Imtiaz Sait trained New England who had given an uncharacteristic performance over a mile in a terms race, found the handicap company much to his liking as he swamped the opposition in taking style to win the 1400 metres Mathradas Goculdas Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of evening races held at Mumbai on Thursday.

New England was quoted at unbackable odds as his win was taken for granted against opposition which lacked quality and will to fight. After Ship Rock led the field into the straight and weakened, Congressional took charge for a while. Trevor Patel who had relaxed New England in the rear till deep into the straight, let the favourite to do the task on hand and the progeny of Arazan easily devoured ground and stretched away from the opposition for an emphatic win over Congressional. Ship Rock ran way below expectations when finishing a dismal third.

M K Jadhav trained Uncle Scrooge profited from the lacklustre performance of fancied rivals and won the 1600 metres Aziz H Ahmedbhoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, against the run of expectations. Daffodil who was strongly backed to win was outpaced in the straight and struggled when the pace warmed up.

Daffodil who had placed in a classic and had the experience of running in good company was installed the firm favourite. Daffodil led from the start but on entering the straight, was easily collared by Bold March who then went sailing clear to raise visions of a win for his supporters. However, Uncle Scrooge who was loitering in the rear, suddenly warmed up to the task and measured the front-runner with a furlong to go and won the race with a measure of comfort. Daffodil battled on and wrested the second place from a tiring Bold March.

Pesi Shroff trained Lord of the Sea recorded an encore as a strong favourite. Running as odds-on favourite in the 2400 metres Londonderry Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, Lord of the Sea took a long while in the straight to get into his rhythm. Under a strong ride by Welsh jockey David Probert, Lord of the Sea responded well and got the measure of Sussex Pride inside the final 150 metres and then skipped clear to record an easy win. Sussex Pride stayed put to keep the challenge of Harmony at bay to take the second spot.

Faisal Abbas trained Clymene had recorded a runaway win at Pune and then flopped against superior company. Now running against modest opposition in the 1000 metres Star Crowned Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, Clymene travelled a handy second well into the straight before storming clear of the opponents for an easy win. Tenerife battled off the challenge of Pricelessgirl to take the runner-up berth. In what appeared an open type of betting, Shiraz Sunderji trained Wilshire came up with a late charge in the hands of jockey Trevor to land the spoils in the lower division of the race as a fancied runner. The well backed Captain shaped to win by was caught up with and overhauled in the closing moments of the race. Speedo was third.

Sunderj’s Beshiktash had run a suggestive race over a shorter trip last time out and that run indicated that all was well with the progeny of Phoenix Tower. Though the four-year-old gelding did not attract big volume of money in the betting ring, there were enough indications that the horse would be a serious contender over the extended trip of seven furlongs. Beshiktash came into strong contention with about 300 metres left in the race when he showed intent and fought off a resolute battle with Renato to gain the lead close home for a win at nourishing odds.

Narendra Lagad trained Art O War hit the front from the word 'go’ in the 1000 metres Astral Flash Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class, and had no problem in thwarting the strong bid of favourite Blazing Steps. Sparkling Thea ran on to finish third.