Trainer Errol Bhungard`s course-favourite, Spartacus, scored another easy victory, the horse` back-to-back, on his way to claiming the 1,600m Amberdue Cup, the main attraction in Wednesday`s seven-event card. Apprentice Mohammed Azharuddin partnered the winner. The 1,600m Accuser Handicap, in contrast, produced a blanket-finish but trainer Manvendra Singh`s 8-1 shot, Smart Hunter (B. Mahesh-up), had a narrow measure of Chala Ja Baccha and the course-favourite, Kwan Yin. The afternoon was otherwise ruled by the Lady trainer Arti Doctor who notched up her first double of the season, -- a priced one – thanks to jockey Shrikant Kamble.

Spartacus was held back behind the early leaders – Stiling Veil, Shivalik Shakti and a heavily fancied runner, Massachusettes – till the final turn. Apprentice Azharuddin sent the Danehill son into a three length lead 350m from home and he returned as an easy winner.

The 1,600m Accuser Handicap produced a blanket-finish. It was Kwan Yin, the two-time easy winner, who attracted a bulk of support at 9-4 but the horse`s jockey Trevor Patel appeared to be a man in a hurry to win, instead of allowing the Steinbeck son to settle down in the mid-division, the tactic preferred by the favourite. Trevor pushed horse to join the early leader, Vijay Monarch, as Chala Ja Baccha also galloped along sides while Smart Hunter was held back in the rear. As a result of this the favourite failed to kick clear of the opposition, once the long time leader ran short of gas. Chala Ja Baccha recouped his energy to loom large with a threatening run but it was Smart Hunter who unleashed his known lightning run from the rear, to take the fighting pair by a surprise.

Arti`s hunt for the double started with the victory of her 6-1 chance, Queen Of The Wind, in the 1,400m Great Scot Plate. The visiting jockey Kamble had the Chevalier filly settled along the rails behind a runaway Treasure Island and Laverock till the home turn. Seeking a passage, the shortest way home, at the top of the straight, Queen Of The Hill shot clear of the opposition, leaving a heavily backed Warrior (Trevor-up), and two leaders – Treasure Island and Laverock – to fight it out for the minor placings.

Arti`s double followed in the concluding event, the 1,200m Turf Hawk Handicap, which was also an easy pick for the trainer`s last outing easy winner, Primrose, also ridden by Kamble.

For Primrose, it wasn`t a start-to-finish affair on this occasion. Kamble settled the 11-4 chance behind a runaway Astatki and Burst Of Stardust, till about 300m from home before taking off for an easy win.

The much talked about contest, between a highly rated Romantic Flow, a Vijay Singh-trained horse, and the improving youngster from Rutherford Alford`s stable, Pick Pocket, turned out to be another close affair. Although the two colts were no match in the betting, in view of Romantic Flow attracting tones of wagering even at crammed odds of half-money, Pick Pocket, a 5-1 chance in the betting, extended the Classic aspirant to the fullest.

Pick Pocket took the charge of the running from the speedy Passport, at the top of the home straight and tried to hold on to the advantage though shifting out gradually in the final stretch-run. Romantic Flow, galloping on the wider out of the leader, was, however, nearly squeezed between the outer rails and Pick Pocket, inside the last furlong. It did hamper the progress of the hot-favourite as jockey Christopher Alford was deprived the use of the whip freely. Romantic Flow however managed to get the better of Pick Pocket but only in the final 50m of the race.

Alford, however, had a virtual arm-chair ride on Shyam Habbu`s even-money favourite, Conquerable, in the 2,00m Fair Mona Handicap. Allowing Biloo Badsha to make the running till 600m from home, Conquerable, took the charge of the running to score by widening nine lengths.