Vinesh-trained Charlie turned Sunday`s Mumbai races into a theatre of surprises, scripting a dramatic upset in the 1400-meter Kailashpat Singhania Trophy, a feature race for horses rated 60 to 86. For a horse that hadn`t sniffed the winner`s circle in 645 days, Charlie seemed destined for the "Whatever Happened To" file, but he had other plans—most notably, making punters and experts alike eat their words.

Charlie, who had spent nearly two years collecting problems like a hobbyist collects stamps, showed up in a mood that screamed, "Not today!" A recent second-place finish behind the classy Santissimo must`ve reminded him what winning felt like, and he stormed down the final furlong with the vigour of a horse half his age. His late burst crushed the hopes of Azrinaz, who was practically being fitted for the victory sash before Charlie swept past.

Rambler, the equine embodiment of "better late than never," rallied to snatch third place, while Singer Sargent—who apparently moonlights as a motivational speaker for slow starters—dawdled his way into fourth. Ataash, another member of the "I Hate the Starting Gates" club, did slightly better on that front but made up for it by disappointing everyone else.

Azrinaz had entered the race with a solid prep run behind Shambala and was the darling of the betting ring, while Golden Glow inexplicably soaked up enough support to end up favourite. Perhaps the punters were swayed by his name rather than his form because, on the track, Golden Glow fizzled out faster than a cheap sparkler on Diwali night. He led the field early on, only to throw in the towel two furlongs from the finish, leaving the stage wide open for the real drama to unfold.

Ataash briefly flirted with the idea of leading, only to hand over the reins to Azrinaz. Just as Azrinaz and Ataash began their battle royale for the win, Charlie decided it was time to crash the party. Charging down the wide outside like a horse possessed, he breezed past the duelling duo and galloped away for a win so comfortable it was almost insulting.

Azrinaz managed to salvage second place, but Rambler—doing what Rambler does best—plodded along to take third. Singer Sargent, as always, used the straight to wake up and gain a few places, rounding off the frame in fourth.

Chouhan`s Transition, Ardakan`s Dominance

Trainer Pradeep Chouhan, who swapped the saddle for the trainer`s desk just last year, seems to be finding his stride in this new chapter of his career. His ward, Ardakan, proved that lightning can strike twice, storming to yet another victory under the expert guidance of jockey Sandesh. The race began with Giant King, known for his sloth-like starts, deciding to shock the world by actually breaking well and leading the field—for a hot minute. However, it wasn`t long before Ardakan wrested control and galloped away for an emphatic win.

As for Booster Shot, it seems the horse continues to live up to its name—promising a boost but delivering little more than a mild tickle. Once again, Booster Shot teased with hope and ended up in the same position he started, even as he crossed the finish line. Giant King, perhaps tired from his rare effort at punctuality, clung to third place, while Bugatti seemed to have entered the race purely for the cardio.

Pesi Shroff`s Surrealist proved a masterpiece in the making, winning the Lt. Col. Govind Singh (VRC) Cup with the flair of an artist on a deadline. With jockey Vivek G at the reins, Surrealist let Ministry of Time do the early heavy lifting before delivering the coup de grâce in the final furlong.

Ministry of Time, despite its ambitious name, couldn`t travel back to find the speed it needed and settled for second. Meanwhile, Don Julio did just enough to secure third, possibly motivated by the promise of a celebratory cocktail afterward.


The General Finally Marches to Victory

Karthik Ganapathy`s The General broke a 21-race jinx in the Indian Air Force Trophy, leaving cynics and punters alike stunned. For a horse that once tasted victory only to have it snatched away on objection, this redemption was long overdue. After a history of "so-close-yet-so-far" performances, The General finally delivered a decisive win, charging past rivals in the final furlong like a true warhorse.

Jockey Bhawani Singh rode with military precision, timing his challenge perfectly to sweep past the frontrunners. Liam, who missed a prompt start, launched an impressive late charge, but his effort only earned him second place. Goomah clung to third, fending off Cordelia, whose performance left much to be desired.



The Ravishankar Gupta Salver turned into a showdown between Adhirajsingh Jodha`s Amadeo and Behram Cama`s Axlrod, and the latter emerged victorious in what can only be described as a tactical acumen. Jockey T S Jodha kept things simple, racing forward early and never relinquishing control, making it clear he was not in the mood for last-minute dramatics.

Amadeo, despite the weight of public expectation, delivered a half-hearted late rally to claim second place, leaving his backers shaking their heads. The dark horse of the race was Ma Cherie, who seemingly materialized out of thin air to snatch third place, much to the chagrin of Nelson River, who had to settle for a consolation prize.

In a nail-biting finish, Prithviraj-trained Ananya handed apprentice jockey Aditya Waydande his second victory in the 1000-meter A Hoyt Plate, a race designed for horses in the "thanks-for-showing-up" category. Leading from the get-go, Ananya held off a late storm from Lightning Blaze, High Spirit, and Superluminal.

The latter, Superluminal, appeared to be channelling her inner philosopher, pondering life at the gates and losing valuable ground before finally deciding to participate. Her spirited finish in the homestretch got her into the frame but left her connections wondering what could`ve been had she actually started racing with the others.

Trainer Prithviraj, who recently traded the Bangalore circuit for RWITC, must be feeling vindicated after this hard-fought win. One can only hope Ananya`s victory wasn`t fuelled solely by the apprentice jockey`s desperation to break his maiden status—it might be asking too much for a repeat.

he Kazakh Plate, a 2000-meter slog featuring horses whose form fluctuates like the stock market, turned into a cakewalk for Waheed-trained Beyond Stars. With jockey Zervan in the saddle, the mare stole a march on her competition by the final furlong and strolled home for an easy win, leaving the rest floundering in her wake.

Silver Braid chased valiantly to claim second place, though it was hardly a memorable performance. As for Marlboro Man, his run was as disappointing as a cigarette without a lighter. After hinting at better things in his previous outing, Marlboro Man delivered a flat effort that suggested his previous run was either a fluke or just a cruel joke on optimistic punters.