Two young Jockeys Trevor Patel and Neeraj Rawal were on song on Thursday, winning six of the nine races slated for the day. Trevor was at his best when he mowed down three strongly fancied horses in a thrilling four-horse-finish.

Maleficent and Another Conquest were the two main fancies for the Edger Desylva Trophy and Joshua too commanded her share of the betting pie. Ravello darted into the lead soon on start with Another Conquest too quick on the button; Maleficent came rushing through from the outside to run with the top two, while the others followed close behind. Rule Downunder had only Set To Fly behind him as they turned for home.

Maleficent got past Ravello easily to take charge, but soon had Another Conquest challenging his lead. Joshua moved up from sixth to gain on the two ahead. Another Conquest managed to put her nose in front passing the distance post. As the two battled Joshua arrived with a spirited challenge and got to the fighting duo. Trevor lit up Rule Downunder (Aussie Rules – Fatat Alarab, Capricorn Stud) and the Sunderji trainee came galloping at a good clip to storm past them all and get the verdict on the post. Joshua ended a good second while Maleficent got the better of Another Conquest at the finish.

Trevor had earlier partnered favourite Spanish Saga (Ace – Intrinsic Value, Poonawalla Stud) to a popular victory. Ensign led the field on settling down, but failed to capitalize on a good start. At the turn, Ensign, Zafrira and Acker Bilk were racing together with Spanish Sage in couple of lengths behind in fourth.

Into the straight, Acker Bilk pounced on his companions and was about to take charge when Spanish Saga arrived, poking through a narrow opening along the inner rails. Once in the lead, Trevor was not going to fret away the advantage. Spanish Saga quickened for home and they quickly drew away leaving the competition well beaten. The Other Song finished on late but did well to take the runner-up slot as she covered ground rapidly to finish on fastest of the beaten lot.

 Trevor wound his day up with another classy victory atop favourite Captain Courage (Admiralofthefleet – Celestrella, Kunigal Stud) from Pesi Shroff’s stables. Captain Courage made ample amends for his earlier failure and relished the Mumbai track to post his maiden win impressively.

Pretty in Patpong led them into the straight with Zahrazan on his tail. Blitzkrieg and Captain Courage were close behind with the rest in close order.

ON turning for home, Captain Courage moved up with telling strides and simply sailed away thereafter. He worked up a good pace to bound forward and won without encountering any challenge. Trevor had eased the Shroff ward well before the winning post announcing that he had matured well and would soon add to his first win. Clouds of Glory fought his way up to finish a good second, while Pretty in Patpong was gritty in taking the third spot.

Neeraj Rawal shared the honours of the day with Trevor, as he too piled on a treble. Neeraj began the day with a sensational win the first race. His determined riding and never-say-die attitude seemed to have helped his charge Saffire Song dig deep and get the measure of half-money favourite Grey Flannel.

Grey Flannel was off to a good start and he looked on course as she entered the straight with a handy lead. She was galloping well too so it appeared she would kick on to score. However, Neeraj had other ideas as he started to inch closer to the favorite in the final furlong. The fight got stronger with each stride and it was just in the shadow of the winning post that Saffire Song (Lucifer Sam –Lyrical Bid, Sans Craintes Stud) got his neck in front in the nick of time.

Neeraj then partnered Rapid Girl (Glory of Dancer – Social Place, Nanoli Stud) to a convincing victory, her maiden success. Chote Nawab was on an educative outing and he did all the work leading them all until they turned for home, before bowing out. The leads rapidly changed thereafter, as Top Wizard took charge briefly before Rapid Girl arrived full of steam. She surged forward approaching the distance post and soon flew away from the rest to register her first win. Top Wizard ended a decent runner-up ahead of Miss  USA; the latter would have benefitted from this run and would be ready to strike soon.

Neeraj Rawal signed off with a clinical start to finish victory atop Judicious (Dancing Forever – Choose Wisely, Hazara Stud) without encountering any resistance. Judicious was quickest out and settled to lead the field at a decent pace. She had Majestic Lights for company most of the way. Judicious however, was all alone in front once they turned for home and Neeraj got her to accelerate smoothly and stretch away to build a handy lead. Running Storm, Relentless Pursuit, Personify were all there, but simply could not match up. Midnight Run managed to put some energy into his finish to down them all save the winner. Fortuna too improved to finish in the money.

Shivalik Story (Acclamation – Sweeping Story, Hazara Stud) was another one to secure her first winning bracket and jockey S Zervan played his part in warding off a stiff challenge from Dancing Prince. Favourite Evidence was up in front with Shivalik Story lurking alongside all the time. Dancing Prince was also right up with the leaders and these three occupied the top three places between them.

Shivalik Story wore down Evidence soon on turning for home and sailed into the lead. Jockey Zervan looked in control even as Dancing Prince started to close in on her. The final furlong saw an engaging battle between the two, but Shivalik Story always looked in command. Dancing Prince could only get to half of length of Shivalik Story when they crossed the winning post. Evidence ended a fair third, but surely will bide her time.

Persian Prince (Arazan – Elouana, Poonawalla Astonish Stud) too earned his maiden victory untroubled. He was off quickly and found a great rhythm to stay well ahead once in the straight. He gave no hope to either Glorious Opinion or Ice Cube Baby as he galloped in workmanlike fashion to outpace his pponents comfortably.  Glorious Opinion ended a tame second, while Ice Cube Baby ended on the stand side fence a poor third.

Romantic Beauty (Oath – Danseuse, Pratap Stud) was the bolt from the blue for the day and found his lost touch to gallop away to win by a wide margin. The seven-year-old mare galloped to her second career victory after three years! Romantic Beauty with Altaf Sayed astride, got past Allegiance near about 1000 m and never looked back. She entered the straight and soon surged into a commanding lead. Dem Sao was haplessly lagging and had too much to do in the straight. Romantic Beauty won with authority few thought she could manage. Dem Sao was unlucky to have caught on the wrong foot, leaving too much leeway for her rival to outfox them all.

For the professionals, Trevor and Neeraj Rawal scored a treble each while trainer Pesi Shroff saddled a double.