It was nearly a year ago that Portrush, the sparingly raced seven-year-old son of Razeen out of Husun, had won the Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy. Trained then by Bezan Chenoy, the co-owned property of Jaydev Mody and Dilip Thomas was ridden by Dashrath Singh. Portrush later ran four times at Mahalaxmi but failed to earn a bracket. When the Mumbai season ended, Bezan assigned the responsibility of Portrush`s welfare to his daughter Nazak. On being saddled for the first time by the young lady this season, Portrush finished a creditable third behind Arts. Three weeks later Portrush turned the tables on his conqueror Arts, who had given obvious signs of having peaked with two victories under his belt, contributed to the beaming smile that Nazak wore on her face as she coyly led her ward back to the winner`s enclosure.


P. Kamlesh kept Portrush in sight of leader Beyond Belief and Forest Flair, who raced along side till the horses raced downhill. Portrush poked through at the two-furlong marker and his haughty run made his younger rival Arts look like a novice in the end. Suraj Narredu tried to replicate the two runs produced by Arts earlier when uncoiling a beautiful run down the centre of the track but the son of Ontario was clearly done in by the eleven kilos he was conceding to Portrush, who held on gallantly to post a half-length victory. Spirituall though not looking menacing finished a close third with a neck separating him from Violetta, who just couldn`t produce the electric which race-goers have come to associate with her. The same happened to Forest Flair, who is trying to regain his form after the summer break, as he finished on the haunches of Violetta.

Jockey C. Rajendra accumulated another three winners rather unobtrusively. All three winners steered by Rajendra: Ocean Wish, Oceanic Wisdom and Star of Killarney, were all in favour of the punters. Except for Oceanic Wisdom, Rajendra`s other winners Ocean Wish (Diffident – Marmalade) and Star of Killarney (Ontario – Lakes of Killarney) were both offered at measly odds indicating that their success for a forgone conclusion. The two horses saddled respectively by S. K. Sunderji and Adil Dajee obliged but didn`t win as easily as expected.

Aqualina succumbed close home but had fought hard after showing the way to Ocean Wish over the five-furlong scurry. Star of Killarney looked hopelessly placed at the turn when Glorious Miss established a runaway lead over the field but the favourite took big leaps to pounce on the exhausted frontrunner and record his second win this season.

Not for a moment during his brief stay in the paddock parade did Sunderji`s candidate Oceanic Wind (Mr Mellon – Star Profile) give a clue of being fit as a fiddle. That secret was discovered only when the filly took off smartly from the gates and played Pied Piper to her rivals. She in fact toyed with her nearest rival and joint favourite Maria Teresa, who tried to intimidate her in the straight. Stunning Thunder was a long way third while Scintillo retired to be fourth after being chase of the favourites.

Laserre (Storm Trooper – Cut of the Cloth), the Nanoli Stud bred half sister to Zurburan, emerged out of the maiden ranks with a sparkling run that consumed the heavily-backed Tell Me More on the winning post. The Vinayak trained and apprentice N. S. Parmar ridden Laserre was still not off the bridle when Stephane Ladjadj ridden Tell Me More stormed into the lead the pace but she devoured ground when shown daylight and despite travelling wide was strong enough to overpower the favourite.

Stephane however had a point to prove on the Narendra Lagad trainee Tequila (Alnasr Alwasheek – Bay of Angels), who had been stripped of the race after her jockey`s ill-judged reaction in her last outing. Running without any penalty after her disqualification, Tequila made steady progress till the turn and burst on to the scene to overtake Apache Indian. The bay filly won without being troubled thereafter. Amore Mio ran listlessly throughout and ended third behind San Rafael with Belligerent making a late appearance to complete the frame. Pure Elation never raised any hopes and raced in the rear.

Pesi Shroff trained filly Sine Qua Non (Royal Kingdom – Bonjour Tristesse) unleashed a heart-warming run after Neeraj Rawal switched lanes opposite the stands and frustrated Blumarine, who had stolen a march over her rivals after favourite Dear Henry packed his wares in the home stretch.

The friendless Festive Light (Major Impact – Andes) from Vinay Lagad`s barns showed glimpses of earlier career form while showing a speedy display and scoring a smashing victory in the hands of A. M. Tograllu. Favourite Sparkler could do not better than finish second after Festive Light tackled Medtias Pride and established a lead which he found hard to bridge. The Rebel warmed up late but finished in the money ahead of Medtias Pride.

Mia Stella (Verglas – Constantia) obliged as the on-money favourite in the curtain raiser after wearing down leader Reinstate in the last furlong of the mile-and-a-quarter race. Drama Queen suffered a mishap at the gates and was withdrawn.