Narendra Lagad trained Golden Neil showed that he was in sublime form en route to his fourth success from five outings in the Mumbai racing season in a record time of one minute 35.476 seconds in the 1600 metres Kumar R Dalal Gold Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature even to Mumbai`s evening races. The progeny of Excellent Art treated the opposition with disdain when winning the race as he pleased. The only aberration during the season had been the pathetic performance of Excellent Art in the extended trip of a mile and a half in the Indian Derby. Over trips shorter, she has thus far proved invincible in the season.

Golden Neil has been in such terrific form so much so that it had boosted the confidence of apprentice jockey Mustakim Alam who is also going great guns. Despite running in a week`s time, Golden Neil did not show any tiredness and was a worthy favourite ahead of last-start winner Thunberg and Rasputin. The race was run in such a way that it suited Golden Neil to the maximum. It is not that he wouldn`t have won the race if the race was run in a different way. Stablemate of Golden Neil, Arcana who has moved from the stables of trainer Pesi Shroff set a fast pace which had no bearing on the race as the front-runner was so far ahead, and the others decided to form their own group. Even as Arcana was grinding to a halt after turning for home, Mustakim set alight Golden Neil along the rails. The four-year-old showed tremendous acceleration and, in a trice, went storming clear, beyond the reach of the rest to win in great style. Pride`s Angel gave a chase and finished second ahead of In Contention. Fancied Thunberg found herself out of depth in this company and finished in the ruck.

Souza, called Professor of the stable by trainer Pesi Shroff, gave a rude shock to those who believed that the task of the horse was only to be a training companion to his illustrious stablemates during the morning workout and that the race runs were only to keep his interest going. Souza who was the designated pacemaker last year had just one win to his credit. Sandesh had favourite Key To The Mint lead from the start. The progeny of Roderic O`Connor shaped to win as he had a good lead going into the final furlong. However, Souza who was shadowing the front-runner essayed a strong challenge and managed to clinch the verdict in the bobbing of heads. Treasure Gold nosed out Mysterious Girl to get the third position. It was difficult to assess Souza`s credentials as he had finished more than 30 lengths behind in his last outing after receiving a severe interference. There were no takers for Souza and the horse proved to be a disruptor as far as the punters were concerned.

Pesi Shroff has a good type of younger in Christofle who made a smashing debut in the 1600 metres Hyderabad Race Club Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Perhaps it may be appropriate to say that Pesi has a surfeit of good horses and he gets a lot of got abroads. Christofle left the field standing in the final furlong to win the race by a widening margin of six lengths over The Godfather who in turn was a neck ahead of Rush. Christofle is by Le Harve who is by Noverre. The Irish-bred Le Harve raced in France and had six wins to his credit. He won Stakes races as well.

The four-year-old son of Epsom Derby winning Australia namely Beyond Measure hadn`t won a race in his nine outings. Running in the lowest category over a mile and a half trip which was bound to suit his stamina credentials, Beyond Measure came from way off the pace and stormed clear in the final furlong to win the race from Come Back Please and Amber Knight. Michigan went at a scorching pace for his own good but worked up a good pace for the eventual winner who smoothly cruised from behind and was hailed a winner a long way from home. Come Back Please produced second wind to take the second position.

Jockey Sandesh had the mortification of losing two races by a whisker after leading all the way. After losing out on Key To The Mint, Sandesh once again failed by a similar margin over Arabian Phoenix. Magileto looked like a winner when he stormed ahead and had a good lead going to the final furlong. Souza warmed up late to the task and charged home and managed to prevail in the bobbing of heads. Great Guns disappointed once again finishing third. Nothing seems to be going right for trainer Shiraz Sunderji whose wards have been letting down consistently.

The last run of Singer Sargent was certainly not true to form notwithstanding the check he received in his last outing. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, Singer Sargent was in his elements, coming from way off the pace and managed to get the better of Hagibis who was shaping to bring off a huge upset to the Dr Goolam E Vahanvati Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The race is named after a great racing enthusiast and former Attorney General of India. Attained headed Balenciaga at the post to get the place money.

Patience pays and because of this trait, trainer H J Antia is reaping rich rewards during this season, with his training oriented towards bringing off gambles most preferably in the lowest category. Red Riot had run a forward race last time out but there was not much thrust in the betting as Spirit Bay, Intense Belief and Zukor cornered most of the betting. Spirit Bay led deep into the straight with Zukor and Red Riot putting up a strong challenger. Closer home, Red Riot manage to put his head in front and managed to survive a late onslaught from C`est L`amour. Spirit Bay was third ahead of Zukor.