Pesi Shroff trained Northern Lights defied his handicapping rating when he easily overcame the challenge of higher-rated horses in the 1600 metres Gr 3 A C Ardeshir Trophy, a race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Mumbai races. The results did not go to the expectation of the punters who mistook the mirage for the real thing. Like it has always happened, whenever two horses of the same stable run in a race with good jockeys in the saddle, invariably the higher-priced horse wins.

Presidential was the horse fancied most as the four-year-old had been on the upgrade and had placed in the classics. However, Presidential ran way below expectations, trailed the field for the most part and when the race came to the boil, he had no spark left in him and finished a dismal last. Northern Lights who had a few wins to his credit was allowed to enjoy a soft lead in the front and this proved crucial. The unfancied runner in front and the strongly fancied one at the back present a confusing scenario for the other jockeys especially in India as they tend to race keeping the threat in mind instead of racing to the strengths of their own horses. In a race that was run to the liking of Northern Lights with nobody troubling him in front, Northern Lights enjoyed a healthy lead all through and skipped away in the stretch to record an easy by a margin of three lengths in the hands of jockey Trevor Patel. The higher-rated Flying Visit, Giant Star and Sultan Suleiman finished behind rather tamely without even putting a semblance of a fight.

The punters were caught in a similar situation in the 1400 metres Amateur Riders Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Pesi Shroff trained Alastair who had been campaigned over longer trips was the firm favourite with stablemate Kinnara, who was the last start winner, assigned to apprentice jockey Kritish Bhagat being available at fancy odds. Imtiaz Sait trained Remus appeared to have covered the opposition when he shot ahead with a furlong left in the race but the late rally of Kinnara put paid to the hopes of jockey Anthony Raj who was astride the runner up. Remus held off pure to finish second. Favourite Alastair was a poor fourth. The deserving horse won the race but the confusion of intent is what confounds a punter who generally tends to go where the money flows.

Vinesh trained Nothing To Worry was an impressive winner of the last start and went to the post in the 1200 metres K M Munshi Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, with as a good chance as the more fancied Birkin Blower and Queen O War. Sky Fall led the field into the final furlong and at this stage, Nothing To Worry moved with big strides and essayed a strong challenge. Nothing To Worry got stronger close to home with Sky Fall weakening. Queen O War came up with a late rally but ran out of real estate and had to be satisfied with the third slot. Birkin Blower was never with any realistic chance.

The day`s proceedings began with a long shot from Faisal Abbas` yard, Fortune Teller winning against the run of expectations beating the challenge of another long-shot Sufiyah to win the Aristos Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Fancied Pepper and Dragoness made no chess. Many racegoers believe that if the first race of the day is won by a long shot, the rest of the day`s proceedings would prove more challenging than anticipated and winner picking would be a tougher proposition. It proved so though the lower division of the race went according to the script with strong favourite Lit from the stables of M K Jadhav producing a powerful run in the final furlong to get the better of long shot Moment of Madness. Kardashian nosed out Carlos to save place money.

Shazaan Shah trained Candescent Star had let down on a few occasions as a strongly backed runner but obliged this time out in the 1600 metres W Buckley Plate, a race for horses rated in the lowest category. The mile long-distance suited the late warmer as Trevor brought Candescent Star with a well-timed run to swoop on the front-runners. Candescent Star covered the leeway swiftly and sailed clear in the closing stages of the race to record an easy win. Spiritual Rock showed out in the final furlong but failed to sustain and had to be satisfied with the second position ahead of the fancied Vikramaditya.

Altaf Hussain trained Magileto came in for one-sided support in the 1000 metres Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw Memorial Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds and had no problem in winning by a widening margin of eight lengths against a backward lot of horses. Trevor Patel was astride the winner. Volare ran on late to neck out Weronika to get the runner-up berth.

After twice finishing third, Key To The Mint found the opposition in the 2000 metres Kejriwal Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, meek for comfort. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan took Key To The Mint to the front and the fancied runner enjoyed the uncontested lead and went past the post comfortably ahead of last start winner Ladida and Sun Salvatore. Jubilant Journey who came in for big support failed to justify the favouritism and was a beaten cause all the way in the stretch.

M K Jadhav trained Mogito had no problem in beating the opposition pointless in the 1000 metres Southern Command Gold Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Mogito chased Tyrone Black deep into the straight before breaking clear in the final furlong to win with a great deal of ease in the hands of jockey N S Parmar. Favourite Malchite ran without hope and was a poor third.