Watching Juventus perform much below his expectations in one run after another subsequent to vanquishing Autonomy precisely a year back was a heartbreaking experience for his veteran master Saeed Shah, who is a perfectionist to the core. However, Shah`s faith in his ward`s abilities remained unflinching. After Juventus gave the worst performance of his career when finishing seventh behind Arts last month, Shah made a last ditch attempt to salvage the reputation of Juventus and his own return and decided to use blinkers on his pupil. The technique worked and the Rattonsey family`s property regained his lost form with a vengeance to win in the Southern Command Gold Trophy for the second year running.

	Juventus (C Rajendra up), winner of the Southern Command Gold Trophy (Gr.3)

Rajendra kept Juventus (Glory of Dancer – Flying Home) in close attendance of Weizhou, Hugo and Aristos till the bend and asked him for an effort when the heads turned for home. In response, Juventus ran with the same gusto with which he was associated till a year ago. His heart-stirring run helped him demolish the opposition which included his conqueror Diego Rivera and the late finishing Ecstatica. Weizhou ended fifth. Aristos who found stimulating support in the betting bowed out of the fray when Juventus announced his arrival on the scene. Much was expected from Astral Flash, but the Pesi Shroff filly was nagged by Equidae when she was searching for a clear run down the straight and she could do no better than end seventh. Mr Greedy too disappointed when beating just one home.

Rajendra had earlier partnered the S. K. Sunderji trained filly Ocean Star (Antonius Pius – Crystal Flite) and Highland Bounty, who disappointed the sceptics by graduating from the maiden ranks in spectacular style. Ocean Star had the race in total control after she took charge opposite the grand stand and sailed away for a convincing win over Legionnaire and Glowing Star. The Pesi Shroff trained debutant Endless Horizon ran hopelessly till the dying stages of the race when she rallied on to finish on the board. Her stable-mate Caribbean Queen was the best of the beaten lot and is one for the notebook. Bespoke too showed some promise on debut.

Sunderji completed a double and Rajendra registered his hat-trick with Highland Bounty ( Royal Kingdom – Vivienne), who was largely neglected in the betting arena. Highland Bounty came with a powerful run just when Smokin Aces looked like striking gold for his new owners. Earlier Flames of Fire led the charge but faltered at the fag end of the race. Their Lil Sister ran on from behind on this occasion to finish third.

N. S. Parmar`s power-packed finish helped the Pesi Shroff nurtured filly Xisca (China Visit – Altimara) overpower on-money favourite Star Warrior virtually in her last stride for the Mystic Memory Trophy. Star Warrior was being hailed as a winner after he was handed over the running by Sea Queen but Xisca improved with each stride and edged him out by a nose in a nail-biting finish. Mighty Crusader put in a tame show in beating just Sea Queen to the finish.

Narendra Lagad added a treble to his tally of winners this season through Black Phantom ( Placerville – Riyatifa), Barbara (Senure – Streisand) and Crème De La Crème (Royal Gladiator – Quiet Fancy), who finally turned in a winning performance.

Tintoretto`s runaway tactics in the curtain raiser went bust before the race took a serious turn as Black Phantom moved with raking strides to overtake him and stretch away to win from Magical Mantra. Strauss was short of staying power and ended a poor fourth.

Prime Time almost caused a major upset by trying to pull the rug from below the feet of his rivals but Barbara put in a resolute run when encouraged by Dashrath Singh and managed to put her neck ahead in the photo-finish. Eye of the Storm, Blades of Glory and Azul followed them home.

Crème De La Crème brought another start to finish affair to a nought when again it was Dashrath Singh who powered the Lagad trained filly, who ended the hopes of Lord of Killarney close home. Aberdovey, who was running after a year, announced her return to fitness when flying home to finish third ahead of Glorious Miss.

Apprentice A. Sandesh carried his good form into Sunday and rode a brilliant race astride Saba (Glory of Dancer – Fast Trick) in the concluding race of the day. This time it was the Lagad trainee Appalina whose start-to-finish tactics which were curtailed by the Rehanullah Khan candidate Saba, who manoeuvred her way through a bunch of horses in the straight and came through the shortest way home to shock the runner-up. Prince Cyrus ended a close third after making a gallant attempt to challenge Appalina. The rest had thrown in their towel before the last turn itself except Royal Companion, who couldn`t improve his position in the straight.