The Sitlani Trader 7 Multi-Million had a small field of four, yet for a change the odds on offer for each horse was encouraging. Christmas Eve was the first favourite at 2/1. Yash Narredu shot out of the gates and worked up good pace and drove Christmas Eve to the front. Phoenix Tiger (Phoenix Tower – Tigresse Noire, Manjri Stud) followed Christmas Eve close behind with Jefferson and Spirited Touch in tow.

Chirstmas Eve tried to break away and increased her lead momentarily soon on straightening up for home. Colm O’Donnoghue got Phoenix Tiger going approaching the distance post and was gaining on Christmas Eve. Jefferson and Spirited Touch started to drift out and both were guilty of squandering their opportunity. Christmas Eve resisted briefly but caved in under the persistent assault from Phoenix Tiger. In the last 100 meters, Phoenix Tiger got stronger and stretched away from the favorite to win comfortably. Yash may have been guilty of being too keen too early and paid the price. Phoenix Tiger fought hard to earn his second win in as many starts and looks good for more.

The Byculla Club Trophy was another interesting race as most long distances races that generate such prolonged suspense. Each of the six contenders had some credential to believe they had a realistic chance. Rodeo, after his impressive last start victory was installed the favourite at 2/1 and the rest were all at nourishing odds.

Okavango made the early pace and was off at a leisurely pace. Highlander and the rest followed him all the way into the straight in a single file. Okavango could not reproduce his Pun form and his challenge petered out rather too soon.

Highlander got going as soon as he saw the opportunity, jockey P Trevor turning him on just at the right moment to ease him into his full slow. Highlander was off, surging ahead at a crisp pace. Rodeo moved menacingly from the outside and was hard ridden. Astapi too was improving, but under the stick. Caesars Star too looked positive for a brief moment as they all scrambled after Highlander. However, trainer Rehanullah Khan had his charge fighting fit and Highlander displayed solid staying credentials to pull it off in style and post a convincing win.

Most of the strongly fancied favourites obliged through the day with Zachary ((Kingda Ka – Yantai, Capricorn Stud) setting off that trend. Zachary looked much the part in the paddock and pulled off a sensational win with a lot left in the saddle.

Honest Pleasure guided them into the straight and retired. Staristocrat had barely got past Honest Pleasure when Zachary with Zervan in the saddle arrived with a fiery run. It was all over just there! Zachary accelerated fluently to simply draw away showing plenty of class to clearly assert his superiority over his rivals. He was all by himself a cut above the rest. He won easing up and certainly has a bright career ahead. Staristocrat did well to cling on to the runner-up berth warding off Rule Downunder and company.

Ellipsis (Rakti – Bukat Timah, Capricorn Stud) had shown promise in her last start while running second to Staristocrat recently. She lived up to that promise and came from some distance behind to score her maiden win in style.

Half-Money favourite Storming Home was a big disappointment as he looked to take it from the start. He led comfortably all the way into the straight, but faltered badly when it came to a boil and ran disappointingly.

Storming Home entered the straight with a handy lead, but simply could not increase the pace.  When Samba Warrior got to him, Storming Home kept the fight going for a brief while. However, Samba Warrior got the measure of the favourite past the distance post and seemed on course to victory. There was a twist in the tale though, as Ellipsis found her touch and rhythm at the right juncture. She arrived with a powerful finishing and covered a lot of ground to sail ahead in the last 100 meters. Ellipsis won comfortably implying that she would relish the longer trips. She was full of steam past the stands and would have gone on. Samba Warrior impressed too but lost to a filly who stayed the distance better, coming way off the pace.    

Myrtlewood (Multidimensional – Adamile, Usha Stud) was classy in her first outing and she won well, justifying the cramped odds offered on her. She was thoroughly professional and seasoned in her approach and it certainly didn’t seem she was making a debut. All Trevor did was guide her home putting in minimum effort doing so.

Another Ace shot ahead at start with Aliboxer and Sentimental close behind. Myrtlewood settled beautifully in fourth and even when they turned for home, Trevor showed no hurry in setting her off. Sensational got to the front past the 400 m marker and soon Myrtlewood arrived with leaping strides. She got past them all within split seconds and was travelling extremely well. Trevor in fact eased the Shroff-trained filly to carve out a fashionable debut victory. Myrtlewood looks a potentially classy type and shape up well in her career.

Lord Jim (Iffraaj – irish Lover, Capricorn Stud) made amends on his Mumbai debut shrugging off his defeat in Pune and bettering his performance to post his maiden win. Lord Jim shot out of the gates and soon settled in third behind Millenium Falcon and Armel, with Hoshiyaar lurking close behind on his inside.

Armel led them in and soon faded out as did Millenium Falcon. Lord Jim assumed command with 300 to go. Incandescent came up to challenge Lord Jim and the duo fought it out for a few strides. Divine Wish too improved positions and was not too far behind the fighting duo. Hoshiyaar labored on to stay in contention. However, in the final few meters, Lord Jim surged ahead to seal the issue close home. Hoshiyaar dug deep to manage to peg back Incandescent for the runner-up berth.

Majesterian (Dancing Forever – Tranquil Star, Hazara Stud) found the winning touch and he stubbornly held Shivalik Skies in a grim fight and escape to victory. Majesterian improved positions from third to go into the lead past Two Oceans and Theory soon on entering the straight. Shivalik Skies began drawing closer past the 300 m mark. Young Bhawani Singh gave his all in holding the edge as Shivalik Skies came with a strong challenge. The pair battled stride for stride in the final 100 meters and were level with fifty to go. Majesterian never gave up and Shivalik Skies could not come up with that extra bit and the former pulled off a close one in the end. Dashrath Singh later lodged an objection citing he was hit by the whip by Bhawani Singh, however, he held no water in his claim and the objection was overruled.

La Traviata (Chatham – Star Liner, Ruia Stud) provided an encore and her win was as good as her last one. However, she had to work a lot harder in the first half as she was not in the best of positions after the jump. Yardstick brought them into the straight and a bunch of horses went all out to grab the lead. Dhanyavaad led for a short while before La Traviata arrived and blew them all away. Lifted by the previous race victory, Bhawani Singh was full of confidence as he drove La Traviata to the front and sped away at a good clip. Savannah Sound came from a hopeless position to recover a lot of ground and end a good second.

Shivalik Heroine (Orpen – Ifni, Hazara Stud) streaked to a start to finish debut win and began her career auspiciously. She was alert at the start and sailed into the lead with Zahrazan and Wonder Story on her tail.

Once they straightened for home, Shivalik Heroine dashed forward and Yash Narredu kept her going at a good pace. She responded well and accelerated nicely to steer clear of Alishas Pet. However, the latter could not match Shivalik Heroine in her finish and ended chasing the winner. Bella Luna had an educative outing and looks a good type. Tennessee had a tardy start but showed good improvement in the later half. Tennessee is the one to watch out for in her next outing.  

Sharmeely (Placerville – Refresh, Astonish Stud) won in the most thrilling fashion, scraping home with the skin of the teeth, coming from the dead. El Wonder was off to an electrifying start and soon built a handy lead. He entered the straight well clear of the rest with Ainra heading the bunch behind. Sharmeely was second last at the turn with a wall of horses in front. Dashrath Singh had to move out widest to get a clear run. With just 200 to go, El Wonder still looked in command. Sun Hot too was coming fast at him when Sharmeely came with a superb burst of speed. She came crashing on the duo to pip them both in a sensational manner. Sun Hot and El Wonder were shocked by the sudden thrust that Sharmeely came up with.

 Phelps (Sedgefield – Great Colors, Jai Govind Stud) worked hard in the straight to pick up momentum in the final 100 to down The Magician who was shaping well on course to victory. Phelps moved along the rails for the major part of the homestretch and once he switched lanes, he picked up good speed to go away in the final fifty.

For the Professionals, trainers Pesi Shroff and Faisal Abbas saddled a double each, while jockeys Dashrath Singh and Bhawani Singh each scored a double.