The crowd, for the second day of sundown racing trials at the Mahalakshmi racecourse was encouraging and the Club has decided to hold another card under the lights next week as well. The idea seems to have caught on and the trials seem to have hit the right chord. Sponsors too have nodded in approval and the general feeling is that once the feasibility worked out, racing could be held under the lights more frequently in the next season.

Another Conquest (Phoenix Tower – Star Conquest, Manjri Stud) defied the odds and a beat more fancied lot with ease. He settled second behind Sugar Bay and once the race came to a boil, Another Conquest with Yash Narredu astride, inched his way ahead to tackle Sugar Ray comfortably and surged past to post a convincing victory. Maleficent and Brahmachari, the two strongly fancied runners never seemed to be in the hunt and ended third and fourth respectively.

Toofan (Kingda Ka – January’s Storm, Nanoli Stud) made full use of his forward surge in the straight and held on to his lead all the way home. He entered the straight with a handy lead but his victory never seemed assured. Ukulele started to match strides but soon faded out. Replica then began to warm up and with Star of Babylon rallying potently they were headed for a close finish. However, young apprentice R Ajinkya held his nerve and piloted the Nina Lalvani ward to a narrow win with Star of Babylon breathing down his neck and finishing just ahead of Replica.

In the very next race, Vasco Da Gama (Glory of Dancer – Frida Kahlo, Nanoli Stud) also running in the Dhunjibhoy silks, created a flutter with a strong resurgence making it to the wire from literally the last position. Frankanella, Lancelot and Flanker were involved in a grim battle when Vasco Da Gama arrived with a flashing run to get past them all and land the spoils at 15/1. Jockey Shrikant Kamble maneuvered his way between horses to join the fight half way down the straight and got past easily to spare a length and half at the post. Frankanella did well to end second ahead of Lancelot and Flanker.

Fortune Favours (Glory of Dancer – Vantage, Nanoli Stud) produced a steady finishing effort to down favourite The General without any fuss, although the verdict was a narrow one. The General had barely taken charge in the straight when Honest Pleasure measured up to challenge. Honest Pleasure got past The General but soon surrendered his lead when challenged by Fortune Favours. The General made a valiant attempt to resurface, but that move came far too late. Fortune Favours won with The General ending on his haunches.

Niobrara (Arabian Gulf – Ekhabinskya, Manjri Stud) finally tasted the sweetness of victory and about time too. This was sixth attempt, but he had missed the bus on his last three attempts. He was lucky to hold on as the fast finishing Governor General nearly toppled him on the post. Niobrara was comfortably in front with main threat Shivalik Story looking good in second. However, in the final 400 m, Niobrara had gotten the measure of Shivalik Story and looked good to score. He was still clear going for the line when Governor General arrived with a late flourish. He was a wee bit too late as by the time they hit the wire, Niobrara had just managed to reach home. Shivalik Story ended a tame third.

The first race of the day too was a close affair, but both parties concerned in the photo finish heaved a sigh of relief when the judge announced a dead-heat. Indian Serenade seemed to have sealed the issue as he poked through aggressively to take charge with a furlong to go. He was going at a good clip and seemed on his way to win. Favourite Jeannine, who was not fluent enough in the first half of the straight, caught up speed in the final 100 and arrived with a terrific gallop to finish abreast with Indian Serenade. Mizilla Gold ended a tame third.   

The last three races of the day were run under flood lights for the second day. Magansingh P Jodha trained Whitesox (Sedgefield-Bright And Cherry, Jai Govind Stud) pulled off a stunning upset in the first among them, the Frish Cup. After a good start Whitesox settled well with the front bunch in about fifth or sixth while Kickboxer made the running in front. Nearing the last two furlongs jockey Kavraj Singh guided Whitesox from the outside of Kickboxer and with a good turn of foot streaked to the lead to score his maiden win. Rapid Girl finished on to be the runner-up while Masterstrike came from way behind to finish in the money.

Jockey Kavraj Singh pocketed a double while piloting Adhirajsingh Jodha trained Gold Bag (Sedgefield-Blue Jay,Jai Govind Stud) to victory in the division I of the West Coast Cup, the last race of the day. Nearing the distance marker Gold Bag rushed through a welcome opening along the fence and staved off the late flourish of Blue Flame from the outside while the rac favourite Frisbourg ended up third.

Jockey P.Trevor picked up his solitary win of the day through S.N.Joshi trained Logano (Ontario-Victoria Cannon,Sohna Stud) in the lower division. Sent off as the favourite at 13-10 among the dozen runners Logana hit the front as the gates opened but was held back to settle in about fifth along the rails while Ice Gate called the shots. On entering the home stretch Logano was pulled out to be given a clear run and the filly responded readily to take charge and despite shifting out towards the last furlong stretched out to win by a good margin. Ice Gate held on to the second place from Captain Abdon and Samurai.

For the professionals trainer M.K.Jadhav, jockeys Srikant Kamble and Kavraj Singh scored a brace each.