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Dallas Todywalla trained Excellent recorded the first season of the current season when easily accounting for the opposition in the 1600 metres Aziz H Ahmedbhoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Thursday’s evening races held at Mumbai. Spitfire who was widely expected to put up a fight considering the form that he was in, surrendered meekly and was even relegated to the third position. The lack of will to win on the part of Spitfire was indeed a surprise.
Excellent who had finished third behind Turning Point was backed to the exclusion of the rest as there was a lack of confidence on the consistency of Spitfire. Jockey Sandesh took Excellent on a start to finish mission and the favourite skipped away in the final furlong to record an easy win. Spitfire who was in the chase failed to accelerate to expectations and was a beaten cause. The only semblance of a fight came from In It To Win It who produced a late rally to occupy the second position.
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Malesh Narredu trained Mystic Bay made a winning debut in the 1400 metres Keukenhof Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The progeny of Leitir Mor was well prepared to have a bold show and this was reflected in the confidence with which the colt was backed to win. Jockey Suraj Narredu had Mystic Bay in about the third or fourth position till entering the stretch and thereafter Mystic Bay steadily gained places and stretched away for an emphatic win. Galloping Goldmine ran on to finish second about two and a half lengths adrift. The rest were outclassed with Taarradhin occupying the third position more than nine lengths behind the runner-up. Starringo who was not too brisk at the start ran without hope. Mystic Bay appears to be a good type of youngster.
Altaf Hussain trained El Comandante who was bidding to win the third race of the season was beaten in the final stride by long shot Arc Shine in the 1200 metres Amateur Riders’ Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Despite the wide outside draw, Sandesh managed to keep El Comandante in touch with the front-runners and appeared to have got the upper hand. However, Arc Shine who gained ground along the rails came home with a strong challenge and managed to nose out the favourite in the closing stride of the race. Timeless Deeds was in the hunt and ended up a close third. Lesrel did not show any interest in the race and finished down the field after two noteworthy efforts.
Rehanullah Khan trained Sharareh who had gone down narrowly on the last occasion made amends in the Monet Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Benefactor was a non-starter in the race. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan brought Sharareh with a well-timed run and the progeny of Verenar easily took command inside the final furlong and sped away for an easy win over Bonafide who attempted runaway tactics only to weaken when confronted with a challenge. Lord Commander failed to get the better of Bonafide and had to be satisfied with the third position.
Lesser fancied Agrami from the stables of trainer Faisal Abbas brought off a dramatic win in the 1000 metres Flareon Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Sky Beauty and Cabellero were non-starters. Grand Sinatra was the favourite and the Noshir Cama trainee who travelled wide into the straight took charge in the final furlong and shaped to win. Agrami who was sluggish at the start struggled in the rear and also took the turn wide and raced on the edge of the track but flew home. Chouhan perhaps did not realise that there was a danger lurking on the wide outside when he appeared to have thought that the race he had been sewn up on Grand Sinatra. Agrami surprised everyone by pulling off a narrow win. Fire Flame who did all the front-running, was third. Faisal Abbas trained Dance Emperor was the winner of the lower division of the race. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, Dance Emperor took charge within the first furlong and in the hands of apprentice jockey, A S Peter distanced himself from the rest to record an authoritative win. Macgyver ran on from behind to neck out Outstanding to get the runner-up berth.
Imtiaz Sait trained Honourable Eyes continued to let down with another timid performance in the 1600 metres Washington Irvine Plate, a race for horses rated 4 to 30. Lesser fancied Fencing took charge in the stretch after racing a handy third or fourth. Fencing drew clear with 200 metres left in the race and won by a widening margin of five lengths over Honourable Eyes. Power of Thor saved place money.
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Fencing (A Sandesh up) winner of the WASHINGTON IRVINE PLATE
Excellent (A Sandesh up) winner of the AZIZ H AHMEDBHOY TROPHY
Mystic Bay (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the KEUKENHOF PLATE
Dance Emperor (A S Peter up) winner of the FLAREON PLATE (DIV-II)
Agrami (G Amit up) winner of the FLAREON PLATE (DIV-I)
Arc Shine (K Nazil up) winner of the AMATEUR RIDERS CLUB TROPHY
Sharareh (P S Chouhan up) winner of the MONET PLATE
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