Pesi Shroff trained Thunberg who had finished second and third behind stablemate King`s Ransom in the Indian 1000 Guineas and the Indian Oaks got her due in the 2000 metres Smasher Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Saturday`s Mumbai races. With the card catering majorly to lower category horses, trainer Antia profited most saddling three winners and losing one in a tight finish to demonstrate that if you have the patience, you can defeat the system and make enormous profit as well.

Thunberg was the obvious favourite to win the Smasher Trophy after the two eye-catching performances. Thunberg had won only once in her career. She had been assigned to regular jockey Umesh. However, Thunberg was not backed with the confidence that one expects for a horse with such credentials from trainer Pesi Shroff`s yard possibly because she was stepping up in class. Thunberg was available at good odds with Balor and Rasputin also receiving support. Umesh who took Thunberg on a start to finish mission, faced a challenge only from Rasputin in the final furlong. However, Thunberg had enough reserves to skip away when she looked vulnerable to win with a measure of comfort. Bangalore challenger Balor who had recorded back-to-back wins was out of depth and finished a tame third. There was some support for Lord Frankel who had come from Bangalore and was racing after a longish break but the got-abroad ran out of gas at the top of the straight and fell back to finish last.

Pesi Shroff was also successful on Claudius in the 1400 metres Picasso Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Claudius had made an impressive win more than 100 days ago at Pune. One was not sure what setback kept Claudius out of action but the quality of his win at Pune suggested that he belonged to higher category. Punters were in a dilemma whether to opt for Claudius or last start impressive winner Singer Sargeant. The latter was the favourite but close to race time, there was flood of money on Claudius. There was support for runaway winner of last time Kings Best as well. After Kings Best was pushed to the forward position from the wide outside draw and held sway till the final two furlongs, Thunberg found the requisite places to take command of the race by the final furlong. Despite veering out of a straight course, Thunberg was good enough to spare more than three lengths at the finish to Arabian Phoenix and Great Guns who occupied the slots behind the winner against the run of expectations. Lord Vader who had the lead going into the final furlong flattered to deceive while Kings Best faded out, undone because of being used up to take a forward position from the wide outside draw. Singer Sergeant was squeezed in by Kings Best and denied a clear run even as the former was making his bid. The check undid whatever chances that the fancied runner may have had.

Imtiaz Sait trained Geographic had recorded a runaway win last time out and some of the horses which had finished behind had gone on to record impressive wins thereby flanking the form. It was no brainer that Geographic would run as a strong favourite as she was also bred to stay, being by Golden Horn who was an Epsom Derby winner. Jockey Neeraj Rawal waited with Geographic till turning for home before making his bid on the wide outside. Geographic covered ground with alacrity and by the final furlong had established her commanding presence to eventually win with a great deal of ease from Jerusalem and Alpha Gene.

Bezan Chenoy trained Ristretto who was an eye-catching second last time out went one better in the 1000 metres Cabriolet Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Antia trained Untitled was also strongly fancied to win. Untitled led in earnest and shaped like a winner but once jockey Saqlain was able to get Ristretto going, the four-year-old gelding devoured ground on the wide outside and managed to pip the front-runner in the waning yards of the race. Zukor was third while the well backed Superimpose was never in the hunt. Antia trained 10-year-old Slam Dunk who had run 61 times in his career and had seen better horses was well backed to win the lower division of the race. The favourite for the race was Shiraz Sunderji trained Harriet who was only having his third start of the career. Slam Dunk was pushed to the front from the start by jockey Amit and the fancied runner stayed put to win from Harriet who despite the best that apprentice P Shinde could offer, fell short by a shade less than a length. Red Riot who finished third, has had 12 runs thus far but has not been seen in serious business.

A M Jadhav trained Phenom who had finished more than 20 lengths behind the winner in the Guineas and had given a poor account of his capabilities won the 1400 metres Hunt for Gold Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 4 to 30 in emphatic fashion. Phenom proved overwhelmingly good in his sixth career start when swamping the opposition by a widening margin of five lengths. Remy Red and Esfir occupied the next two slots behind the winner. The lower division of the race went the way of champion trainer of lowest category horses Antia whose ward Luminosity who was a seven-year-old, finally broke the maiden`s ranks with a start to finish essay in the hands of jockey Amit. Despite veering out of a straight course, Luminosity was good enough to beat favourite Walter who cut an erratic course before staving off Lion King and Freedom to claim the runner-up berth.

The withdrawal of Jet Typhoon from the fray made the way easy for Antia trained Dilbar who won the 1000 metres Decent Proposal Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Apprentice jockey Haridas Gore was successful on Dilbar who with a speedy effort in front won quite capably with a start to finish dash. Sky Hawk ran on late to take the second place ahead of Power of Neath.