The six-month long Mumbai Racing Season ended on Sunday with a card of nine events. Adhiraj Jodha trained Sumo won the day’s feature event, the Bennett Coleman-Procam Gold Cup, a seven furlong race for maiden three year olds. If one were to go with Chairman Vivek Jain’s assertions, this was a season which set record of sorts for sponsorships, gala functions, attendances, tote collections et al. Several controversies dogged the season and most of which were self-inflicted and this did much damage to the harmony of the club, with faction fighting coming to the fore more than the action on the turf. Racing will shift to Pune and action re-starts in July, with politics of the club sure to taking centrestage during the four month long season.

Coming back to racing action, the feature event had an open look about it with Amitayus who had run a noteworthy second last time out, getting more support than the rest. Jewelled was also among fancied runners while Mighty King who had run a suggestive third last time out, losing supporters as it invariably happens with horses belonging to this stable. He showed no progress over the previous effort and was a poor fourth. Sumo who led all the way held off the belated charge of Snow Mountain to land the spoils. Amitayus showed some flourish but could only finish third.

The Racing Officials Trophy, a six furlong race for horses rated 20 to 46, was run in two divisions. Mansoor Shah trained Star Treasure brought the curtain down on the season by producing a shock result in the upper division of the race. Emerging Star held the fort till overhauled by Star Treasure in the final furlong and the longest priced winner of the day held off the late rally made by eight year old Golden Spurs who covered huge leeway to end up an impressive second ahead of long-time leader Emerging Star. There was some support for full brother to Moonlight Romance, Jewels of the Hill who was making his debut as a four year old but he made no show. Incidentally, trainer Mansoor Shah had been suspended earlier in the season for the inconsistent running of the same horse and the five year old repeated his act in the race named as the Racing Officials Trophy!

Imtiaz Sait trained Crimson And Clover had shown out in her debut run over five furlongs as a four year old. On that occasion, she had lost ground at the start but was full of running at the finish and had covered acres of land. Now backed spiritedly over six furlongs in the lower division of the Racing Officials Trophy, the well-bred Crimson And Clover raced in about fourth position, jockey N Jodha having to urge the filly to keep up the momentum. Once she got into the stride in the final furlong, she literally steamrolled the opposition and won by a widening margin of five lengths over Reckless Romeo and the rest. The filly should make rapid progress on the handicap scale at Pune.

The day began with a huge upset with Star Goddess who had achieved a hat-trick of wins and last outing winner Salt being strongly supported to win the 1000 metres Ramjet Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Like it has happened with amazing regularity, 10 to 1 shot Mountain Regiment, sporting the same colours of Star Goddess hit the front and bolted away to record an easy win. It was not that Mountain Regiment was winning out of turn. The four year old was bidding to do a hat-trick.

Asad Siddiqui led in his first winner through Calypso Queen after two runners- up efforts. Now backed to the exclusion of the rest, jockey Sandesh had Calypso Queen lead all the way and win with ease from Blades of Glory. Sandesh had a rewarding day as he booted home the winner of next two races as well.

Despite letting down his supporters with consistency, Star Empire was again fancied strongly to win the 1400 metres Alvida Plate especially since trainer Antia had complained against jockey Sandesh for not riding to his satisfaction when the horse had finished second best. However, the drifting odds was a clear indication that he may find the going tough. Sandesh had Rule Forever dictate the pace and managed to neck out owner mate of Star Empire, Limitless Hills who came menacingly close but found the winning post coming too soon.

Royal Crest who had lost a possible winning chance last time out after receiving a check approaching the final bend, had no problem in dictating the pace and winning with comfort over the extended trip of a mile in the hands of Sandesh. Guernica chased the front runner in vain.
The 1000 metres Valetta Plate appeared very competitive with at least three runners having a chance of pulling it off. Viva La Diva made a profitable charge from the start and won quite capably from Native Lady who showed brief aggression which she could not sustain. Favourite Starlight Magic ran on to finish a tame third.

Sanjay Kolse trained Etesian had won towards the fag end of the Pune season and the filly repeated her winning performance in the 1600 metres Clifden Plate. After racing a handy third, Etesian got past Unknown Rebel in the straight and had no problem in containing the challenge of favourite Octopaul who rolled in under pressure. Ibis was never in the hunt while finishing a poor third.