Pesi Shroff trained Denny Crane defied penalty and recorded an impressive win in the 1200 metres Sir Charles Forbes Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Mumbai`s evening races held on Thursday. With fancied runners dominating in the seven-event card, punters had a satisfying day at the races.

Denny Crane had won his last outing in the manner of a better class horse and as such, his repeat win looked a clear possibility. On the face of it, at least half a dozen runners in the fray had as good a chance as the other but what made Denny Crane stand out was the quality of his last win which suggested that this progeny of Arazan should be backed till beaten. Trevor Patel took Denny Crane on a start to finish mission and the favourite skipped clear of Paramour who was in serious chase, to record a facile win. Undisputed took the third spot. Sydney Harbour appears to have dropped her form and ran a disappointing race. Jockey Yash Narredu who was returning to the saddle after a long absence forced by the fracture to his wrist, straightaway had a thrilling win through June who gutsily held off Rashun to win the 1600 metres Hachiko Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. June led from the start, looked vulnerable all the way in the straight as Rashun essayed a strong challenge. At the post, both these horses went past the post locked together and it was difficult to pick who was the winner. Such was the closeness of the verdict. June had prevailed by the proverbial whisker. It was only because modern day photo finish cameras separate the horses even if they are 1/100 of a fraction behind each other. In the past, such a finish would have resulted in a dead-heat being announced. Rapid Girl was a well beaten third.

Jockey T S Jodha threw away a winning opportunity on favourite Top Wizard in the 1200 metres Mischievous Trot Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Jodha elected to bring his ward along the rails in a crowded field though such methods are always fraught with danger as a slight inward drift of the front-runner will close the gap in such a manner that the horse cannot recover to win after dropping back. This is exactly what happened as Jodha tried a difficult passage and then had to drop back, pull the favourite out and make his run. All this manoeuvre cost the horse several lengths. In the meanwhile, The Big Revival who had showed out in his last effort, had slipped ahead and established a winning lead in the hands of apprentice jockey Vishal Bunde. Top Wizard`s finishing effort only served to highlight the opportunity lost. Zion was third.

Newly licensed trainer Shazaan Shah had the mortification of losing the first winner he saddled in his career when Power Shadow lost the race in the Stewards room. The Star Supreme Plate (Div I), a sprint race for horses rated 20 to 46, saw one-sided support for Power Shadow who had good Pune form. Power Shadow duly won the race but cut an erratic course in the final furlong which hampered the progress of Glorious Angel. Though the interference did not make a material difference, on a technical count, the inward drift resulted in C S Jodha astride Glorious Angel checking horse and changing course helped his cause in the Stewards room. The fact that Glorious Angel finished a shade less than a length at the finish also helped his case as the Stewards upheld the objection and relegated Power Shadow to the second position. Advance To Contact returned a good dividend on place investment. Favourite Ladislaus from the stables of Shiraz Sunderji had no worthwhile opposition to tackle in the lower division and won untroubled from Brazos and Pretty Angel. Disraeli who was running for the first time in his career, was lethargic from the gates and had no chance to recover and make his presence felt.

The benefit of a race run helped Dallas Todywalla trained Goldie`s Pet to win the 1000 metres M D Mehta Trophy, a race for maiden two-year-olds. God`s Own led for a long while in the straight before Goldie`s Pet got going and measured the front-runner in the final stages of the race. Lady Sergeant was third. Roosevelt ran green but nevertheless had a useful outing while finishing fourth.

A Jodha trained Sporto who was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the 1200 metres Damodardas C Shah Cup, a race for three-year-olds, managed to win the race thanks to inept handling by jockey Sandesh on Ice Angel. The lesser fancied runner went wide in the straight and the jockey offered no assistance to the horse despite which Ice Angel finished a close second ahead of Dubrovnik. A better-quality ride would surely have seen a different result accruing.