Under the guidance of Shiraz Sunderji, Outlander, ridden by jockey Ajinkya, delivered a strong performance to secure victory in the Hindu Trophy, a race tailored for horses rated 40 to 66, marking the highlight event of the Mumbai races held on Thursday evening. The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) stands as the sole club in the nation that recognizes the invaluable contribution of newspapers and web portals in promoting the sport, honouring them by naming races after each publication and inviting representatives to present the trophy—an admirable gesture indeed.

Initially, it appeared that Pesi Shroff`s trained Reminiscence had a firm grasp on the Hindu Trophy, aiming for a hat-trick victory. However, the competition proved formidable, with many closely matched contenders promising a thrilling race. True to expectations, the event unfolded as a tightly contested affair, culminating with three horses crossing the finish line in a line, with Outlander emerging victorious over last-start winner Portofino Bay, followed by Majestic Warrior in third place. Reminiscence, unfortunately, found itself blocked for a clear run, as both Majestic Warrior and Outlander shifted positions, effectively stifling the momentum of the favourite, who ultimately settled for fourth place. There was an objection by jockey Pradeep Chouhan against Ajinkya who rode the winner for interference but it did not find favour with the Stewards who however termed the riding of the winning jockey as careless.

Under champion trainer Pesi Shroff, Fontana showcased her prowess in the 1200 meters Racingpulse.in Trophy, a race designed for horses rated 20 to 46. The well-bred Fontana entered the race as the clear favourite after a commendable close-second finish in her previous outing. Guided by jockey Kritish Bhagat, Fontana raced in the second position from the wide outside draw, trailing behind the pace-setting Lion King. Fontana surged ahead in the final furlong, overtaking Lion King with ease and accelerating towards a comfortable victory. Brego made a late charge to claim third place, surpassing Attained.

Trained by Narendra Lagad, Baklava garnered considerable favouritism over contenders like Doron and Ocean in the 1400 meters Times of India Trophy, a race tailored for maiden three-year-olds. In a race where contenders lacked solid racing form, Baklava emerged as the preferred choice, closely followed by Pesi Shroff`s Doron, who sported blinkers for the first time, while Ocean received muted support.

Ocean took the lead from the start, with Baklava positioned closely behind. Doron, slow to start and lacking fluent momentum, fell behind early in the race. Jockey Mustakim Alam swiftly urged Baklava to take control upon entering the straight, establishing a commanding lead. Despite a late push from Doron, ridden by jockey J Chinoy, the progeny of Admiralty fell short at the finish line. Aerodynamic secured a narrow third place, edging out La Dolce Vita in the closely contested race.

Vinesh trained Galloping Glory displayed remarkable improvement at the starting gates, exhibiting fewer tantrums compared to previous outings. With a solid jump, Galloping Glory swiftly engaged Leo The Lion, the favourite, in a fierce battle for supremacy throughout the homestretch. In a thrilling climax, Galloping Glory emerged victorious, claiming the spoils in the 2000 meters Race Miror Cup, a competition for horses rated 1 to 26. Previously, Galloping Glory faced problems, having been withdrawn at the gates in the last race and experiencing planting at the gates on another occasion. Among the contenders, only Galloping Glory and Marlboro Man had been previous winners. Despite its promising pedigree, Stole My Heart has consistently disappointed.

Leo The Lion took an aggressive start-to-finish approach, closely pursued by Marlboro Man, Stole My Heart, Galloping Glory, and the remaining participants. As they entered the straight, contenders dwindled, leaving Galloping Glory to mount a determined challenge against Leo The Lion. With Bhawani Singh`s assertive riding, aided by the whip, Galloping Glory surged ahead in the final moments, clinching victory. Marlboro Man secured third place in the race.

Karthik Ganapathy`s trained Kimiko overcame a sluggish start, swiftly closing the gap on the front-running favourite, El Greco, in the final furlong to clinch victory in the 1600 meters Indiarace.com Trophy, a race designated for horses rated 20 to 45. El Greco, who had previously put up a strong fight against Winter Agenda, received significant backing, overshadowing support for Kimiko, known for her tendency to start poorly at the gates.

Under the guidance of jockey Umesh, El Greco led convincingly from the outset but began to tire as they entered the stretch. Meanwhile, Kimiko, spurred into action by jockey C S Jodha, showcased remarkable determination in the home stretch, surging ahead to triumph over the favourite well before the finish line, securing victory by a margin of just over two lengths. Wild Thing, initially in pursuit of the favourite, failed to maintain momentum in the home stretch, crossing the line third, more than eight lengths behind the leaders.

A successful punt unfolded in the 1200 meters Mid-Day Trophy, with Dallas Todywalla`s trained Mi Arion stealing the spotlight. While Shiraz Sunderji`s consistent performer, Toscana, entered as the favourite, the betting tides shifted dramatically towards Mi Arion, who had undergone meticulous preparation and displayed a notable effort against Arbitrage earlier in the season.

The strategic placement of bets proved wise as Mi Arion, under the skilful guidance of jockey Pradeep Chouhan, unleashed a remarkable burst of speed in the final furlong, surpassing Toscana to clinch victory in the high-stakes race. Light of Life led the pack from the onset, with Toscana positioned third and Mi Arion trailing in fifth or sixth place.

As the race progressed, Light of Life maintained its lead until the final furlong, where Toscana emerged as a contender. However, Mi Arion surged into action with an impressive sprint, engaging Toscana in a fierce battle for supremacy and ultimately pulling ahead near the finish line for a convincing victory. Light of Life, unable to sustain its early pace, settled for third place.