Sandesh`s power-packed riding enabled Excellent to pull off a thrilling win over Clymene in the 1200 metres Seth Ramnath Daga Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Mumbai races. Excellent who was essaying a six-furlong trip for the first time in his career and also in the highest class benefitted from the pull in weights as also the experience of running against good quality horses in terms race in middle distance races and managed to record an encore.

Sandesh who had a lead of two points over Trevor Patel in the jockeys` championship stakes, extended the lead by another two points at the end of the day booting home a treble as against the solitary success achieved by Trevor.

Most of the runners in the fray for the feature event were well matched and a such a close contest was only to be expected. The Dallas Todywalla trained Excellent, Gazino and Clymene were all fancied to be in the thick of things. Clymene who led the field from the start had a good break going into the final furlong when Excellent began to make his bid. Gazino and Holy Smoke too began to gain ground from behind. Clymene looked like just about managing to pull through but Excellent, under the driving finish of Sandesh, managed to get his nostril in front for an exciting win. Gazino necked out Holy Smoke to get the third position.

Malesh Narredu trained Excellent Sorrento who had disappointed after an impressive win during the Pune season, had struck form in his last run and had won in good timing. Based on that performance, he was expected to record an encore against the more experienced Truly Epic and the rest in the 1600 metres R R Komandur Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Jockey Neeraj Rawal who had Excellent Sorrento handily placed, got busy soon after turning for home and hit the front inside the final 350 metres. The progeny of Excellent Art had a useful lead going into the final furlong and this held him in good stead as Zanzibar and Truly Epic made aggressive bids close home. Excellent Sorrento managed to prevail by half a length over Zanzibar who was a neck ahead of Truly Epic who took a lot of time to warm up in the stretch and picked up momentum when the cause was lost.

Dallas Todywalla trained Belenus who had let down huge expectations last time out, made amends when winning the 1000 meters Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Sandesh had Belenus lead from the start and the progeny of Arazan just about lasted out to win from Majestic Warrior who cause was hurt by the horse going wide under pressure. Belenus spared a neck at the finish. See The Sunrise ran on to take the third position. The lower division of the race was won by Faisal Abbas trained Whydah who made a successful start to finish bid in the hands of jockey Trevor Patel. Though Whydah looked vulnerable as Turmeric Tower essayed a strong challenge, the former pulled out that bit extra to snatch the verdict. Chepihrah who was running after a longish absence held off debutant Despacito to save place money.

Vishal Gaikwad trained Thomas Hardy had made a winning debut as a four-year-old and was backed to the exclusion of the rest to win the 1400 metres P A D`Avoine Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Thomas Hardy gave a flop show after going into the lead in the final furlong. Thomas Hardy went down without a fight when Gentillesse came home with a powerful run after working her way from behind. Thomas Hardy drifted out under pressure and made contact with Gentillesse, but the latter proved too good for the field as she skipped away after this minor hiccup. My Precious nosed out Flying Dragon to save place money.

The last race of the day saw Faisal Abbas trained Shivalik Queen being made the first favourite to win the 1000 metres Monifieth Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Pleiades put up a strong challenge before Sandesh was able to get Shivalik Queen to surge ahead in the closing stages of the race. Last start winner Red Carnation was third.

*******************

---

Excellent Sorrento (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the R R Komandur Plate

---

Whydah (Trevor Patel up) winner of the Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy (Div-II)

---

Belenus (A Sandesh up) winner of the Ahmed I Rahimtoola Trophy (Div-I)

---

Excellent (A Sandesh up) winner of the Seth Ramnath Daga Trophy

---

Gentillesse (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the P A D`Avoine Trophy

---

Shivalik Queen (A Sandesh up) winner of the Monifieth Plate

---