Cooji Katrak trained Melinda had no problem in recording an encore in the 1600 metres Diego Rivera Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Mumbai races. The handicapper continues to defy expectations by framing unimaginative cards which results in bringing down the quality of racing and adding uncertainty to it. What else explains as many as three races framed for horses belonging to the lowest category. The handicapper who is also in-charge of the prospectus does not want to frame competitive races but each year perhaps take the easy job of cutting and pasting the same set of races. Possibly he should think of reserving an entire day`s racing to the lowest category!

Be that as it may, Melinda`s runaway win in her last outing had ensured that the five-year-old mare who has struck a purple watch will go the post as a cramped on money favourite. Staristocrat did the job of pace-setting as he led the field from the start with Sandesh on Melinda relaxing the favourite in the third positon, unconcerned with the pace in front. Rounding the final turn, Sandesh brought Melinda into contention and the progeny of Dancing Forever smoothly accelerated and by the final furlong, had settled the issue. Despite a hard drive by Trevor, Mountbatten made no significant progress and settled for the third position. The commentator continues the word whalebone. The whips that the jockey use are no longer made out of whalebones. They were discarded long ago and were replaced by fibre glass whips. With the introduction of aircushion whips more than 15 years ago, only these whips are permitted to be used. There is qualitative difference between a whale bone and an air cushion bone, the latter manufactured to take away the severe impact that resulted by using the traditional whip.

Pesi Shroff trained Maleficent has often let down expectations. The odds expanded as the horses began to arrive at the paddock and shortened as dramatically close to the start of the 1000 metres K M Munshi Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Maleficent who missed a yard at the jump out, raced keen but when the race came on the boil, failed to pick up speed and looked beat well before the final furlong. Last start winner Golden Belle who raced in a handy second position as Ravello attempted to win from start to finish, took charge with a furlong left in the race. Though she looked vulnerable as Merchantofvenice made a spirited bid, she skipped away in the end to record a comfortable win. Ravello stayed on to finish third ahead of Maleficent who seems to have reached her mark.

If any horse impressed most in the paddock parade, it was debutant Airlift who looked outstanding in the 1200 metres Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy, a race for three year olds. After the well backed Philadelphia surrendered to Rock In Rio in the final furlong, Airlift came home with giant strides after being angled out for a clear run. The progeny of Arazan covered ground with swift strides and went away for an effortless win over Double Nine who covered lot of ground in the straight to be a noteworthy second ahead of Rock In Rio.

H Daji trained Few Dollars More had recorded a smashing win last time out and considering the form that the four-year-old filly was in, an encore was very much expected. The flow of money in the 1400 metres V P Koregaonkar Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, too was also well directed. Sandesh sat still with the favourite till the final furlong before unleashing the horse on the wide outside. Few Dollars More quickly covered the leeway and won pulling up from Fast Lady while Cha Cha Cha held off Iridescence for the third place. Hedwig was the well backed second favourite but was not spotted to be in with any chance during the race.

Dallas Todywalla trained Imperial Heritage won the 1800 metres J Robinson Plate, a race for three year olds at long odds. After tracking Snow Crystal well into the straight, Imperial Heritage stormed clear and had no problem in staving off the late rally of Eiger`s Tiger. Covert Action had all the chances but appeared to be one paced.

H Daji trained Diablo recorded a facile win in the 2000 metres V R Menon Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Sandesh pushed the lesser fancied Diablo to take charge inside the final two furlongs and the progeny of Kingda Ka bounced clear and won pulling up from late finishing Pracs. Jester did not give hopes at any stage of the race and was a tame third.

Long shot Magic In The Air from trainer Lagad`s stables won the 1400 metres Jayant M Shah Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46 with surprising ease. In the hands of five kg claimer Daman, Magic In The Air showed up on the wide outside and surged past Royal Classic to clinch the issue in the final furlong of the race. Achieve was third while betting rage Arsenal was not too well positioned to make a mark and ended a dismal fourth.

Lesser fancied Las Salinas, trained by Don Surti, fought out a resolute battle with fancied Golden Glory all the way in the final furlong before getting the nod close home in the 1200 metres Jehan Numa Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Whitesox was third. Rocking who was the favourite, took a fly jump at the start and dropped his jockey Santosh. While trainer Antia who is one of the champions of this class, failed in the upper division, he was successful on long shot Armel in the lower division of the race. Armel bolted to the front from the start and opened up a big lead in the straight which held him in good stead as he was perceptibly slowly down towards the close. Super Bolt made a strong rally but the winning post came to the rescue of the front runner.