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Pesi Shroff trained Lincoln who won a bagful of wins during the last Mumbai season had been running consistent races but finding the winning post elusive for the last 294 days. Back on the home track in the handicap company, the speedy progeny of Excelebration led all the way in the hands of five-kg claimer P S Kaviraj Singh and easily held off the late challenge of Perfect Star to win the 1200 metres Rotary Club of Bombay Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of races held at Mumbai on Sunday.
The Vijay Shirke colours were prominent with the leading owner enjoying a good run, with three wins including in the feature event. Pesi Shroff has started the season in right earnest and is sure to top the trainers` tally perhaps even bettering his score of the previous seasons. He saddled three winners.
Perfect Star who had a fair record at Pune was the favourite ahead of Lincoln and the rest. Kaviraj had Lincoln dictate the pace and his cause was helped by the fact that he could enjoy an uncontested lead which is critical in a race of this nature. Lincoln came into the straight about eight lengths clear of Perfect Star and the lead ensured that the front-runner had enough cushion to last out the trip. Perfect Star was second ahead of Holy Smoke. Timeless reportedly came back lame.
In an exciting battle between owner-mates Bunting and Arashi which lasted the length of the final furlong, the bobbing of heads saw the latter ahead by a whisker at the finish in the 1200 metres Rotary Club of Bombay Pier Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. It took a long time for the judge to announce the result. Favourite Bottega Louie who graced the wrong end of the field until the final two furlongs showed intent but was not good enough to overhaul the battling duo in front and had to settle for the third position. Miss Moneypenny ran way below par.
Trainer M K Jadhav who lost out a winner through Bunting in the first race of the day in a tight finish, led in the winner of the second race of the day, the1200 metres Rotary Club of Bombay North Trophy, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Jockey Sandesh took the long shot Namaqua on a start to finish mission and the lesser fancied runner stayed put in front though towards the closing stages of the race, was running out of steam. However, the winning post came to the rescue even as on-money favourite Starringo was gaining ground with a rush under the driving finish of jockey Trevor Patel. Chephirah was third.
Dallas Todywalla trained Excellent was expected to have it easy in the 1400 metres Rotary Club of Mumbai Queens Necklace Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 85. Excellent who is considered as a strong challenger in the Guineas did not acquit himself well in the lead-up race. The odds on the favourite also drifted out close to race time with money coming strongly on Costa Brava from the stables of Pesi Shroff. Excellent was escorted into the straight by stablemate Zanara who set the pace. Sandesh pushed Excellent to take over the running but could not keep the lead for long. When Trevor Patel unleashed Costa Brava, Excellent surrendered tamely as the former went away for an easy win. Carbonara was third.
Imtiaz Sait trained Truly Epic gave a timid performance in the 1600 metres Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Truly Epic had good credentials to merit such an expectation. However, Truly Epic was under pressure to stay in touch with the field and was a beaten cause well before the race came to the boil. Sacred Roman who raced a handy second behind pace-setter Star Comrade, shot ahead inside the final 350 metres and held off a strong challenge from Bronx to prevail by a short head. Jockey Leigh Roche was persevering on the fancied runner which made the difference to the outcome of the race. Bushtops ran on strongly but had to settle for the third slot.
Trainer Deepesh Narredu brought off a good touch on the first timer King Khalil in the 1400 metres Rotary Club of Thane Lake City Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The race had an open look about it with Perpetual Winning, Valegro, Arrowfield and King Khalil commanding big amount of support in the ring. King Khalil was subjected to a veterinary check at the gates before being loaded. Jockey Yash Narredu took the fancied runner from the wide outside draw and the progeny of Multidimensional broke clear in the straight to win the race quite capably from Valegro. Perpetual Winning staved off Arrowfield to take the third position.
Noshir Cama trained Joplin`s win at Pune was suggestive of an encore and the progeny of Stern Opinion did not disappoint such an expectation in the 1000 metres Rotary Club of Hiranandani Estate Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Joplin shot ahead inside the final furlong and had no problem in keeping the challenge of Chosen One at Bay. Anniversary Girl was faraway third.
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Arashi (Leigh Roche up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Bombay Pier Trophy
Namaqua (A Sandesh up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Bombay North Trophy
Costa Brava (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Mumbai Queens Necklace Trophy
Lincoln (P S Kaviraj up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Bombay Cup
Joplin (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Hiranandani Estate Trophy
Sacred Roman (Leigh Roche up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Bombay Seacoast Trophy
King Khalil (Yash Narredu up) winner of the Rotary Club Of Thane Lake City Trophy
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