Malesh Narredu trained Maximus who had run in superior company, found the drop in the quality of the opposition helpful as he held off the late challenge of Moon Shadow to win the 1400 metres Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of concluding day`s Mumbai Racing Season held on Sunday. Jockey Trevor Patel had a glorious season, taking his tally to 66 with a brace of winners.

The long winding season came to conclusion with the last of the four races being held under flights. The response to racing under lights at Mumbai has been impressive but there are measures to be taken that the increased attendance means higher collection for the club to at least even out the costs of conducting racing in the night.

Maximus had run in elite company and the opposition he was taken on was nothing compared to the one he had run in recent times. The only question mark about his prospects was the ability of apprentice jockey G Santosh to handle him as the scope for margin for error was very little. However, Santosh managed to get a clear run inside the final 300 metres even if he went across Moon Shadow in the process. Maximus quickened immediately and opened up a big lead. By the time Moon Shadow could maneuver his way from the last position, he had already conceded ground which was difficult to bridge. Maximus won by a shade less than two lengths. Victorious March which ran ahead of the field along with Star Trainer for most part of the trip, stayed on to claim the third slot. Jockey Ashad Asbar who rode the runner up put an objection against Santosh who rode the winner for interference which cost him the race. The Stewards overruled the objection stating that it had made no difference to the outcome of the result and at the same time terming the interference as careless on the part of the winning jockey.

The super fit Sweeping Star had gone down narrowly in his previous outing and hence looked to have an excellent chance of making amends in the 1400 metres Season Ending Juvenile Million, a race for three year olds. At the jump out, Pink Panther wobbled causing his jockey Dashrath to be unseated. Jockey Neeraj Rawal, in order to hit the front, very nearly undid his chances as he was unmindful of the horse running across without the jockey and in the process he bumped the rideless horse. Sweeping Star then went ahead and then led by lengths. At one point in the straight, she looked vulnerable when Warpath closed up and looked menacing. However, Sweeping Star fought back and won with a measure of comfort. Dancing Lord finished on late edging out Warpath from the runner up berth.

Adhiraj Jodha trained debutant Speed of Sound came in for sustained support in the 1200 metres Jockeys Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds while the odds on favourite Miracle of Mercy eased. Espada led from the start and refused to budge from there. With Benezeer hemming in Speed of Sound, it looked like the well backed runner was in trouble. However, Benezeer rolled out which helped Speed of Sound to shoot through. In doing so, Speed of Sound momentarily came in front of Benezeer before skipping clear. Speed of Sound won with a measure of comfort while Benezeer managed to edge out Espada in the waning yards of the race to get the runner up berth. Jockey Sandesh tried to move one more place up when he put an objection against Kavraj Singh for interference which was unanimously overruled. The lower division of the race went the way of the experienced Itscaro who towered over the opposition. The big volume of betting on first timer Enthralling ensured decent odds on Itscaro who had no issue in overtaking Enthralling in the straight and record a handsome win. Kickboxer ran on to take the runner up berth ahead of the well beaten Enthralling.

Subhag Singh trained Ad Astra was strongly backed to come up with a repeat winning performance but the favourite did not produce that bit extra after shaping like a winner in the 1800 metres Racing Officials Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Magic In The Air who was strongly fancied to pull it off, loitered at the wrong end of the field till entering the straight. Magic In The Air was lucky to get all the spaces along the inside as he shot into the lead with a furlong left in the race. Ad Astra tried hard to close up but fell short by a whisker in the end. Sabiq ran prominently to finish a close third.

The drifting odds may have dissuaded a few punters from taking a shot at Pure Bliss in the 1400 metres Alvida Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Trevor Patel, who was in sublime form this season, had no problem in bringing Pure Bliss into contention inside the final 200 metres. Pure Bliss quickened well and had no problem in edging out the well fancied Coley to land the spoils. Sindbaad narrowly missed the second spot. Awesome Knight was strongly backed to win the lower division of the race without any apparent surface form and he let down huge expectations. Nigella who was beaten close home last time out, made amends by hitting the front on turning for home and storming clear to keep himself at a safe distance from the rest. Glorious Regime was second ahead of Arsenal.

The concluding race of the season was a million sponsored by Audi for horses rated 40 to 66. Top Trainer was the overwhelming favourite to win but the one who nearly pulled it off was owner mate Quest For Love who shot ahead with 200 metres left in the race. Last start winner Gold Bag came home with a big run and managed to edge past the front runner in the dying moments of the race. Beyond Horizons too lived up to his name, literally sprouting from nowhere but his effort came too late in the day to make a difference to the outcome of the race.