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Malesh Narredu trained Gallantry bounced back to winning ways after 333 days in the 1600 metres Gold Star Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, the feature event of Thursday’s Mumbai races. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan had to extract a second wind from Gallantry to stave off the challenge of Sunrise Ruby who flattered to deceive.
The market preferred Rhapsody and Sunrise Ruby ahead of Gallantry who had failed to maintain his juvenile form though his last run was suggestive that over a mile-long trip, he could be a different customer. Rhapsody played up at the gates and was withdrawn from the fray. Pradeep Chouhan took Gallantry on a start to finish mission with Sunrise Ruby in about the third position fighting for her head. Inside the final furlong, Sunrise Ruby made a strong move along the rails and even headed for a few strides before Gallantry fought back and pulled off a comfortable win in the end. Revelator ran on to take the third position.
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Shazaan Shah trained Joaquin recorded an encore with a start to finish effort in the 1200 metres Jimmy Bharucha Trophy, a race for three-year-olds. Sandesh had no hesitation in taking Joaquin to the front from the word go and the progeny of Saamid stayed put there comfortably. Leopard Rock made an aggressive effort in the hands of jockey Suraj Narredu but found the front-runner too good for comfort. Soaring High got past Sky Fall to save place money. Articulate reportedly burst his blood vessels.
Malesh Narredu trained North Winds who was running after 235 days was surprisingly backed to the exclusion of the rest in the 1400 metres Behram A Engineer Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. North Winds had run second to Speaking of Stars during the summer season and had missed the entire Pune season and was seen on the track with serious workouts only in recent times. After Clark Kent led the field into the straight, Mount Mariah who had made steady progress from the wide outside shot ahead with a furlong left in the race and bounced clear to win by a widening margin of three lengths over late finishing Oui Sauvage and Mikalya’s Pride. North Winds was not spotted to have any chance.
S S Shah trained Flying Dragon found the company in the 1600 metres, a race for horses in the lowest category a modest one and could find the winning mark again. The eight-year-old Flying Dragon tracked the front-running Highdare deep into the stretch and then overhauled the front-runner inside the final 100 metres and won by a shade over two lengths. Arizona Pie edged out Brianna to get the third position. Paolita who came in for good support struggled from the beginning to keep pace and finished in the ruck.
Super Mario who is yet to break the maiden’s ranks despite running for 10 times was made the strong favourite to win the 1200 metres Royal Deeds Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Super Mario was never in the hunt. Highland Lass who had the services of David Allan on the last occasion had benefitted by the good lung opener as she led all the way and won the race with ease at long odds in the hands of apprentice jockey Kaviraj. Thomas Hardy nosed out the late rallying Grand Architect to get the runner-up berth.
The long wait of 552 days for the opportune time for Adhiraj Jodha trained Adams Beginning came in the lower division of the 1200 metres Six Speed Plate, a race for horses rated 4 to 30. Adams Beginning had the form to be the favourite ahead of Solo Mission. The latter had won last time out but more often than not, lost considerable ground at the start itself which put paid to his hopes. Once again Solo Mission was stranded in the gates. Long shot Arabian Muktar who had no form to go by led from the start and refused to budge from there. Adams Beginning had to struggle to overhaul the front-runner all the way in the final furlong before succeeding in the closing strides of the race. Principessa held off late rallying Sandra’s Secret by a whisker to save place money. Lesser fancied Twinspire from the stables of trainer Imtiaz Sait was ridden out aggressively by apprentice jockey A S Peter to win the upper division of the race. Blazing Bay led in front from the start and held on resolutely before Twinspire pulled off a thrilling win in the waning yards of the race. Favourite Golden Steal showed intent but didn’t quicken enough to make a difference to the outing and had to settle for the third place.
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Adams Beginning (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Six Speed Plate (Div-II)
Gallantry (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Gold Star Plate
Joaquin (A Sandesh up) winner of the Jimmy Bharucha Trophy
Flying Dragon (A S Peter up) winner of the Assert The Right Plate
Highland Lass (P S Kaviraj up) winner of the Royal Deeds Plate
Mount Moriah (David Egan up) winner of the Behram A Engineer Cup
Twinspire (A S Peter up) winner of the Six Speed Plate (Div-I)
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