The Singapore Vs India clash of the Apprentice jockeys couldn’t have got a better start as both teams received an over whelming response from the sporting Mumbai spectators all through. Both teams led by their respective masters, Damian Kinninmont for Singapore carrying the Singapore Turf Club flag and Sherry Kapur with the RWITC flag, led the two teams into the paddock. The captains of the two teams carried the flags of their respective countries as they walked around the paddock and assembled on the podium for the introduction ceremony. Mrs Deepa Dhunjibhoy, wife of Mr KN Dhunjibhoy played the perfect host welcoming the teams in a typical traditional fashion with the vermilion ‘tikka’ on the forehead and a flower garland to each member of the team. Patrons at both enclosures responded with a loud cheer and applauded each jockey as they went through with the formalities.

The Thumbelina Trophy set it off and Myla Rose the hot favourite was drawn to be ridden by the Singapore apprentice jockey S Alif. Myla Rose got off quickly but was soon headed by Step Up with Barringo following them closely. Step Up galloped on in the straight and the Indian lad Saddam Hussain seemed to be going very well in the first half of the straight. Saddam got going with Step Up and coming into the final furlong worked up a handy lead. Alif was unmindful of what seemed a comfortable lead, but once inside the final furlong, he rode out and Myla Rose responded with a brilliant finishing effort to surge past Step Up in the final 100 meters. Myla Rose produced a power-packed final run to floor Step Up in style. The Singapore boy had earned his team the crucial lead garnering 15 points for the victory. M Firdous who finished fourth atop Stormy Princess and WL Tan (6th) accumulated six more points between them to take the Singapore score to 21. The Indian boys did not get left too far behind by bagging the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th positions to aggregate 20 points for India.

It was a historic moment as the first three placed jockeys got on to the victory stand with Alif waving the Singapore flag while the Singapore National anthem was being played. Another thunderous applaud followed and it was evident that the spectators were soaking in the novel occasion gleefully.

The Aerospace Trophy Division I was the second contest for the clashing apprentices. This was a relatively open race with no clear favourite in the field. The Indian boys seem determined to pull one back on their Singapore counterparts and captain Akshay sped out of gate number one in a flash. He lead the field and galloped at a good pace piling up a sizable lead coming into the straight. Classic Ruler showed no signs of his age (he is all of eight) and tore further away from his younger rivals. Akshay was focused on winning and in that, despite sailing clear of the rest, he whipped and rode all out until he passed the winning post. That was a real pro ride by the Indian Captain.

Those that followed fought out for the best possible positions. Bangalore boy Saddam Hussain packed some power in his final run to gain crucial ten points for the second spot. Jockeys T See and Delloroto were involved in a close finish for the third and fourth slots guiding Gibran and Gottawearshades in the frame. Firdous earned three points for his fifth (Star Zone) and Vikash Tamang (Zaracha) chipped in with one point. The Indian boys had snatched the lead and the score read – India 46 points and Singapore had scored 36.

The cheer that Akshay received was a shade louder and the entire gathering stood up when the Indian national anthem was played. A spectator from the public enclosure screamed “Bharatmata ki….” and voices from both enclosure responded with a loud “Jai” (Hail mother India) clearly indicating that the competition between the two countries had ignited deep patriotic sentiments amongst the racing public.    

“I am very pleased with the match up and it was great fun too. This should be encouraged and it would be a good thing to put this idea across to other foreign race clubs. The boys will be most benefitted and an exchange will go a long way in closer relations between various race clubs. Playing the national anthems, honoring the winners with medals it was good to watch this,” said Mr Zavaray Poonawalla.

The Indian boys have the upper hand leading by 10 points with two races to go on Sunday. Surely the locals are the firm favourites to claim the match and the trophy for India. The Singapore lads have a lot of catching up to do and this is sure to make the second half of the match that much more exciting.