Malesh Narredu trained Colombiana overcame a sluggish start and managed to thwart the chances of favourite Alaindair in the final stride of the race to win the 1600 metres Gr 2 M K Ajatshatru Singh Presents The Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Mumbai races. Considering the form that he was in, Alaindair was expected to overcome the sharpness of distance but he suffered a last stride defeat.

Alaindair was coming on the back of an impressive win over nine furlongs but he had a tough job on hand over a mile trip, reckoned to be too sharp for his style of running especially since he had been campaigned mostly over longer trips. Myrtlewood who had fared disastrously at Pune was a danger no doubt if she regained form on her favourite track like she did last year after a poor campaign at Bangalore. Colombiana was always a game performer even though he had developed a tendency to lose ground at the start. The strong pace and the fact that he recovered lost ground swiftly was principally responsible for his victory albeit by a whisker.

Apache was the designated pace-make and he set a decent clip with Myrtlewood in the second position followed by B Fifty Two, Booker Jones, Magnificence, Alaindair and Colombiana who was tailed off last. Jockey Trevor moved up on Myrtlewood approaching the final bend with Srinath too getting busy on Alaindair while Sandesh waited with Colombiana to exploit the short dash that his horse is blessed with. Myrtlewood put up stiff resistance all the way in the straight but Alaindair measured the front-runner inside the final 100 metres but he could not breathe easy as Colombiana came up with a dangerous assault. Though Alaindair fought strongly, Colombiana snatched the verdict in the bobbing of heads in an absorbing finish. Myrtlewood was a length behind in the third position. The filly no doubt has shown significant improvement in her performance since the disappointing efforts at Pune.

Karthik Ganapathy trained Star Councillor had a decisive edge in the 1400 metres Edgar Desylva Trophy, a race for horses rated 53 to 79, as he had run a fair race in the Golconda 2000 Guineas and was taking on a modest lot of horses. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan had Star Councillor lead from the start but inside the final furlong, the front-runner began to falter. Charging Tigress who has always proved a handful whenever she has put her best foot forward devoured ground and easily collared the front-runner in the shadow of the post to win by a shade less than a length at the finish. Celtic Prince was third while Avant Garde was a non-starter having been withdrawn on veterinary grounds. Khayyam ran an unsettled race and was a beaten cause well before the race came on the boil.

Faisal Abbas trained Abbey had been consistent, having figured on board in all her previous five runs. She had a good chance of winning the 1000 metres Jehangir P Dubash Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 even though Double Nine was the more fancied of the two. In their head to head clash last time out, Abbey had finished third while Double Nine was fifth. As such, Abbey had the advantage though the filly had always shown a tendency to falter at the busy end. This time out, Suraj Narredu had Abbey little more in restraint and though the filly looked vulnerable when Double Nine essayed a strong challenge, she had some reserve in hand to pull away for a comfortable win. Lady Danehill nosed out Maduro for the third place.

Pesi Shroff-trained Normandy had run thrice and figured on board on all the occasions. Normandy had been steadily coming into form and looked ready for a bold show in the 1800 metres Uttam Singh Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Trevor had Normandy lead all the way and the progeny of Footstepsinnthesand had no problem in staying clear of Sabiq to record a comfortable win. Sovereignsky ran on to finish third ahead of Flashing Honour.

Pesi Shroff-trained Nifty hadn`t run for 402 days and this was the reason perhaps she was quoted at nourishing odds, with the focus of betting on Glorious Eyes in the 1600 metres Municipal Commissioner`s Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Parmar had Nifty race in a handy position as Jazzmyn did all the front-running. Inside the final furlong, Nifty stormed ahead and had no problem in staving off the late rally of Joss. Glorious Eyes was a bad let down.

N Lagad trained Timeless Deeds brought off a win in the 1400 metres N M Irani Trophy, a race for maiden two-year-olds at long odds. Timeless Deeds shot ahead with a furlong left in the race and established a useful lead which held the filly in good stead. Favourite Zanara ran green and took a while to warm up but by the time the filly produced a powerful burst, the front-runner was near the winning post. The long shot escaped to victory by a long neck. Gold Bend was third.

Lagad`s another ward Royal Sapphire won the day`s opener, the 1000 metres Conrad Pereira Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, also at big odds. Royal Sapphire who has never been a model of consistency engaged front-running Alfredo in a stiff tussle for supremacy all the way in the final furlong before getting the nod in the final moments of the race. Mt Tianmen was nowhere to be spotted at the busy ned. Tinogona snatched the third place from Ventura by a whisker.