshine Heart till the final bend. Sunshine Heart surged went ahead inside the final two furlongs and was strongly pressed by Lucky Charm who however lost all his chances by waywardly drifting out of a straight course. Ceasarina who had come in for quiet support in the ring, improved places from fifth position along the rails but could not get a clear run along the rails as Sunshine Heart shifted in. Ceasarina was pulled out in anticipation to give her a clear run. Though the five year old mare finished full of running, she ran out of ground in the end. There was an objection by the rider of the runner up against Santosh who rode the winner for interference but the same was overruled as the grounds were not strong enough for Stewards to take any other decision. Make a note of Lucky Charm who could have been a possible winner but for his jockey letting him drift. The lower division of the race witnessed a thrilling battle between on money favourite Seven Seas and Star Gazing with the former prevailing in the final moments of the race. Wind And Stars who held fort till displaced by the battling duo finished third.

Narendra Lagad`s Samay Balwan proved too good for the field in the 1400 metres Star Wish Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. After travelling handy third into the straight, Dashrath Singh pushed his horse to take over the running approaching the final bend. The six-year old was travelling well within himself and broke clear without having to be ridden out. The jockey, after looking under his legs to see how far away he had come, could afford to relax despite which the horse won by a widening margin of seven lengths over Queen who struggled to retain the runner up berth from Star Builder.

Dallas Todywalla trained Brindaban made a strong rally in the final furlong to measure the front running Deep Diver to claim the 1000 metres Secret Romeo Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 in what was a cluster finish. Deep Diver held the lead till the dying moments of the race but was unable to sustain it to the post. Brindaban overcame the outside draw, covered the leeway and finished powerfully to win from Dictator who too put up a strong effort in the end. Favourite Invincible was not in with a realistic chance right from the start.

Lesser fancied Superlicious perhaps enjoyed the underfoot conditions as she swamped the opposition in the Ascot Lass Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The race was held in pouring rain with visibility being very poor. Great Expectation was the firm faovurite but the three year old was found wanting and never gave hope, with his jockey Trevor unable to get a clear run. Earth Tamer finished second while Great Expectation was a miserable third.