Racing rarely lacks drama, but Foxy added a dash of irony to the script in the Radha Sigtia Trophy. After wandering across the track like a tourist on her previous outing, the Bahram Cama trainee returned to run straight as a surveyor`s line and score convincingly. The feature, however, was only part of the story as trainer Pradeep Chouhan enjoyed a rewarding afternoon, saddling three winners on a lively Saturday Mumbai card.

Trainer Bahram Cama`s Foxy chose Saturday to remind everyone that racehorses sometimes have long memories and an even longer sense of humour. In the 1000 metres Radha Sigtia Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, Foxy made amends for her previous outing when apprentice Aditya Waydande appeared to give the outer rail a guided tour as the filly drifted alarmingly wide and waved goodbye to her chances.

This time the same jockey and the same horse behaved as though they had attended a crash course titled How to Run Straight. Foxy hugged the rail with monk-like discipline and ran straight as an arrow. Why the earlier adventure happened remains one of racing`s little mysteries, especially since Waydande is a talented apprentice. But Foxy`s emphatic victory politely suggested that the previous run should be filed under “best ignored”.

Your Unforgettable, who had won against expectations last time out, was installed a warm favourite ahead of Foxy. Storm Cloud took off in front while Foxy glued herself to the inner rails as though someone had applied industrial adhesive. By the final furlong a narrow gap appeared on the inside of the leader and Foxy slipped through with confidence. Once through, she accelerated away for a comfortable win. Storm Cloud held second while Your Unforgettable, true to her name for all the wrong reasons, ran well below par and finished fourth.

Trainer Pradeep Chouhan, who saddled Your Unforgettable, had little reason to complain though. Apart from the feature race hiccup, the day turned into a profitable festival for his stable with three winners.

One of them came through Admirable in the Euphemia Plate, a race for three-year-olds. Admirable had impressed on debut but had looked out of her depth in a subsequent seven-furlong outing. Last start winner Minari and Storm Majesty dominated the betting while Admirable quietly slipped under the radar at generous odds.

Jockey Akshay Kumar, who enjoyed a rewarding afternoon with a double sent Admirable on a start-to-finish mission. The filly galloped merrily in front and had enough in reserve to repel Minari, who took her own leisurely time to warm up. By the time Minari found her rhythm the winning post had already made its appearance. Paloma finished a close third while Storm Majesty was withdrawn at the gates.

Chouhan`s second success arrived through Youremanorborne in the 1800 metres Osman Chotani Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Youremanorborne and Viking shared favouritism, though the race itself turned out to be an emphatic solo performance.

Jockey Ajinkya had Youremanorborne off to a sharp start and settled her comfortably in third before the straight. Once asked for an effort, the filly surged clear with impressive authority, winning by an expanding margin of eight lengths despite wandering toward the centre of the track as though sightseeing. Tropical Paradise finished second ahead of Exotic Star, while Viking chose not to trouble the judge.

Chouhan completed his treble with Manwar in the 1400 metres Indian Navy Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Former maiden Manwar produced a flourishing late run in the hands of Akshay Kumar to overhaul favourite Undercover, who briefly looked the part before reverting to his more familiar role of flattering to deceive. Manwar, running for the first time after being gelded and offered at lucrative odds, swooped past in the final furlong. Agatha finished third.

The 1000 metres 1805 Trophy, another race in the lowest category, looked like a puzzle wrapped in a riddle and sprinkled with confusion. The odds board resembled a democracy where every horse had supporters but none had conviction. In the end Narendra Lagad trained Samson emerged from the chaos.

Apprentice Aditya Waydande timed his run well on Samson, catching the fancied Sky Full of Stars in the closing strides of the whip-free race to complete a double for the day. Rise All Stars edged past Key West for the minor placing.

The day had begun with M K Jadhav trained Exuma in the 2400 metres Aziz H Ahmedbhoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Though Exuma had the advantage of both a drop in class and a more suitable trip, the betting public preferred Diego Garcia and Pristine Glory.

Diego Garcia set off enthusiastically and soon discovered the downside of excessive enthusiasm over a staying trip. N S Parmar meanwhile coaxed Exuma along patiently. Once the leader began to feel the pinch, Exuma gathered momentum and surged ahead in the final furlong to score by four widening lengths. Pristine Glory finished second after finally getting past the tiring Diego Garcia, who had long since spent his petrol. Flaming Lamborghini appeared to have misplaced both speed and enthusiasm somewhere along the track. Racing, after all, can be a brutally honest mirror.