The K M Munshi Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, the feature event of Thursday’s Mumbai races served up a two-horse thriller, a Stewards’ Room spectacle, and enough drama to power the day’s proceedings. Golden Dancer, trained by Dallas Todywalla, lost the race on the track but won it in the boardroom after jockey Sandesh’s objection against Trevor Patel on Tiepolo was upheld. With Land of Plenty opting out at the gates, the reduced field still managed to deliver chaos, controversy, and entertainment in equal measure.

With Land of Plenty deciding at the gates that he had plenty enough for the day, the field shrank to a three-horse drama because nothing says chaos like fewer runners. Golden Dancer led from the start, Tiepolo joined him late, and the two proceeded to race close enough to file a joint tax return. Sandesh protested that the interference cost him the race.

Now, here’s where the plot thickened like old gravy: all three Stipes called for upholding the objection, and brace yourself, all three Stewards unanimously upheld it. For once, everyone agreed. In racing, that is the equivalent of a solar eclipse: rare, dramatic, and guaranteed to cause arguments afterward. Since Tiepolo had indeed rolled, the Stewards handed the cup to Golden Dancer.

Pesi Shroff didn’t have long to brood over Tiepolo’s demotion. His two-year-old Jaandaar produced a debut so polished it might as well have arrived with a red carpet. In the 1000m Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (VI) Bart Trophy, favourite Lucky Diamond, from a yard that treats early-season juvenile wins like taboo, went missing.

Mother’s Gift tried to give Trevor a headache by lugging out in the final furlong, forcing him to switch Jaandaar to the rails. The youngster responded like he'd been waiting for that exact invitation and stormed away to score by over four lengths. Phantom Strike followed, while Mother’s Gift faded but kept third. Lucky Diamond, meanwhile, remained untroubled mainly because he was never troubled to show up.

Trainer Narender Lagad struck through Storm Cloud, who brought his decent Pune form along to win the 1200m Dr Jagjit Singh Trophy. Silver Strike received the punters’ affection, but Avinash Paswan on Storm Cloud went straight to the front and switched on cruise control. Applause chased bravely but could only give exactly that, while Escape Velocity found his own velocity insufficient at the post. Silver Strike disappeared from contention early in the race.

The 1600m Rajasthan Royal Plate offered more entertainment. Merchant of Venice, the strong favourite, losing the race before it began. All For Love nearly stole the show, but Pristine Glory, flashing late under C S Jodha, timed it better and swept past close home. Allez L’etoile was third.

Owner Jaydev Mody had reason to smile early in the day with two long-priced winners. The first, Cornerstone, trained by Pradeep Chouhan, led early and then pulled away from favourite Alexandria, who responded to the challenge with all the urgency of a leisurely evening stroll. Baleno was third, while Whatsinaname, running after a long break, made no impact whatsoever, other than reminding everyone that layoffs matter.

Mody’s double was completed by Harrison, trained by Bahram Cama, who bossed the 2000m Aristos Plate. Harrison found the front, quickened, and left the favourite Miracle of Hanukha chasing shadows. Little John did what he could for third, but there was only one horse in this picture.

The Bejean Bhaurcha Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, saw Adonis live up to expectations by winning a tight three-horse finish. Impulsive tried to run away with it from the start, but Adonis arrived late with designs of his own. Between Friends tried to join the party but got there one neck too late to matter.