The McDowell Signature Indian Derby day had two other traditional races sandwiched in the card - The BK Rattonsey Multi-Million and the RN Kanga Gold Trophy. While the former is for maiden three-year-olds, the Kanga Gold Trophy is for four years old and over in Class II.

 B Prakash trained Merchantofvenice (Glory of Dancer – Maquillage) owned by the Dhunjibhoys showed marked improvement over his last run and displayed a powerful finishing run to score an impressive start  to finish win.

Taking off from the gates, Merchantofvenice showed nimble feet to dart into the lead and head a closely bunched group. He was closely followed by the favourite Quasar along with Full Moon and Purple Moonlight.

On turning for home, jockey Imran Chisty shifted gears and surged forward building up a handy lead. Quasar started to chase down the leader, but could not find the required acceleration. He was getting nowhere closer as Merchantofvenice sped further away in the final furlong. Last Chance galloped purposefully and was gaining ground, but by then Merchantofvenice was well out of reach. Last Chance managed to beat Quasar for the runner-up berth.

Supreme Star (Rebuttal – Mullagh) was stretched all the way and the challenge came from Déjà vu. The six runners were closely huddled as Zoraavar made the early running with Hachiko and Clinton running together, Supreme Star had two behind him, Storm Tracker and Déjà vu all bunched together.

Zoraavar was soon trounced by Hachiko and Clinton, but very soon supreme Star started to gather momentum. CD Hayes got Supreme Star moving well and he shot ahead of Clinton and Hachiko without difficulty. With under 200 to go, Déjà vu started to quicken and on his side Storm Tracker too was surging towards Supreme Star. While Storm Tracker appeared to be losing the edge, Déjà vu looked dangerous. He was inching closer with every stride and Supreme Star was feeling the heat. In a last ditch effort, Hayes rode out vigorously and saved the day for the followers of Supreme Star who just managed to stay ahead by a whisker.

Hot favourite Way Out (Exceed And Excel – Farrfesheena) was made to earn his victory with a couple of challengers running the bay filly close. She was third at the turn, just behind National Glory and Invincible and jockey Sandesh decided to open her up past the 400 meter marker.

Way Out easily surged past the two in front and had a cushion of over two lengths over the rest. Victorious March started to warm and began his chase with a little over a furlong to go. Sandesh was now hard at work as he reckoned he had to sustain a full furlong ahead. Victorious March was gaining steadily but still had to cover the gap. He was doing so when Hawk of the Wind too appeared on the scene. Way Out went all out and managed to ward off her challenger to win by a narrow margin. Victorious March had to be content with the runner-up berth, while hawk of the Wind ended close behind.

Sheer Class (Shamardal – Ripple of Pride) picked up the Antiquity Blue ‘Fusion of the Finest’ Cup with a fashionable start to finish essay. Jockey Trevor unhesitatingly surged into the lead soon on start and dictated the pace all through. Zidaan, Mighty King and Su O Moto were up next close behind. Haunting Moments was in the bid group with Elite Model in the rear.

Sheer Class entered the straight with a handy lead and Trevor held the Dr Mallya owned filly well into the homestretch. Haunting Moments and Elite Model went all out in chase, but Sheer Class never loosened her stranglehold and galloped majestically to pile up enough to win easing up. Haunting Moments did well to finish ahead of last start winner Elite Model.

Reynolds (Glory of Dancer – Highland Ghillie) with Richard Hughes in the saddle cantered to his second victory on the trot. This one was even more convincing than the last. Settling into the third spot behind Hot Pepper and Danse Debonaire, this was after leader Wish Upon a Star veered out or the reckoning in the backstretch, Reynolds came right up on the front runners on turning for home.

A couple of backhanders was all that Reynolds needed as he bounded forward and out of reach of his rivals in no time. Reynolds was all alone in the final furlong and won by a distance. Romantic Beauty ran on to finish second from Pumba and Ricochet.

Speed King (Ace – Zarandja) was another juvenile who earned his first winning bracket. Dashrath Singh held him in third as High Expectation made the early pace. Speed king was put into top gear well into the straight. High Expectation and on money favourite Strategic Move were in front when Speed King warmed up to take on the favourite. Strategic Move found nothing when the jockey asked for an effort and went down woefully. Speed king worked up a nice pace and challenged High Expectation. Dashrath encountered no resistance as he sped away from high Expectation to score a facile victory. Leg3end of the Seas worked his way up from behind to take the second slot.

The opening race of the day was easy meat for the favourite Hidden Asset (Footstepsinthesand – Thorns of Life). The Mansoor Shah trainee shared the lead with Zaagros until into the straight and then marched on  ahead leaving the rest far behind. Apprentice jockey SG Prasad had little to do as Hidden Asset simply trounced the opposition drawing away. Double Diamond was in futile chase all the way and ended a tame second.

Trainer Altaf Hussain could not have asked for a better performance from Wild Waves (Arabian Gulf – Nightlife) for a maiden win. The bay gelding ridden by jockey P Trevor, sprang into action to get past leader Neptune’s Ocean soon on turning for home. Once into the lead, Wild Waves kept going further and further away from his rivals. This was an impressive victory and in this form, Wild Waves can provide an encore. Neptune’s Ocean ran on to stay in second place, while Bella Figura nosed out Mi Tianmen for place money.

For the professionals, jockey P Trevor was the lone pro to score a double.