Pesi Shroff-trained Manifold got the better of front-running favourite Mygrator in the closing strides of the race to win the 1400 metres Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds which highlighted the lacklustre card of eight events that were gone through on Wednesday at Mumbai. The eight-event card did not have a single interesting race, with the programme catering to horses of inferior class.

The fashionably bred Mygrator who was showing out in the workouts enjoyed favouritism as the flavour of the season has been the first season stallion Excellent Art. Mygrator was not only by Excellent Art, his dam was an outstanding racehorse namely Haunting Memories. Jockey Sandesh had Mygrator dictate the proceedings from the start and the ease with which he was travelling in front, the favourite appeared to be on course for a comfortable win. However, Mygrator began to slacken close home possibly feeling the strain of the first run over seven furlongs. Manifold who had the benefit of a race run, then began to close the gap strongly and won with a measure of comfort. Collegium ran on to finish third.

Sanjay Kolse trained Victorio appears to have lost the kind of aura about him which was inspired by two back to back wins achieved at Pune. Victorio went to the post as a favourite to win the 1000 metres Haunting Memories Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Free Speech was the other horse in betting. Ivory Fernandes trained Wonder Story who was in good form as evidenced by the three wins recorded in the recent past, was not in serious outing. Free Speech managed to get the better of Victorio inside the final 100 metres and shaped to win. Wonder Story, however, put paid to the hopes of Free Speech as she made her way from the back with a powerful surge and put her neck in front. Victorio stayed on to finish third.

Zadmal Singh trained Classicus had been poorly handled on the last occasion and as such, the gelding`s run deserved to be ignored. Running in the 1400 metres F K Vakil Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, Classicus went to the post at lucrative odds, with those who had kept on the eye on the way the horse was ridden last time out, encashing this time out at nourishing odds. Classicus showed out in the final furlong and stormed ahead and despite slightly shifting out, nevertheless proved too good for late-rallying Alien. Diwali Lights was third while Sensex who was backed to have a strong show, disappointed. Lesser fancied Trombone from the stables of trainer S K Sunderji moved with powerful strides in the final furlong to get the better of New England to land the spoils in the lower division of the race. Favourite Logic was never in the hunt. The strong support for Logic despite none too effort in the first outing defied logic!

My Blessings shaped like a winner in the 1000 metres M M T Pandole Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46 but closer home, strongly pressed by the consistent Orla. An all-out effort by jockey C S Jodha fetched the desired result as Orla managed to pull off a thrilling win by a whisker over My Blessings. Motherland was never with a serious chance while finishing third despite all the inspired support in the betting ring.

Rajendra trained What A Nice Girl was the betting rage in the 1200 metres K J K Irani Plate, a race for horses rated 1 to 26. What A Nice Girl belied the expectations of an eye-catching second of last effort as she never came into the reckoning at any stage of the race to eventually finish poorly. Rare Silver who raced with serious intent, kicked clear in the straight to record an emphatic win. Blavatsky edged out last start winner Super Bolt for the runner-up position.

A total washout was prevented by lesser fancied Brazos in the 1600 metres Narayandas Dave Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Favourite Firenze graced the rear end and the filly reportedly bled during the race. The four-year-old son of Epsom Derby winner, Brazos had to be fully driven out to get the better of rank outsider Silver Edge closer home to prevent a total domination of outsiders in the race. Silver Edge and Master Sergeant who occupied the two slots behind the winner were all long shots and returned huge dividends on place itself. A perusal of the dividends at totes in the Bangalore totalisator pools indicated that there were many who could get the forecast and trinella right but not a single punter was able to get the exacta combination right.

Rajendra trained Sabiq who had scored a runaway win last time out, recorded an encore in the 2000 metres Priceless Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Inside the final 100 metres, Elegant Beauty had broken into a useful lead but Sabiq who took time to warm up, devoured ground in the end to emerge a comfortable winner. Glorious Opinion nosed out Eiger`s Tiger for the third slot. Fancied Uncle Scrooge lost all the chances at the gate itself.