Autonomy (Razeen – All Heart) proved beyond doubt that nothing can make up for Class. The Jaydev Mody-owned gelding, ridden competitively by Srinath, literally outclassed the opposition to clinch The Byculla Club Trophy with a terrific homestretch run.

Going at an understandably slow pace, Leave It To Me led the field, and had Clarion Call, Highland Crown and Autonomy following in a single file. Strelitzia was completely detached from the rest even as they passed the winning post. This was inexplicable as Strelitzia made no progress and ran a pathetic last by nearly a furlong!

The race took a serious turn past the 1000-metre mark when Leave It To Me increased the pace. Clarion Call was the first to strike as he wiped off the three-length deficit and joined Leave It To Me as they approached the final turn. Dashrath Singh tried to run away with the race as they turned for home. However, unlike in Pune where it worked, the opposition here was right up to it. Highland Crown and Autonomy quickly stepped up the pace and did not let him go too far. Leave It To Me was not getting anywhere and helplessly watched the race escaping from her clasp. Past the distance post, Autonomy got into top gear and with delightful strides, stormed ahead like the champion we have known him to be. He finished on strongly and looked like he would go on for any distance longer. That was an impeccable show that Autonomy displayed and this certainly was his run to remember!

Clarion Call proved that he could stay too and wrested the runner-up berth back from Highland Crown who just had managed to put his nose in front of Clarion Call in the last few strides.

If Strelitzia disappointed the Shroff stables, there were three others who made him proud. Blue Flash, Caribbean Queen and Tamarai all won their respective races in good style. Blue Flash was the one to surprise with a gallant finishing effort.

Blue Flash (Alnasr Alwasheek – Queen Of Swords) was not in the picture when the heads turned for home. Even in the straight, Foxtrot seemed in command after Ashravin bowed out soon in the straight. Resolute Bay, Big Time Girl and Freany were all struggling to catch up as Foxtrot powered his way towards the finish. He looked good to last out until the all important end as he went past the distance post still clear of the rest.

Blue Flash then flashed on to the scene with a scintillating gallop and in a trice had not only whizzed past Foxtrot but also had stretched the margin. Once Blue Flash came on to the scene, the rest looked ordinary. Foxtrot included! Blue Flash shook off her maiden status in an eye-catching manner and has shown that an encore cannot be ruled out. Foxtrot was the best of the beaten lot. Freany, who ended third, also made a little progress towards the end.

Caribbean Queen (Steinbeck – Dazzling Queen) won her race in copybook style as Prakash did all the right things at the right time. National Glory showed good early speed to lead the pack and in the straight, increased her pace to work up a sizable lead. Imran Chisty had him going and National Glory was not showing signs of any let-up. The others were left to chase him down. Zaracha and Caribbean Queen set about the task and the latter was the one to make good head way. Zaracha was interfered with by Star Symphony as she came charging down to make her final run. That did throw Zaracha off a bit, but wouldn’t have in any way altered the result. Richard Hughes had trouble steadying Star Symphony and did not finish in the clean manner the top-notch rider would have liked to. He ended pulling up not to collide with either Caribbean Queen or National Glory and had to settle for the third.

The Stewards held a preliminary enquiry into the race, but left the judge’s placing unaltered. Caribbean Queen put in a fast final-furlong gallop to clinch the issue close home. The first three ran a great race and all three of them have shown that they can win the next time out. National Glory, in particular, over the five-furlong scurry, will be hard to down.

Shroff completed a fine treble with Tamarai in the last race. Tamarai (Desert Style – Queen Consort) wouldn’t settle back and soon joined leader Sterling Silver to be right up there. In Contrast, favourite High Society just did not gallop initially and Hughes was seen making efforts to keep him going. That cost them dearly, as High Society was in the last position in a crowded field coming into the straight.

Tamarai, meanwhile, was travelling comfortably and had shot into the lead shaking off Sterling Silver with ease. Running Sun, who was not too far behind, switched to the inside as Tamarai drifted out slightly but could not make any impact on the leader. Banana Boy weaved his way through the mid-bunch to earn his followers some place money while High Society ended a close fourth and bears watching again in his next outing. Tamarai was a fluent winner and shed her maiden status in a convincing manner.

Visionist (Warrshan – Star Profile) duly won as expected after his good showing on debut. Visionist chased early leader Mishri who herself had a good run making her debut. Mishri showing good early speed led comfortably all the way and was right in the hunt past the distance post. Visionist, who improved to second from fourth entering the straight, had to be alerted to the task and with some cajoling from Hughes, started to respond after a couple of strong reminders.

Mishri, meanwhile, kept going and only in the final fifty surrendered the lead and the winning bracket to the superior rival Visionist. Visionist could be more comfortable over a slightly longer trip and Mishri can use her good initial speed over a furlong less in the near future. Voyager came to the party when all was over beating Thrice Blessed for the third.

Belligerent (Glory Of Dancer – Buona Sera) was finally rewarded for her consistency and how! Sitting well off the pace, Belligerent came to the fore with a forceful run in the final furlong to demolish the opposition decisively. Tequila took charge from long-time leader Star Crusader as they turned for home and led by a couple of lengths past the 400. Soon Go Guzzi Go started to close in. Oh Calcutta, the favourite, just couldn’t quicken and went down without offering any resistance. Belligerent came with a terrific burst, full of running and shot ahead leaving the field cold, as they say. Saba made late progress to beat the rest and take the second spot.

Azul (China Visit – Roses In The Snow) sprang a surprise as he came good when least expected and pulled off a splendid victory over the mile and quarter trip. Time Out was prominent as they entered the straight, but failed to sustain. Soon Lionwoods, who was biding his time, came around to take charge. Azul, who was up in the front bunch, got a clear run at about 300m and started to cover ground. Laserre encountered traffic problems and never really got going on full steam until the final stages of the race, thus losing out on making a race of it. Azul, meanwhile, tackled Lionwoods and got the measure of his rival a couple of strides to the winning post. Star Builder raised momentary hopes but could not rise to the occasion. Laserre was the pick of the lot. Tara too did pretty well to end in the frame under some forceful riding, getting past both, Star Builder and Time Out.

Hormuz Antia picked up the first two races of the day with heavily backed Amora (Royal Gladiator – Expensive Week) and Pharaoh (Royal Gladiator – Aerobica). Aroma with Imran Chisty atop chased the leader Evangilist until they entered well into the straight. Star Blaze, Red Cloud and Inner Harmony raced huddled together, then came Kimaya and Cavalryman. Double Delite, despite being tailed off last, ran on to finish in the frame.

Evangilist had a handy lead until the distance post, wherefrom Amora started to bridge the gap briskly. Past the Grand Stands, Amora shot ahead and galloped further away from Evangilist posting a thumping victory.

Pharaoh who had two good runs to back him, came into his own this time and accounting for favourite Ocean Queen in the last fifty. Ocean Queen hit the front soon on start and Pharaoh was quick to move to second. The others didn’t trouble the front-running pair at any stage. Into the straight, Ocean Queen had the upper hand but always felt threatened by the constant presence of Pharaoh who was looming large. The duo took off from the rest and battled on to the wire. Pharaoh surged decisively forward in the last fifty to register his first victory after two previous disappointments.

For the professionals, trainer Pesi Shroff saddled a fine treble while Hormuz Antia and jockeys Imran Chisty and Zervan scored a double each.