English champion Oisin Murphy steered Jendayi, trained by Pesi Shroff, to triumph in the Trilegal Indian 1000 Guineas, marking the inaugural classic of the season at Mahalakshmi on Sunday. The offspring of Gleneagles, heavily favored, saw Oisin Murphy guide the horse with unwavering confidence. Starting from a considerable distance behind, they surged past the front-running stablemate Democracy in the final 100 meters. This victory marked Oisin Murphy`s auspicious debut in Indian racing. The accomplished jockey also secured a double for the day, earlier riding the successful favorite Chamonix from the stables of trainer Pesi Shroff.

Jendayi, with just two prior starts, showcased her promise despite limited experience. The light-framed filly, demonstrating potential in both victories, hinted at a promising career. Trainer Pesi Shroff, celebrating his 30th Indian Classic win, surpassing the legendary Rashid Byramji, described Jendayi as a horse with natural ability, requiring minimal training to excel. The presence of Oisin Murphy likely influenced her odds more than it would have otherwise.

Jendayi`s stablemate, Democracy, set a modest pace, with Cordelia, Ameerah, West Brook, Azrinaz, Waikiki, Jendayi and Miss American Pie following. Democracy, resilient, maintained the lead well into the final furlong. Oisin, navigating through the field from behind, ensured a trouble-free run. Igniting the filly in the last furlong, Jendayi surged aggressively, overtaking the front-runner in the race`s closing stages for a convincing victory. Miss American Pie rallied along the rails but narrowly missed the third slot to Ameerah. Oisin noted the only hiccup was when the filly momentarily dropped her bit during the race.

Expressing gratitude, Oisin extended thanks to owners Vijay Shrike and K N Dhunjibhoy for the opportunity to ride in India, appreciating the warm hospitality he received besides the wonderful horses to ride given by trainer Pesi Shroff.

Oisin Murphy marked a triumphant debut in India by guiding Pesi Shroff-trained Chamonix to a convincing victory in the 2000 meters R J Kolah Trophy, a race exclusively for horses rated 80 and above. Chamonix, the offspring of Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, had been meticulously prepared to acquaint Murphy with the nuances of the track in anticipation of his ride in the Guineas.

Murphy positioned Chamonix behind Golden Kingdom, attentively monitoring the pace. Sensing the opportune moment, Murphy urged his mount to accelerate inside the final two furlongs. Chamonix responded with remarkable agility, surging ahead and establishing an unassailable lead, ultimately claiming victory by an impressive margin of over six lengths.

Golden Kingdom gallantly fended off challenges from Rasputin and Wall Street to secure the runner-up position. Oisin Murphy`s debut ride in India showcased his exceptional skills, and Chamonix`s commanding performance in the R J Kolah Trophy solidified their partnership as a formidable force on the track.

Trained by Shiraz Sunderji, Market King emerged victorious in the 1200 meters Mahalakshmi Sprint Million, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, setting a new record time of one minute 08.65 seconds. As the favorite, Market King was expected to face stiff competition from Mysore contender O Hansini and Son Of A Gun, both well supported by the betting crowd.

However, the race unfolded as a one-sided affair, largely due to the tactical errors of the jockeys astride Joaquin (Yash Narredu) and the relatively inexperienced Mustakim Alam on Son Of A Gun. Both horses surged at an intense pace upfront, setting a blistering speed that ultimately proved to be their downfall. Meanwhile, Trevor skillfully held Market King in the third position, biding time.

Trevor unleashed Market King`s latent potential midway in the stretch. The progeny of Leitir Mor exhibited remarkable acceleration, surging ahead with impressive speed, ultimately clinching victory by a substantial five-length margin. Joaquin managed to fend off Son Of A Gun for the second spot, while O Hansini struggled with the intense pace, falling distressingly short of expectations.

Mustakim Alam, despite showing promise in his earlier performances, now faces the imperative task of critically analyzing each of his rides. This introspection is particularly crucial when races unfold differently from expectations, and such scrutiny is essential for his continued progress as he progresses in his profession. The cushion of the allowance will cease once he completes riding 40 winners.

Mustakim Alam demonstrated better judgment of pace by steering Golden Glow to a comfortable victory over the favored Scaramanga in the 1600 meters M N Nazir Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Apprentice jockey Bhosale, astride Kanya Rashi, rode a foolish race, rushing to the front, establishing a substantial lead over Finch, Golden Glow, Scaramanga, and the rest of the field. The energy sapping run in front told on Kanya Rashi who faltered early in the stretch.

In contrast, Mustakim Alam maintained composure, avoiding panic, and strategically held back with Golden Glow until turning for home. With a well-timed and measured run, Mustakim brought his horse into contention, overtaking the front-running Finch and ensuring a comfortable lead as they crossed the finish line. Scaramanga made a late surge to narrowly secure the runner-up position, edging out Finch in the process. Mustakim Alam showed greater understanding of pace judgment, marking a commendable performance in the M N Nazir Trophy.

Horses under the care of veteran trainer M K Jadhav are not particularly known for their consistency. In the 1000 meters Korea Racing Trophy, a race catering to horses rated 20 to 46, New Dimension was the favored contender, despite Serrano having previously secured an impressive victory. However, Serrano, starting from the widest position, faced difficulties exacerbated by the jockey`s unwise attempt to secure a forward position, resulting in the horse being pushed too hard too early.

It is a well-established fact that horses, regardless of their class, struggle to maintain speed when forced to sustain momentum right from the starting line, leading to energy depletion. Jockey Parmar positioned Serrano behind Moonlight Kiss, but as the pace intensified, Serrano began to lose ground and eventually finished among the also-rans. Meanwhile, the heavily backed New Dimension, who hadn`t clinched a victory in over a year, was strategically held back by jockey Yash Narredu. In the final furlong, Narredu unleashed New Dimension`s winning surge, securing a convincing four-length victory.

Moonlight Kiss displayed resilience to secure the second position, keeping Sweet Emotion at bay. Unfortunately, Serrano reportedly suffered from burst blood vessels during the race, further compounding the problems of the four-year-old gelding.

Dallas Todywalla is renowned for his knack for early success with two-year-olds, and Spanish Eyes was anticipated to maintain this trend in the 1200 meters Satinello Trophy, a race for first-season runners. Despite this expectation, the favorite for the race was Running Star, trained by Malesh Narredu, who garnered spirited support due to the stable`s impressive recent performances.

During the race, the long shot Earth took the lead, but her prospects were dashed as she drifted alarmingly in the final furlong, diminishing her chances. Trevor, strategically positioning Spanish Eyes, took advantage of the situation, surging ahead and successfully fending off the unfortunate Earth.

Running Star, the favoured contender, lacked speed and despite making an effort, she could only secure the third position, never truly posing a threat at any stage of the race. The unexpected turn of events and Trevor`s adept handling led Spanish Eyes to a triumphant debut, reaffirming Dallas Todywalla`s expertise in handling two-year-olds.

After failing to secure victory in four consecutive attempts finishing second best, Superimpose, trained by Shiraz Sunderji, finally hit the mark in the 1000-meter Korea Racing Authority Trophy (Div I), a race designated for horses rated between 20 to 46. Despite Misty being the favourite, Superimpose garnered noticeable support, along with Portofino Bay. Jockey Saqlain guided Superimpose, tracking the pace-setting Fidato well into the straight before surging ahead in the final furlong. The offspring of Roderic O`Connor had a commanding lead in the race long before reaching the home stretch. Misty failed to show speed, racing in the rear and losing the plot. Phenom faced a similar predicament but gained momentum in the straight, securing a commendable second place ahead of Adamas. Misty, despite winning two consecutive races in the last Mumbai season, has proven to be an unreliable contender.