Dallas Todywalla trained Phoenix Tiger decimated the opposition in the Gr 2 Lightning Technologies Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy, a terms race for four year olds and over, the feature event of Zavaray Poonawalla Evening Races held at Mumbai on Sunday. The Manjri Stud Farm bred progeny of the hugely successful stallion Phoenix Tower stamped his authority despite conceding weight to his contemporaries.

There is very little doubt that Phoenix Tiger is easily the best miler in the country, having won two Group I races over this distance. He won the Gr 1 Colts Championship at Bangalore, swamping the field which included the Horse of the Year Desert God. His authority over the rest was breath-taking. A setback saw him run only one race at Pune and at Mumbai, he held off Costa Del Sol to win the Indian 2000 Guineas. Though the Derby trip was beyond his compass, his class saw him finish less than four lengths behind Desert God. Now reverted back to the mile-long trip, Phoenix Tiger was expected to bounce back notwithstanding the reservation about his ability to concede weight to some well performed horses. The fact that he has no peers when it comes to a mile was amply proved when Phoenix Tiger won with hardly any pressure from any of the opponents. It would be interesting as and when Phoenix Tiger and Myrtlewood clash. Unfortunately, such an opportunity is lost as both are unlikely to come to Bangalore Summer Season where there are many richly endowed terms races that suit both of them.

After initial hesitancy on the part of the punters, they wholeheartedly supported Phoenix Tiger to bag the honours. Jockey S Zervan stayed put in about the third position and did not show any urgency when the others crowded him. He sat still and brought the favourite along the rails. Phoenix Tiger overhauled the front running Apache with minimum of effort and went away for an easy win. Apache stayed on to finish second while Colombiana was third, producing a tame effort despite a drastic pull in weights. Alaindair who was seen on the track after a long layoff, ran on to finish fourth.

Last start runaway winner Flamboyant Flame and Sparkling Eyes were equally well supported in the 1200 metres Jimmy Bharucha Trophy, a race for three year olds. Flamboyant Flame was taken on a start to finish mission by jockey Trevor with Sandesh on Sparkling Eyes racing on her haunches. The duo fought out a battle for supremacy almost the length of the straight. However, Sparkling Eyes got stronger close home and eventually won by a shade more than length. Debutant Rainbow Dash was a fair third.

Malesh Narredu trained Shivalik Heroine had the best credentials to win the 1600 metres P B Avasia Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. However, the spurt of money on Few Dollars More to complete a hat-trick and that on Shadowfax to bounce back after a disastrous performance in the Derby saw Shivalik Heroine run at nourishing odds. Apprentice jockey Santosh had Shivalik Heroine lead from the start and had no problem in keeping Shadow Fax at bay. Few Dollars More finished on well but failed to get the runner up berth from Shadow Fax by a whisker.

Cooji Katrak trained Cheer Leader made a winning debut, claiming the 1400 metres Lt Col Govind Singh (VRC)Trophy, a race for maiden three year olds, in impressive fashion at fancy odds. The betting for the race was confined to Double Nine, Eternal Inspiration, Memory and His Masters Voice. In the event, Cheer Leader who was in the rear group till traversing the final furlong, produced a powerful burst of speed on the wide outside and swept past Double Nine to win with great ease. Eternalinspiration was third ahead of Memory.

A good touch was brought off on Altaf Hussain trained Arakawah in the 1200 metres A VM Packaging Trophy, a race for horses rated20 to 46. The four-year-old had two runs during the season and had skipped the whole of Pune season. Arakawah had run 10th out of 16 runners in his last outing but the quality of the field in that race was such that many of the horses which finished behind the winner, had gone on win. Merabella whose last run had resulted in an enquiry by the Stipes, was the favourite ahead of Arakawah and Captain Abdon who came in for big support in the ring. Bangalore based jockey Arshad Alam took Arakawah on a start to finish mission and the fancied runner left the field stranded to win by a widening margin of four lengths. Merabella was a well beaten second ahead of Indus Prince.

Pesi Shroff trained Commodore brooked no opposition in the 1800 metres Track Charm Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. After letting Sabiq lead on sufferance, Zervan asked Commodore to take over the running inside the final 350 metres. The progeny of Danehill Dancer smoothly cruised past the front runner to win by a margin of eight lengths over Glorious Opinion. In the form that he is in, Commodore should be backed till beaten.

The wards of two champion trainers who specialize in winning the lowest category races, cornered all the betting in the 1400 metres Race of Hope Cup. Mansoor Shah trained Gold Streak was backed strongly but close to race time, there was a big surge of money on Antia`s Bay of Love who had the credentials to win the race. Sandesh on Gold streak bolted to the front and had a big break going into the final furlong. However, Bay of Love responded well to the urgings of apprentice jockey Daman and collared the front runner in the closing moments of the race to land the spoils. Rocking came from a long way back to finish third.

There was a serious mishap in this race. Jockey Srikant Kamble on Rising Concert was tossed out of his saddle and suffered a collar bone fracture. Unfortunately for veteran jockey I Pasha who was on The Big Revival, he was cramped for room and he too hit the turf with a big impact. The jockey has reportedly suffered extensive spinal cord injuries and is due to be operated. One hopes that Pasha will back on his feet after the extensive medical treatment.