Romantique and Mishri caught the eye when the horses were exercised here on Monday morning (Dec. 27).
Inner sand
600m: Distant Promise (D.K.Ashish) 38.5. Moved freely. Western Challenge (Trevor), Flying Star (McCullagh) 40. They were easy. 2-y-o Zorba (P.Mulrennan) 40. Easy. Saddlers Rule (rb) 41.5. Easy. 2-y-o Star Is Born (S.Sunil) 38. Moved well. Captain Smart (rb), Adams Vision (C.S.Jodha) 38. They moved level freely.
800m: Ocean Sonata (R.Hughes), Royal Gesture (D.K.Ashish) 51, 600/38. Former finished three lengths ahead. Reinstate (rb) 52, 600/39. Urged. 2-y-o's Aberdares (rb), Splash (rb) 52.5, 600/39. They finished level freely. 2-y-o's Oluchi (S.Sunil), Double Vodka (Shelar) 54.5, 600/39.5. They ended level. Forever Amber (Hamir) 51.5, 600/39. Moved well.
1,000m: 2-y-o Mountain Glory (R.Hughes), Star Of Killarney (Jethu) 1-4, 800/51, 600/38. They moved neck and neck freely. 2-y-o Helen (McCullagh) 1-4, 600/38. Moved well.
1,200m: 2-y-o Marauder (McCullagh), Admirals Quest (Tograllu) 1-21, 1,000/1-5, 600/39. Former moved well and finished one length in front. Rajasthan Royals (Neeraj) 1-17.5, 1,000/1-3.5, 600/37. Moved well.
1,400m: Ciel Indienne (C.D.Hayes) 1-31, 1,200/1-17.5, 1,000/1-3, 800/50, 600/38. Urged in the last part.
Outer sand
1,000m: Scholar (Dashrath) 1-9.5, 600/40.5. Moved freely.
Outer Strip of Race track
600m: Scintillating Star (S.Kamble), Loyal Tycoon (rb) 37. They moved freely. 2-y-o's Zaar (rb), Rein In Spain (rb) 40.5. They were easy.
1,000m: Chieftain (D.K.Ashish) 1-6, 600/37. Moved well. 2-y-o's Sledgehammer (C.D.Hayes), Home Alone (P.Mulrennan) 1-7, 600/35.5. Former was well in hand and they finished level. Dictator (Dashrath), Steely Dan (rb) 1-6, 600/37. Former finished four lengths ahead. 2-y-o's Romantique (C.Rajendra), So Royal (Srinath) 1-2.5, 800/48.5, 600/36. Former strode out well and finished two lengths ahead. Culcrieff (rb), 2-y-o Vittoria (rb) 1-11, 600/40. Pair level. Esmeraldo (Srinath), Spook (C.Rajendra) 1-5, 600/37. They moved level freely. Beemer (Suraj Narredu), Red Dragon (P.Mulrennan) 1-3.5, 600/35. They moved well and finished level.
1,200m: Heiress (Srinath), Alexus (rb) 1-20, 1,000/1-4, 600/37. Former was well in hand and they finished level. Portrush (Dashrath), Ares (rb) 1-19, 1,000/1-3.5, 600/35.5. Former superior. National Glory (rb), 2-y-o Afsoon (rb) 1-16, 600/35.5. Both moved level freely. 2-y-o Oriental Dawn (Kharadi), Born Special (rb) 1-21, 1,000/1-5.5, 800/51, 600/36. Former was two lengths superior. 2-y-o's Soneeyo (rb), Silk Cut (Dashrath) 1-25, 600/39. Both were easy.
1,400m: 2-y-o Stromboli (C.D.Hayes) 1-38, 1,000/1-5.5, 600/39. Moved well. 2-y-o Indomitable (Kharadi) 1-40, 600/37. Shaped well.
1,600m: Native Knight (rb) 1-48, 1,400/1-32.5, 1,200/1-17, 1,000/1-3, 600/36.5. Moved impressively.
Gate practice (Inner sand)
1,000m: Paper King (V.Jodha) 1-5.5, 600/39.5. Moved well. 2-y-o's Pablo Neruda (Zervan), Javo (B.Prakash) and Hurricane Higgins (Kharadi) 1-5, 800/50, 600/38.5. Pablo Neruda finished six lengths in front while Javo was eased up and finished four lengths ahead of Hurricane Higgins. Star Blaze (rb) 1-11.5, 600/44.5. Easy. 2-y-o's Song Of Praise (McCullagh), Secret Service (S.Sunil) and Herculean (Roushan) 1-5, 600/39. First named was the pick. Major Wager (Ikram), Fantastic (Sandesh) 1-4, 600/40. They jumped out well and moved level freely. 2-y-o Pronto Pronto (Srinath), Belligerent (Baria) 1-3.5, 600/37.5. Former superior. 2-y-o Mishri (McCullagh), 2-y-o Cool Cat (C.Rajendra) and Al Huzzah (-) 1-4, 800/50, 600/37.5. Mishri who is in good shape finished a distance ahead. Note Mishri. Proud Moment (rb) 1-8, 600/40. Moved freely.
