Imtiaz Sait-trained Dream Alliance has long been a case study in misplaced optimism. The horse carries a name brimming with promise but has instead mastered the art of disappointing his backers—on one memorable occasion, even earning jockey Sandesh an unscheduled vacation. A moody character, Dream Alliance has to be coaxed, cajoled, and practically begged to gallop fluently, and when he does oblige, it`s usually good enough to finish second rather than actually win.

Still, his penchant for being the best of the beaten brigade made him the crowd`s fancy in the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy (1600m), a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Thursday`s evening races held at Mahalakshmi. This was despite the presence of Charlie, a no-nonsense customer from the Vinesh yard who had already strung together two wins after a lengthy hiatus due to a setback. But punters, ever the hopefuls, chose to overlook reality in favour of the familiar heartbreak that Dream Alliance so reliably delivers.

True to form, Dream Alliance was up to his usual antics, dawdling out of the gates as if he had all day. Jockey C S Jodha spent the entire race trying to convince his mount that this was, in fact, a competitive event and not a leisurely morning canter. Meanwhile, Charlie, ridden by Bhawani Singh, meant business. When pace-setter Alpine Star began to tire, Charlie seized the moment with enthusiasm, bounding clear in the final furlong.

Dream Alliance tried—if that`s the right word—to chase down the leader, but his effort resembled more of an exhausted jog than a serious rally. Emperor Roderic, who took the scenic route around the bend (perhaps sightseeing the vast expanse of Mahalaxmi`s homestretch), briefly hinted at making an impact but had to settle for third, finishing in splendid isolation on the far side of Mumbai`s broad straight.

In the end, Charlie completed his hat-trick with authority, while Dream Alliance stayed true to form—raising expectations only to shatter them with practiced ease. It was a well-earned triumph for trainer Vinesh, who continues to deliver maximum results with a limited string, much to the delight of enthusiastic owner Peter Deubet.

Pesi Shroff-trained King`s Gambit played his cards right this time, pulling off a dramatic victory over Heart in the J Robinson Plate (1600m), a race for three-year-olds. After a frustrating near-miss in his last outing—where stablemate Fynbos took the honours—King`s Gambit once again made life difficult for himself but ultimately delivered when it mattered most.

Heart was, well, all heart, putting up a gallant fight after seemingly sealing the deal in the final furlong. Front-runner Bright Button led the field into the straight before Sandesh urged Heart forward, with Caccini, under David Allan, looming large. Meanwhile, jockey Vivek G had his work cut out, urging King`s Gambit to shake off his sluggishness and find a rhythm. The Deauville progeny finally responded, closing in with a rush.

What followed was a nail-biting finish, with King`s Gambit and Heart locked in a fierce duel. In the end, the former edged ahead by a neck, just in time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Caccini was a distant third, more than five lengths behind, while debutant Duesenberg missed the memo at the start and was never a factor.



The Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy (1600m), a contest for horses rated 40-65, turned into a gripping battle between favourite Angelo from the Pesi Shroff yard and Pradeep Chouhan-trained long shot Ultimo.

Jockey Vivek set Angelo on a start-to-finish mission, hoping to dictate terms, but the final furlong had other ideas. Enter Ultimo, who launched a spirited challenge, setting up a pulsating final 100 meters. The two went stride for stride before Ultimo found that extra gear, surging past at the wire to cause an upset. Treat, expected to improve, instead settled for an uninspiring third, proving to be anything but a treat for his supporters.

Ivor Fernandes-trained Alpha Gene had spent the last 800-odd days perfecting the art of showing up without actually doing much—a seasoned campaigner in the fine tradition of racing`s more ‘economical` performers. But after flashing a hint of form in his previous run, he found himself burdened with favouritism in the V P Koregaonkar Plate (1600m), a race for horses rated 1 to 26.

Reluctant to embrace the newfound attention, Alpha Gene dawdled out of the gates as if debating whether this was really worth the effort. Fortunately, jockey Trevor Patel wasn`t in the mood for negotiations and cajoled him into action, getting him to the front within the first furlong. From there, Alpha Gene enjoyed an uncontested lead, dictating terms at his own leisurely tempo.

However, the final furlong nearly turned into a rude awakening as Baleno, who had been biding his time at the rear, decided to shift gears and stormed home with a powerful late surge. For a moment, it looked like Alpha Gene might crumble under pressure, but Trevor`s determined urgings kept him going just enough to hold on by half a length. The Flutist checked in third, while Mohsin, who had his share of backers, offered little more than a forgettable fourth-place finish.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Thundering Phoenix lived up to his name, storming home in the final furlong to claim the Indian Navy Trophy (1400m), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. With no standout contender commanding strong market support, the race was as open as the Arabian Sea on a calm day.

Pesi Shroff-trained Eagle Day started as the lukewarm favourite, just ahead of Thundering Phoenix, who was returning after a 158-day layoff. But if rustiness was expected, Thundering Phoenix paid no heed, producing a perfectly timed charge down the centre of the track. Once he hit top gear, it was all over—he bounced clear with 100 meters left, leaving his rivals scrambling in his wake.

Eagle Day, who showed little early speed, found himself boxed in before switching out for a belated rally. He finished a respectable second but never really threatened the winner. The early pace was set by Applause and Scorcese, both of whom fizzled out when the real running began.

In the closing stages, Little Minister, last start`s surprise package, ran on well for third, while Fable, the more fancied stablemate of the winner, failed to live up to expectations and ended up a tame fourth.

Nazak Chenoy-trained Shambala rediscovered his winning touch after a switch in distance and a return to handicap company, storming home in the Byram N Jeejeebhoy Trophy (1200m), a race for horses rated 60 to 86.

Sent off as the strong favourite, Shambala was preferred over Azrinaz, a game performer who had been knocking on the door but failing to walk through it. The race unfolded at breakneck speed, with Hall of Grace and Turn And Burn tearing away early, while Shambala settled into a relaxed penultimate position. Azrinaz, lacking early pace, found herself trailing the field, playing catch-up from the outset.

As the field straightened for home, jockey Anthony Raj got to work on Shambala, who responded with an electrifying turn of foot. Accelerating like a well-tuned engine, the favourite swept past his tiring rivals in the final furlong to win with ease. Turn And Burn fizzled out, while Azrinaz finally found some speed in the dying moments—just enough to snatch second place from Hall of Grace by the slimmest of margins.