S N Joshi trained Polydences appreciated the drop in distance by overwhelming the opposition in the 1200 metres Solar Kiss Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of a tiring day of racing at Mahalaxmi on Sunday.

With more than two hour gap between the fifth and sixth race, punters had to while away their time with great difficulty. While many chose to walk away, the others who stayed on had a long haul, the fatigue factor affecting them. While night racing has its virtues, long drawn affairs tend to have an adverse affect on the enthusiasm of the race goers. The punters at off course centres surely were a discomforted lot having to trek long distances back home in adverse conditions.

Polydences had matched strides with better quality horses but then there is an element of uncertainty associated with the colors of these horses. As such, one had to back the horse hesitantly but the got-abroad filly who led from the lead, had no issues during the race as she led by lengths without having to be expended and then broke clear to win easily from late finishing La Travaita and Fortune Hunter.

Trainer Antia is a wizard in keeping everyone guessing by the way his horses do magical acts like the circus artistes. He perhaps has an explanation in place before his horses show amazing form fluctuation because he has been successful in explaining in anything to the appreciative Stewards. Back in Pune, Essence of Love won like a horse possessed which the trainer believed was beyond his expectations. He successfully ran the horses eight times without showing any signs of reproducing his winning form. He further confused the punters by declaring Trevor to ride Winds of Change who had run a noteworthy second last time out in the 1200 metres Victory March Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. In keeping with his consistent habits, it was Essence of Love who showed that he was ready to overturn the form by a spectacular burst of speed which had the field stranded in the final furlong. Rock The Turf found the winner too good and had to settle for the runner up berth ahead of Winds of Change and National Pride. It is people like Antia who make racing not a game of skill but pue lottery and the authorities have done little to help matters.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Magnificence had suffered two narrow defeats in his previous outings and he was expected to have it easy in the 1600 metres Euphemia Plate, a race for maiden three year olds going by the very short price quoted on him. However, his timings of his previous races did not reflect an overwhelming superiority and it came as no surprise that he had to huff and puff to beat off a strong challenge of Pablito to prevail by a neck. The way I Am ran on to finish a tame third.

Vinesh trained Bidstone Hill was lucky to prevail in the aptly named 1000 metres Lucky Pair Plate (Div I), a race for three year olds. The on money favourite led in earnest from the start and her cause was helped by Abbey whose way ward drift saw her race on the edge of the outer rail despite which she came within ¾ of a length of the winner. Hirohama was third. Dallas Todywalla trained Hose Power produced a strong burst of speed in the final furlong to get past Daytona and Remember The Time to claim the lower division of the race.

Imtiaz Sait trained Helping Hand got stronger close home to clinch the 1600 metres Stone Ridge Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Helping Hand shook off the front running Shahriyar in the final furlong and won with something to spare. Glorious Opinion came from a long way back to edge out Shahriyar from the runner up berth.

Arif Patel`s Race And Gorgeous had done enough in her last run to give indications of an immediate success in the 1000 metres Trainers Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Despite a wide outside draw, apprentice jockey Ajinkya managed to move up swiftly at the start and waited with the horse, before pouncing on the front runners with a furlong left in the race. Rare And Gorgeous quickened well and recorded a comfortable win over late finishing faovurite Eternal Royalty. Millennium Falcon was third. First timer Make Way For Me came in for big betting in the lower division of the race and literally everyone made way for his success in the lower division of the race. The only one who attempt to pull off a shock win was Scarlet of Hope who led by lengths from the start before slackening in the waning yards of the race. Make Way For Me pounced on the front runner in the closing stages of the race and managed to win easily. Scarlet of Hope held off Polar Zone and Rapid Girl to claim the second spot.