Pesi Shroff trained Astral Flash who was overshadowed by stablemate Jacqueline on three occasions at Mumbai, came into her own when she trounced the opposition in the Dhamaprakasha L S Venkaji Rao Memorial Cup (Div I), the feature event of Saturday’s races. The Usha Stud Farm bred got-abroad filly had the opposition stranded inside the final furlong when checking in well clear of the late rallying Atlantus in a smart time of one minute 25.58 seconds. Seven year old Jersey Pride showed zest when making the most of a weak opposition to win the lower division of the race in a convincing manner. Jersey Pride’s win came against the run of expectations as he returned a dividend of over 100 to 1 on the tote.

There was no doubting Astral Flash’s class. However, she had run below par in the Indian Derby after three runner-up efforts behind the wonder filly Jacqueline. That put a question mark as to whether she has had gone sour. She had the benefit of an easy mock race but she showed to be a different proposition on Saturday. After being held back in about the fifth position as Ashkan and Another Destiny set the pace, Astral Flash showed up on the wide outside and then left the field flat footed in the final furlong to win as she pleased from Atlantus and Einstein.

Sparkling Adventure, who had earned a bagful of wins in winter, was well supported to win though Corbett with inferior credentials was backed down with more conviction. In the event, it was rank outsider Jersey Pride who showed his old spark when leading the way and winning with something to spare form Sparkling Adventure who was undone by the fast pace set by Spot On. The Hyderabad challenger’s foray in the front was cut short by the eventual winner in the final furlong. Spot On, however, nosed out In the Zone for the third slot.

Laxman Singh trained Arya Veer recorded a smashing win in the 1400 metres Glorious Colours Plate (Div I), a race for three-year old maidens. Backed to the exclusion of his rivals, Arya Veer led all the way and then stretched away from the opposition to win by a widening margin of seven lengths over Work Forcce and Vernostonus. Arya Veer appears a good type of youngster and if he keeps his form going, he should enjoy a glorious stint back home.

Prasanna Kumar’s Spark of Atan was another impressive winner of the day. The three-year old progeny of Placerville tracked Elite Land into the straight and then assumed command to beat the opposition pointless. The favourite Athabasca Star was outpaced in the early part and when she found foot, she had too much of leeway to cover. Elite Land ended up third after a good forward run. Gluteus Maximus received big support in the ring but his effort fell woefully short of expectations.

Angelfire has been an enigmatic performer. She has not lived up to the promise she gave in her first season but nevertheless, looked a cut above the rest in the 1400 metres Speaker’s Cup. The Speaker’s Cup had always served as a lead up race for classics but this year, the field was pretty mediocre, with not a single three year old in the fray. Angelfire had no problem in staving off the challenge of Topkapi who should make amends next time out. There was a cluster finish, with just a length separating the second, third, fourth and fifth placed horses. For the record, Star Presence ran third ahead of Star Assembly.

The most impressive winner of the day was debutant Carla who won the 1200 metres Divine Light Plate in an excellent time of one minute 13.05 seconds, possibly the best by a first timer in recent times. Carla tackled the front running Foswell at the top of the straight and then went sailing clear to win by a distance. South African jockey Sampson had nothing much to do on the three year old filly who should make swift progress on the handicap scale.

The odds on Couleur Rouge drifted surprisingly in the ring but in the race itself, the filly gave no anxious moments to her supporters by easily having the measure of Moves Goodenough to claim the Bhishma Plate (Div I). The rest of the runners were stranded way behind. Rank outsider Its My Party came up with a flourish on the wide outside to edge out Art Connoisseur in the final furlong to win the lower division of the race. Favourite Amber Star was not sighted.