As the horse-racing trotted into its final week at Mahalaxmi, the race-goers’ attention was somewhat focussed on the championship fight between S. Zervan and A. Sandesh apart from the usual winner spotting business. One of trump cards which Pesi Shroff had saved for his blue-eyed boy was Port Blair. The son of Noverre out of Shanley, who is owned by partners Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, K. N. Dhunjibhoy and Berjis Minoo Desai, could not get a favourably position in the sprint race as he was badly converged upon by Celsius and Afrojack as the gates opened. Celsius meanwhile shot ahead with Astromia and Twilight joining him. As the heads turned for home, Celsius still held the advantage with Twilight trying hard to overtake him. While Twilight was unable to step up his pace, Mountain Song slipped through the shortest way home and was very much in sight of an upset victory but he caught a tartar in Port Blair. Zervan brought the chestnut gelding wide into the straight and the powerful run which Port Blair unleashed thereafter was enough to thwart Mountain Song’s intentions. Celsius stayed on in third and had Classic Ruler and Twilight close behind.

The punters had earlier suffered some colossal losses when Zervan astride Colossus was upstaged by Rehanullah Khan’s protégé Honest Pleasure (Ikhtiyar – Charlize) in the Alvida Plate. Zervan chose to play the waiting game astride Colossus on this occasion and allowed Eclipsed to make the early running. His move however didn’t pay off as Neeraj Rawal ridden Honest Pleasure launched his bid when turning for home. Colossus who had still waiting to launch his assault was clearly caught napping as Honest Pleasure stretched out well to overhaul Eclipsed and was home and dry till Colossus could prove a threat. Mountain Star and Eclipsed followed them home.

Another Sohna Stud produce returned victorious when A. Sandesh steered even-money favourite Moon Shadow (Noverre – Racy Description) to a facile maiden victory. The Mansoor Shah trained filly was off to a fluent start from the gates and Sandesh had a pretty armchair ride as her rivals were left stranded in the straight. Aged Calypso Queen ended runner-up ahead of Queens Kiss and Zoe.

Dallas Todywalla trained War Horse (Razeen – Margarita Rita) was tuned to the moment and he graduated from the maiden ranks with an easier than expected victory over his main rival Rajsamman. The latter exploited his early speed and began his bid in right earnest. He led War Horse and the rest in to the straight but started losing fuel fast. War Horse soon pounced upon Rajsamman when Trevor Patel alerted him and asserted his superiority after a brief scuffle. Sansani ended third ahead of Wasabi, whose drift in the odds suggested something amiss and the market forces were spot on as the filly hardly showed any interest in the race.

Polynesia (Razeen – Pearls of Thought) was another horse to have registered an emphatic victory during the day. The Sanjay Kolse nurtured filly, who had won just last week, made light of the 6.5kg penalty imposed on her to record an encore. Unlike the previous occasion, Polynesia was ridden off the pace as no-hopers Jen’s Glory, Danse Debonaire and Tell Me More made the front-running. Tell Me More brought the field into the straight and had Jen’s Glory, Zoltan and Il Moran in chase. Jen’s Glory wrest the initiative again but soon had Il Moran and Zoltan breathing down her neck. Il Moran headed Jen’s Glory for a fleeting moment before Polynesia was produced on the outside by Ashhad Asbar. The filly was resolute and overshadowed Il Moran in the end. Glorious Opinion and Quando Quando completed the frame. Snow Flake ran pathetically throughout and raised no hopes for his supporters at any stage of the race.

A short while earlier Asbar was seen atop Imtiaz Sait schooled Impressive Touch (Placerville – Thanksgiving), who finally succeeded in logging in her maiden win. The use of blinkers on this occasion appears to have done the trick for the filly appeared as she hit the front on this occasion and relished making her own running. She was never headed by any of her rivals over the mile-and-quarter trip. Perfect Strength ended second while the fancied duo Equinox and Cornelian finished behind.

Malesh Narredu led in a winner after a long gap when Barringo (Alnasr Alwasheek – Maria T) thrashed his rivals in the hands of D. K. Ashish. Earlier Step Up snatched the lead from Ice Zone soon after entering the straight but couldn’t sustain the lead after Barringo came with a flashy run. Barringo snuffed out the challenge of Step Up in the final 100m and sailed away for a convincing win. Step Up was followed home by Defining Moment who edged out Ice Zone for the third place. Relic Hunter dropped out of contention after being prominent till the turn.

Trevor Patel ridden Dreams R Mine (Hurricane State – Just Amazing) made it two in a row when he produced a scintillating run on the outer flank and wore down favourite Gates of Heaven, Windmill Lady and early leader Gottawearshades in the shadow of the winning post. The S. K. Sunderji trained winner was languishing at the rear in the final run in but literally flew towards the wire when asked for an effort by his rider. Star Zone, Crrisp and Ice Skater ran close behind the first four without being duly extended.


At the start of the day’s proceedings, S. S. Shah saddled Prince Arius (Tirol – Canadian Fame) made full use of the handicap advantage and was confidently ridden to victory by rookie S. Mosin. Twittillator, Daredevil and Miracle of Mercy followed him home. Always Smile retired after a forward run while Neptune never appeared to be in the hunt as he ran listlessly throughout.