The Capt Jamshed Appoo owned wonder filly In The Spotlight swamped the opposition in the Gr 1 President of India Gold Cup, the feature event of Sunday’s races at Malakpet. In The Spotlight who has won every big race that there is to be won in India, was not offered any odds by the bookmakers as her victory for considered a formality.

Full credit to trainer Padmanabhan for turning out the filly in pink of condition and jockey Martin Dwyer who rode her with understanding, conserving the filly to let her win by a distance with just two furlongs of strong gallop from the top of the final bend. The filly won by a widening margin of over a distance. In The Spotlight is going to run next in the Indian St Leger at Pune and she is expected to become the first horse in the country to cross the magical Rs 5 crores in stake money.

In The Spotlight has logged thousands of kilometres by road in floats and as many miles during workouts and race runs and yet she has not lost none of the spark that characterised all her wins including the spectacular triumph in the Indian Derby. What is remarkable about her triumphs is the fact they have been achieved on varying surfaces and on different underfoot conditions. If there was any versatile filly that ever raced on the Indian turf, she is the one. Even though there was minimal participation by race goers by way of a wager, she was cheered lustily because In The Spotlight has given such delight as no other horse had done in recent times. She is truly the queen of the Indian turf.

Vijay Shaurya did the job of a pace setter as the field set out for the mile and half trip with Martin Dwyer easing In The Spotlight in second position followed by Forever Glory, Pedalo and Suryalakshmi. Martin waited for the race to develop and once the field approached the 600 metres marker, he decided to take charge. The response was instantaneous as the filly quickened away from the field as she went at full clip for two furlongs before Martin eased her up in the final furlong. Pedalo ran on to finish second ahead of Suryalakshmi.

Neil Darashah trained Sun Divine gave weight and a beating to the 1200 metres YBrant Million, a terms for three year olds. Vijays Best went into the race as a strong favourite but found the Bangalore challengers tough to tackle. Jockey Suraj Narredu took Sun Divine on a start to finish mission and though the daughter of Burden of Proof came under intense pressure from Vijays Best and Cecil who warmed up rather too late in the day, he managed to cling on to the lead by a neck. Cecil, who graced the wrong end of the field till the final furlong, came up with big strides but found the winning post coming a fraction earlier. Vijays Best had all the chances but could not make that decisive thrust when within striking reach of the front runner.

Trainer Anant Vatsalya, who is enjoying a good season, had a profitable double. Kohinoor Supreme took firm grip of the 1100 metres Rani Rudramma Devi Cup, a Category II race from the start and stayed on resolutely to win from Rohini Star and late rallying Handsome Hunk. Favourite Naughty Gal who was in touch with the front runners till turning for home, lost pace steadily and went out of contention even before the race came on the boil. Leo D’Silva trained Garibaldi recorded an encore with a start to finish mission, gamely staving off the late bid by Drum Beat who responded well to the strong riding by Chouhan but found the front runner escape from his clutches narrowly. Twentyfive Pips was in contention but could not produce that bit extra which could have made a difference to the outcome.

Anant Vatsalya’s Kohinoor Mystic brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres Soli and Gool Poonawalla Memorial Gold Cup, a terms race for three year olds and upwards. Kohinoor Mystic who was a rousing performer not long ago had been winless for quite some time but struck winning form against the run of expectations. Kohinoor Mystic tracked Rajkumari into the straight and then went sailing clear inside the final quarter mile. Kohinoor Mystic had the race sewn up long way from home as favourite Alexander Square found the front runner unrelenting. Genius Empress ran on to finish third.