Imtiaz Sait trained Airco was presented with a gift race as the four-year-old gelding was left with a meek opposition to tackle in the 1600 metres Mystical Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Thursday`s evening races held at Mumbai. With the three horses that took on Airco having no recent form, jockey Suraj Narredu had an arm-chair ride on the money favourite.

Airco had run twice at Mysore during the monsoon season and had placed in one of his runs. The form was decent and fitness much better than the rest. Suraj relaxed the favourite in the third position as the horses raced in an Indian line, with The Ministerian leading the way. Shadowfax raced in second position while Mountbatten was in the rear. Rounding the final bend, Airco overhauled the front-runner on tight reins and Suraj was hardly required to exert himself on the favourite as he cruised away for a facile win. Mountbatten threatened to finish ahead of Shadowfax but his flourish ended the moment he drew level with Shadowfax and the latter managed to cling on to the runner-up berth.

Rehanullah Khan trained Highland Breeze was well placed to score in the 1800 metres Sprungli Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Bullrun was another who also got support in fair measure along with Highland Breeze. Sandesh had no hesitation in taking the bottom-weighted Highland Breeze on a start to finish mission and the progeny of Ace skipped clear of his only pursuer Bullrun in the straight to record a comfortable win. Zazou was third ahead of a listless Caesars Star.

Rehanullah Khan usually is a slow starter during the Mumbai season but since he has some decent horses in his small yard, the trainer has done a good job of exploiting their potential as he ended up with two wins and two close seconds on his wards. It is good to see the trainer in the limelight and what was praiseworthy was the fact that his wards are mostly running to win or place which is a good sign because quite often, races come your way simply because you are more serious about winning. Hedwig was taking on two youngsters in House of Commons and Thunder Down Under who were both maidens in the lower division of the Free Radical Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. House of Commons was strongly backed to win but one could see a noticeable shift in the odds-on Hedwig which indicated that there could be an upset and the fancied duo were not as good as the odds indicated. Hedwig had the first run on House of Commons and when the battle between the two reached the climax at the busy end, it was Hedwig who pulled out that bit extra to record an easy win. House of Commons was a tame second of a poorly performing Thunder Down Under. Vishal Gaikwad trained Miss Saigon had recorded an impressive win at Pune and based on that winning effort, the got-abroad filly was backed strongly to win the upper division of the race. The task did not prove as easy as the odds indicated as Miss Saigon had to be driven out by apprentice D S Daman to get the better of Safdar by a long neck to justify the favouritism. Slam Dunk was third.

Rehanullah Khan`s wad Asahi could have provided with the trainer one welcome win as the seven-year-old is also owned by him but the horse ran into an interference at a crucial stage of the race and lost to the quietly backed Bay of Love in the 1200 metres Kiara Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. However, the interference was not serious enough to win the battle in the Stewards room. The champion trainer in this category Antia who had been quiet for a long time had Bay of Love entrusted to apprentice N Nadeem who was entitled to carry the full allowance of five kgs which effectively boosted the chances of the unexploited horse. Nadeem took Bay of Love on a start to finish mission and the progeny of Noverre managed to cling on to the lead despite veering out of a straight course and running in the path of Asahi who was picking up momentum. Super Icon was third.

Trevor Patel`s perseverance enabled Monte Greco to prevail in a three-horse finish in the 1000 metres Au Panache Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Phoenix Knight had the initiative going into the final stages of the race when Trevor had to weave his way from the rear. Luckily for him, the gap along the rails did not close and the jockey`s decision to take the plunge along the rails did not prove costly. Monte Greco got stronger at the finish to get the better of Phoenix Knight who was engaged in a stiff battle for supremacy with favourite Stardom Calling.

Faisal Abbas trained Rosella was well backed to win the 1400 metres Mayor`s Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 but the four-year-old filly fell short in the end. Rank outsider Celtic Prince refused to budge from his place in front as the S Waheed trained long shot lasted out to win narrowly from Rosella. Magical Memory ran on to finish third.

There was another big upset in the 1600 metres Vallbhdas H Adwalia Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46 where another Todywalla trained Glorious Hymn brought off a win against the run of expectations. Glorious Hymn shot ahead inside the final furlong and despite drifting out from a straight course, had enough legs to last out to win from Normandy. Irises was well poised but failed to produce anything extra and finished poorly. Trombone who raced up with the field, ended up third.