The competitive spirit is an endangered species at the races these days—except for the occasional outlier. Most races limp into existence thanks to ‘friendly` entries, where the usual suspects show up more out of routine than any real ambition. And if it`s a race for top-rated horses, you can pretty much predict the script: the same cast, the same drama, with only a couple of runners actually meaning business.

Enter the 1600m R N Kanga Trophy, the so-called feature event of Thursday, which featured (if that`s the right word) a grand total of five runners, the main trophy event of Thursday`s Mumbai races. Among them, Coeur De Lion, Rasputin, and Son Of A Gun turned up like seasoned extras in a never-ending soap opera—showing up, going through the motions, and leaving without any expectation of a lead role. The actual contest was expected to be between M K Jadhav`s Mojito—who, despite a year-long dry spell, remained somewhat dependable—and Golden Kingdom, who had been globe-trotting over distances like a confused tourist. Last time, Golden Kingdom stretched out to 2400m and nearly won; now, he had to recalibrate for a mile, which is about as easy as switching from a marathon to a sprint without pulling a muscle. Despite this, Mojito was the betting favourite, largely because he wasn`t the one returning from a long-distance expedition.

When the gates flew open, Coeur De Lion, apparently feeling ambitious, took it upon himself to lead the charge. Golden Kingdom followed in a polite second, trailed by Son Of A Gun, Mojito, and the perpetually tardy Rasputin, who continues to believe that races begin on his schedule. But the real fun began when Akshay Kumar decided Golden Kingdom had loitered long enough. The son of Kingda Ka surged ahead, leaving Mojito scrambling to locate his missing acceleration. By the time Mojito realized he was in a race, the contest was over. Golden Kingdom coasted home without needing much encouragement, Mojito salvaged second place as a consolation prize, and Son Of A Gun, showing rare enthusiasm, grabbed third under Dashrath Singh—who, incidentally, had been spending his winter season in England, possibly getting used to slower tempos.

Meanwhile, in the 1200m A F S Talyarkhan Salver for three-year-olds, Aman Altaf Hussain`s Fourth Wing arrived with solid credentials, having run decently in the Breeders` Produce Stakes. Bee Magical, impressive in her last outing, also commanded attention in the betting ring. Jockey Trevor Patel took no chances, sending Fourth Wing to the front and daring the rest to catch up. Bee Magical searched for that elusive ‘extra gear` but must have left it in the paddock. Wings of Fury, living up to half of her name, made a late dash but fell just short of second place, allowing Fourth Wing to pocket the win without much fuss.

When Pesi Shroff sends out a strongly backed favourite, it`s usually a case of "thank you for coming, better luck next time" for the rest of the field. And Zacharias, armed with solid preparation and a forward run under his belt, was no exception in the 1400 metres Sir Charles Forbes Trophy, a race for three-year-old maidens.

Jockey Vivek G kept things interesting—holding Zacharias in fourth or fifth, perhaps just to toy with the opposition. Meanwhile, Rosalia seized the moment and shot ahead, probably thinking she had a chance. But the moment Vivek nudged Zacharias into gear, it was all over in a blink. The colt produced an electrifying turn of foot which floored the opponents. The four-length margin at the finish was more of a courtesy to his rivals and with a smart time to boot. If this performance is anything to go by, Zacharias is going places—far ahead of his competitors, at the very least.

As for the battle for the minor places, Caradoc bravely held off Abhyankar and Tyrannus as the trio scrambled across the line in an indecisive mess, making it clear they were merely there to fill the frame.

Meanwhile, over in the 1200 metres T M Goculdas Plate, Shazaan Shah-trained Credence treated her opposition like an afterthought, racking up her fourth win in six starts in the hands of apprentice Aditya Waydande. Punters backed her with confidence, and she repaid them by turning the race into a mere formality.

There was hardly any need for suspense—Credence exploded out of the gates and put the race to bed long before her so-called rivals even warmed up. By the time they figured out what was happening, she was already four lengths clear, making a mockery of the field. Spanish Eyes took second, while Aperol followed along, collecting valuable stake money for bothering to show up.

The 1400 metres Edgar Desylva Salver, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, saw Faisal Abbas-trained Medusa receive exclusive betting support—as if she had cast a spell over the punters. And rightfully so. With Sandesh in the saddle, she bolted to the front and made it clear she had no intentions of letting anyone else into the script. By the time they hit the final furlong, she had built a lead wide enough to park a bus.

Adhirajsingh Jodha`s Fable did his best to turn the fairytale into reality, but apprentice jockey Bharath Singh`s finishing effort did not yield the desired results. He gave it a late push but ultimately had to settle for second, falling short by a neck. Alexandria ran on with the enthusiasm of a student forced to submit an assignment—showing up, doing the bare minimum, and claiming third without making any real impact.

The 1200 metres Narayandas J Dave Plate, featuring the lowest-rated horses, promised unpredictability—and it delivered. Lion King, heavily backed as the favourite, had a royal meltdown at the gates, rearing up just as the race started and effectively ruling himself out before it even began. So much for ruling the jungle.

That left the 12-year-old Untitled—a battle-worn veteran from Antia`s yard—to lead with youthful enthusiasm (or at least, the best a 12-year-old could muster). Apprentice Bharath Singh had the old boy rolling in front, and for a brief moment, it seemed like the grandpa of the field would pull off a stunning upset. But the finishing post just wouldn`t come fast enough.

Sorrento Secret, who had spent 19 previous starts mastering the art of losing, finally decided to rewrite his destiny. Under A Prakash, the long shot swooped in late to snatch victory, proving that perseverance (and probably a bit of luck) pays off. Between Friends ran on strongly to grab third, but by then, the damage was done.