Trainer Vijay Singh`s 13-10 favourite, Fly Like The Wind (Christopher Alford-up) clinched a hard fought `neck` victory, over Bharath Singh`s Sage Valley, in the 1,400m Independence Cup, on Saturday. It was, however, Bharath`s day. The crafty trainer notched up a priced treble and his tally also included the 1,100m Calcutta Juvenile Sprint which was won by the Trevor Patel-ridden rank outsider, Santos.

The Independence Cup, a prestigious sweepstake race for horses in Class III, has always been a targeted event for all professionals and owners. However, Fly Like The Wind was the public-choice in view of the horse`s bloodless victory, last winter. Alford held back the Win Legend Son in the fourth berth while Bharath`s Sage Valley (Trevor-up) made his own running and almost pulled off a surprise win at 8-1. The horse wasn`t even tiring but, in the final furlong, when the favourite was brought into the fray, there was a ray of hope for his backer. Once in the motion, Fly Like The Wind, came with a quick run and the his first victim was Arti Doctor`s 3-1 fancied runner, Confidence -- who had recorded an equally smashing victory in his debut run during the big season -- was always in tow of the leader. The favourite proceeded further to tackle the long time leader while gaining ground with every stride. The verdict was ensured virtually at the post to the relief of the horse`s followers.

Strategy played a major role in the running of the 1,100m Calcutta Juvenile Million and it worked against the favourite, Meet The Legend, and it also against the chief designer`s, Vijay`s, pair of Free Energy and Eversham. Free Energy was taken to the front and the horse effectively managed to blunt the challenge of the two speedsters – the public-choice, and Meekathara. However, in the bargain the leader not only tired himself and also those who were expected to have a say in the race. Therefore, the stage was set for Bharath`s Santos to show his mettle. The Burden Of Proof son, who was held back in the wrong-end of the field, used his known late burst, in the final furlong of the race, to shame all. Free Energy did manage to stop the favourite from occupying the second slot but Evesham (Shailesh-up) turned out to be a total disappointment as the horse struck to the fourth berth and also took the home turn very wide. Yet he placed a behind the favourite, only a length and half behind.

Early in the afternoon Vijay`s Flavius (Shinde), a four-year-old making his debut, had scraped home in the lower division of the 1,200m Apollotina Handicap. The horse could have scored a far more easier victory over Songstress, an early leader with Snow Ball, had the Noverre son not drifted out badly in the stretch run.

Bharath`s day had started with the victory of his piping hot favourite, Torero who in the hands of jockey A. Sandesh simply cruised home in the Aureus Handicap. Allowing Highly Explosive and Skyway to call the shots till the top of the home turn, it was easy for the Braver Act son from that point.

Bharath`s Wind Of The Ocean produced an amazing performance, in the hands of Sandesh, to decimate the opposition and win the 1,800m Active Asset Handicap. The horse, a 7-2 chance in the betting, won by nine long lengths, having established a three length lead from the start. The verdict was amazing because the winner was closely handicapped with three horses – the topweighted Antara, the 10-10 favourite Exclusive Colours and Stupid Cupid, an 8-1 chance -- in the field of six.

Trainer Patrick Quinn squeezed in a lone win in the day`s card when his charge Assassin scored Another victory, his back-to-back, on his way to winning the 1,200m Make My Day Cup. Held back behind Smooth As Silk, Macedonian and his stablemate, Monsieur Strauss, till the final turn, jockey Pradeep Chauhan quickened the 13-10 favourite to shoot into a three length lead which proved substantial even till the end as Double Do and Adabella walked on the scene late.

Rain looming large and visibility was very poor, when the upper division of the Apollotina Handicap, the last race, was run. However, there was no stopping of trainer Manvendra Singh`s Dancehall Days (S. John-up) -- a joint-favourite with Hayata, another of Bharath`s runner – who easily recorded a start to finish victory.

Equally facile was the victory of trainer Errol Bhungard`s Spartacus (apprentice Mohammed Azharuddin-up) in the 1,600m Bourbon Queen Handicap. The failed favourite in his last outing, now a 3-1 chance after Barocci, was held back in the mid-division till the final turn before racing away to an eight-length-plus victory.