Altamash Ahmed trained Augustus Caesar who was running consistently got his turn in the 1200 metres Hyderabad Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Mumbai races. Iron Age who was invincible on the Mumbai track finally found his Waterloo as he was unable to concede weight and handle the furious pace of the race to eventually finish down the field. Things fell in place for August Caesar to record a win after a long gap of 434 days.

With the kind of imposing aura that Iron Age commanded, the champion sprinter from trainer Imtiaz Sait`s yard was the on-money favourite to maintain his winning ways. Joaquin who was on the upgrade had the handicap advantage to cause a flutter. But both Iron Age and Joaquin undid their chances because of the furious pace with which they raced in front. It was clear that Iron Age was not galloping the way he had done earlier and his defeat looked inevitable. However, Joaquin who shot ahead inside the final furlong could not sustain as Augustus Caesar, perhaps relishing the fast pace, came home with a big run from the rear position and swept past the front-runner. Gazino battled with Joaquin to snatch the runner-up berth.

Dallas Todywalla trained Ahead of My Time made a smashing debut in the 1200 metres Macchupicchu Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Bred as a full brother to Ruffina and Corfe Castle, Ahead of My Time should have gone to the post at cramped odds but for the fact that he had a touch of laminitis and other issues as per trainer Dallas Todywalla. Apart from Ahead of My Time, Vishal Gaikwad trained Stunning Visual came in for massive support. In the event, jockey N S Parmar who took Ahead of My Time to the front saw his mount striding clear and had won the race a long way from home. Ahead of My Time won by a distance with Jerusalem and Stunning Visual occupying the next two slots. Apart from Supernatural, Ahead of Time is another impressive debutant that we have seen thus far and both should be in the line for the Poonawalla Multi-Million scheduled for next month.

Imtiaz Sait trained Rasputin was one of the few fancied runners to oblige in the card of nine events. Rasputin was strongly backed to have a decisive say in the 1600 metres A Geddis Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Rasputin gave a scare to his supporters as jumped out slowly and veered out at the start but jockey Pradeep Chouhan steadied the horse and quickly brought him into striking position. Rasputin took over the running early in the straight and had no problem in seeing off the challenge of Empower and Arabian Phoenix who was the early pace-setter.

After an impressive win at Pune, Dallas Todywalla trained Raffaello had been a letdown. Competing against modest opposition, Rasputin in the hands of apprentice jockey Kritish Bhagat won the 1400 metres R R Komandur Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, with a start to finish dash, without coming being challenged. Monarchy was a well-beaten second ahead of Lex Luthor. The lower division of the race was won by long shot Majorella Blue from the stables of trainer Subhag Singh. In the hands of jockey Zervan, Majorella Blue made all the running and had no problem in tackling the late flurry of first-timer Rue St Honoré. Favourite Sunlord was a disappointing third.

Pesi Shroff trained Columbian failed to build on the impressive win of last time as he flopped beyond expectations in the 1200 metres Lt Col Govind Singh (VRC) Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Narendra Lagad trained Desert Fire ran aggressively in front and won with a measure of comfort. Columbian who was relaxed in the rear appeared to be travelling well within himself but when the jockey asked for an effort, the spark of last effort was missing. He just about managed to finish second, nosing out Nothing To Worry.

Nirad Karanjawalla saddled a winner after a longish break when She Is One Fire produced sparkling acceleration down the final furlong to put paid to the hopes of favourite Flash Force who was on course to obliging expectations in the 1400 metres Isn`t She Special Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 4 to 30. Seminole was third. Rank outsider Honourable Eyes brought off an upset in the lower division of the race edging out the fancied Sussing. Candescent Star who had come in for big support could do no better than finish a tame third.

Apprentice jockey Aniket Karande drove out favourite Birkin Blower to thwart the challenge of last start winner Untitled in the 1000 metres Magic Touch Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, to give some relief to the punters who put their faith in the favourites. Slam Dunk was faraway third.