A selection of thoroughbreds caught the eye during the morning exercise sessions on Saturday, September 26, as trainers put their charges through their paces. Among the standout performers, Maana and Black Irish produced notable efforts over the 1600m distance, signaling they are in peak condition for their next outings.
The training track saw a flurry of activity as horses were tested across various distances on both the inner and outer sand tracks. The morning’s work provided a clear indication of the fitness levels of several contenders currently in preparation, with multiple runners showing sharp form during their gallops.
Standout Performances on the Outer Sand
On the outer sand track, the 1600m gallop was the highlight of the morning. Black Irish, partnered by Rozario, clocked 1-52, covering the final 600m in 40 seconds, a performance that drew attention for its fluidity. Maana, with Laxman S in the saddle, matched the 1600m time of 1-56, showing a fine display of stamina and speed by clocking 1-9 for the 1000m split and 42 seconds for the final 600m.
The 1200m work also featured several eye-catching displays. The Leader, ridden by B. Paswan, impressed with a time of 1-25, finishing the final 600m in 40.5 seconds. Meanwhile, Seize The Grey responded well to urgings to clock 1-27, and Supernal moved with ease to record 1-29. In a notable pairing, Count Basie and Carter worked together over 1200m, with Carter starting four lengths behind before finishing level with his companion in 1-30.
Sprint and Middle-Distance Progress
In the 1000m gallops, Preview and Final Call both delivered attractive displays under the guidance of D. Patel, clocking 1-12 and 1-13.5 respectively. Double Vision also looked sharp, recording a time of 1-12.5. Bright Thunder, steered by R. Pradeep, impressed with a 1-15 effort, while Live The Dream moved fluently to finish in 1-10.
The 1400m work saw Hold Your Breath and Femme Fatale engage in a productive session; Hold Your Breath started six lengths behind but finished three lengths ahead of his stablemate, clocking 1-44. On the inner sand, Storm Majesty continued to show fine form, covering 1400m in 1-36, while Monterio looked pleased during a 1000m spin, stopping the clock at 1-8.5.
