Apprentice jockey Tushar Nemane who has created a fine impression by grabbing opportunities that have come his way, had a rewarding day on Saturday as he booted home a double through Diamondzip in the only trophy event of the day, the Charon Trophy (Div I). Earlier in the day he had an arm chair ride to victory on Houdini in the day’s opener. Plan B who had come in for inspired support just about held on to win the lower division of the Charon Trophy from This Ones For You.

Pesi Shroff trained Signor Sassi had won his last outing quite easily and the penalty for that win was reduced to a mere 2.5 kgs thanks to the five kg claimer Nemane declared to ride the four year old gelding. However, the odds eased a bit as Spirit of Ecstasy received sustained attention in the ring. Diamondzip who was bidding for hat-trick had his share of supporters but he went into the race at lucrative odds. Spirit of Ecstasy moved swiftly to take charge of the proceedings with Festival of Light ranging on her outside with Signor Sassi eased into third position. Nemane pushed Signor Sassi to take charge with a furlong and half left in the race and this half brother to the celebrated Rhapsidion Snow quickened nicely to establish what proved to be a winning lead. Unlike his last effort when Diamondzip had raced keen upfront, this time out, he was at the rear group which left him to cover a huge leeway on the eventual winner. Though Diamondzip came home with a big rush, the winning post came to the rescue of the front runner who saved the day by the skin of his teeth. Stuntacular was an impressive third but nothing much can be read into this run as the horses from this stable shows erratic form.

Rehanullah Khan’s This One For You had run a suggestive fourth in his last outing and he was strongly supported to win the lower division of the Charon Trophy. Plan B was another whose odds came crashing down with support for him to cause an upset firming up close to race time. Apprentice jockey Akshay had Plan B take charge right from the start and held off the late rally by This Ones For You who had to weave through a difficult passage before getting a clear run only in the final furlong. Sandesh who has had a good season, got into a patented style of always working his way through the crowded field which has often resulted in him running into road blocks.

However, he was lucky that he could get the race on Destined To Glory in the Stewards room in the 1200 metres Stone Ridge Plate. The well backed Viionist kept rolling in which hampered the progress of Destined To Glory. The horse also made contact with the other horse twice. The back view of the race made the interference look pretty serious. The objection by Sandesh against Rajendra who rode the winner was upheld by the Stewards who ruled that though the interference was accidental but it did enough damage to hurt the chances of the runner up who had lost only by half length. Limitless Hills rallied from behind to finish a noteworthy third. Favourite Ishpingo, who graced the wrong end of the field right through, covered good ground in the straight to finish fourth.

The first race saw A Jodha trained Sacre Coeur running as favourite over the mile long Samuel Nathan Plate, a race for lowest rated horses. Sacre Coeur had finished a late rallying second to Angel Tern in her last outing but prior to that run; she had finished down the field. But her runner up effort saw her being made the favourite with Chasing Memories next in demand. Last outing winner Houdini was allowed to run at lucrative odds. Nemane had Houdini lead from the start and the progeny of Placerville kept on increasing the lead to check in by a widening margin of six lengths over Tipping Point and Zorba. Sacre Coeur was not spotted at the busy end.

Pesi Shroff’s big made Big Black was the favourite ahead of Song Dynasty in the 1200 metres Stolen Kisses Plate, a race for maiden three year olds. Viva Capri played up at the gates setting a chain reaction which saw Marengo getting hurt at the gates and withdrawn. Then it was the turn of Big Black who reared and fell and was promptly withdrawn. Viva Capri was checked for soundness and stalled again. Sheer Romance showed early speed to lead the field followed by Something New while Song Dynasty who lacked speed was in about fifth position. At the final turn, Something New ran out and raced on the outer rail. Sheer Romance held the lead for quite a while but Song Dynasty who warmed to the task, covered the leeway in the final furlong and went ahead to record a comfortable win. Angel’s Mine was putting in good work at the finish but missed the runner up berth over long-time leader Sheer Romance by a whisker.

There was tremendous surge of money on Antia trained Voyager in the 1400 metres Jehan Numa Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Mumbai King did the front running till turning for home at which point the well supported last start winner Seven Seas slipped into the lead. Gibran and Voyager too joined the issue but Seven Seas proved to be overwhelmingly superior in the end. Gibran ran on to finish second ahead of late rallying Star Mountain. Despite having all the chances, Voyager failed to quicken when the race came on the boil and finished a tame fourth. Possibly, with step up in distance, he can do better.

Apart from Seven Seasons, trainer Imtiaz Sait also saddled the winner of 1200 metres K H Irani Plate through Celsius who after several disappointing efforts managed to justify favouritism by necking out Tomorrow’s Dream who was in receipt of a strange ride by Ashad Asbar. After leading from the start, Tomorrow’s Dream was passed by Celsius inside the final 300 metres and the jockey appeared to have given up and looked behind as if his horse was in some sort of distress. The horse came up a second wind and challenged the favourite again but missed the berth by a neck. To The Moon occupied the third slot.