Golden Neil, trained by Narendra Lagad, emerged victorious in the 1600 meters R N Kanga Trophy, the highlight race for horses rated 80 and above, during Thursday's racing in Mumbai. However, the triumph was accompanied by an accusation of "careless riding" against jockey Mustakim Alam. The Stewards unanimously declared Alam guilty of the charge. Additionally, they ruled that the objection raised by the jockey of the second-placed Saqlain, who rode Rasputin, should be dismissed, as it was deemed not to have significantly impacted the race's outcome.

The statements made by the Stipendiary Stewards seem to lack coherence in their logic. Carelessness implies negligence and failure to take adequate precautions to prevent harm to others. When a jockey is accused of such a serious offence, it warrants a different perspective.

In the context of the race with only three horses, Saqlain chose to make his move along the rails as the front-runner, Coeur De Lion, began to tire. Rasputin surged ahead, but Golden Neil, gaining momentum on the wide outside, veered towards the rails, causing jockey Mustakim Alam to struggle to maintain control. This resulted in Rasputin being checked with the space having been encroached upon by the eventual winner and then having to regain momentum after coming to a standstill.

Following such an incident, horses don't immediately accelerate as their rhythm is disrupted, making the eventual winner appear more impressive. The crucial question is whether the interference impeded the progress of the horse and whether the jockey took adequate precautions.

The Stipendiary Stewards' suggestion that a jockey can be careless without facing the consequences of their actions is concerning. By endorsing such a viewpoint, the Stewards are failing to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. The infringement should be assessed based on the level of carelessness the jockey displays in failing to maintain control, rather than absolving them.

Quicker, trained by Malesh Narredu, found luck on his side in the 1200 meters Sir Charles Forbes Trophy (Div I), a race tailored for maiden three-year-olds. Despite Knight Crusader appearing dominant in the final furlong, the horse's erratic behaviour under pressure dashed its chances as it veered out violently to the outer edge of the race track. Jockey Yash Narredu, displaying unwavering determination on Quicker, capitalized on Anthony Raj's struggles to maintain Knight Crusader's course. This turn of events transformed a potential defeat for Quicker into a victorious outcome.

Although Aperol mounted a strong challenge, Quicker's fought spiritedly to retain the lead despite looking vulnerable. Knight Crusader, despite encountering difficulties, managed to secure third place, salvaging some reward from the race.

Shambala, under the charge of trainer Nazak Chenoy, caught the eye with a remarkable second-place finish in his last essay, establishing him as the frontrunner for the lower division of the Sir Charles Forbes Trophy for three-year-olds. Jockey Imran Chisty took charge, positioning Shambala at the forefront from the outset. Once in the lead, Shambala maintained a commanding position, racing freely without any challengers and won by a widening margin of five lengths. With no one to impede his stride, Shambala surged ahead convincingly, crossing the finish line well ahead of Trillionaire, who chased relentlessly but ultimately without hope. Thundering Phoenix secured third place in the race.



In the 1600 meters R R Komandur Plate, an event catering to horses rated 20 to 46, Mighty Wings, trained by Hosidar Daji, showcased her prowess after experiencing interference in her previous outing, which had hindered her chances. Despite facing a stiff challenge from the second favourite, she surged ahead for a commanding victory over Coin Empress. Initially, Coin Empress was the favoured contender, but significant support shifted towards Mighty Wings as the race approached, making her the heavily backed favourite at post-time.

Jockey Mustakim Alam, known for his collaboration with trainer Lagad, typically adopts a front-running style, albeit with some constraints, as he often exerts his horse early, expending valuable energy. Coin Empress, starting from an outside draw, took the lead, prompting the jockey of Mighty Wings to manoeuvre defensively to avoid any potential clipping the front-runner, given the front-runner's drift towards the rails.

While Coin Empress maintained her lead well into the homestretch, it became evident that Mighty Wings, engaged in a tussle for dominance with the frontrunner, would ultimately emerge victorious. In the end, Mighty Wings secured a comfortable triumph over Coin Empress, with Zarafat making a late surge to claim the third position.

In the 1800 meters J V Shukla - Ashwamitra Plate, designed for horses rated 40 to 66, Pesi Shroff trained Angelo obliged huge expectations. Initially, Giant King held favouritism, but as race time approached, Angelo's odds shortened significantly, making him a strong second favourite. Under the guidance of jockey Yash Narredu, Giant King assumed his customary front-running position, trailed by Eaton Square, Angelo, and the remainder of the field. Big Red, as anticipated, got off to a slow start.

As Angelo sought to advance along the rails, the congested space prompted a switch-out manoeuvre due to Giant King's encroachment. Unfortunately, jockey Vivek G struggled to contain Angelo's outward drift, resulting in the horse racing close to the edge of the outer track. Despite this deviation, Angelo displayed remarkable prowess, comfortably overtaking Giant King to secure a victory that garnered enthusiastic support from bettors. Big Red made a late charge to claim third place, with Eaton Square fading to fourth as the race progressed.

Imtiaz Sait, the trainer of Dexa, had high hopes as Dexa aimed for a hat-trick victory, making him the clear frontrunner ahead of Irish Gold and Alpine Star in the 1400 meters P D Bolton Trophy race, tailored for horses rated 60 to 86. However, Dexa's antics at the gates led to his withdrawal from the race. Alpine Star took the lead from the outset, closely followed by Irish Gold. Jockey Akshay Kumar bided his time with Irish Gold, eventually releasing the horse's full potential in the final furlong. Irish Gold surged past Alpine Star, securing a comfortable victory. Meanwhile, Believe displayed a strong finish to edge out Charlie for the third position narrowly.

In the 1400 meters Indian Navy Trophy, designated for horses rated 40 to 66, Jockey Anthony Raj orchestrated a late surge with Liam, overtaking the favourite, Phenom, in the waning yards of the race. Whatisinaname had taken the lead in the final stretch but faced a formidable challenge from Phenom, who appeared poised for victory. However, Liam's timely burst from the outside proved decisive, clinching victory just before the finish line. Stunning Visual made a late charge to claim fourth place.

Jetfire achieved for trainer M K Jadhav what Phenom couldn't in the 1200 meters P A D’Avoine Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, marking his return to the winner's circle after a lengthy hiatus of 700 days. Despite Constable initially leading the pack by overtaking Winter Agenda, Jet Fire made a strong push from the outer track, resulting in a nail-biting finish where Jetfire clinched victory by a narrow margin. Azrinaz, heavily favoured, failed to change gear when needed most and settled for the third slot.