The RWITC’s initiative of organizing a All Clubs Day at the Mahalaxmi racecourse proved to be a master stroke and highly successful. The responses from various prestigious Clubs of Mumbai was encouraging and each of the Presidents/Chairmen of the respective Clubs made a universal point mentioning the importance and the joy they felt and being invited by the RWITC. Most were enthusiastic about the turn out and action on the track and promised to return next year without fail.

On the track, form horses came to the fore with no bolts from the blue as such, favourites and horses in the betting coming through in the long ten-race card.  

The opener of the day saw Rock the Turf (Arabian Gulf – Shahandeh, Manjri Stud) simply demolish the opposition. Settled along the rails in mid-field, Yash Narredu rode a copy-book race placing his mount in the best position and win as he pleased. Polar Zone led briefly, but the winner was always clearly making ground on the front-runners. Rock the Turf had to be astutely maneuvered through the traffic, and once she broke free, she was sighted a winner with a furlong to go. Fast Future filled the runner-up berth with a late but fast bid giving trainer Narendra Lagad the top two placing.

Mine Forever (Placerville – You Are The One, Villoo’s Greenfield Stud) raised the Poonawalla colours in the smallest field of the day. Zander bolted to the front and went wide at the bend which certainly cost him some ground. Deep Diver tried to cut pace with Zander and ran out of gas t the business end. Having said that, all credit must go to the experienced Trevor, who judged the race to a rather heart pounding nicety. He asked Mine Forever to spurt while the pair in front were leaning back onto the rails and generously making use of the whip-hand, while he himself went hands and heels. The punters were made to wait until the last stride to collectively let out a roar of victory and relief, with Mine Forever charging in clearing a two-length plus deficit to collar Deep Diver at the shadow of the winning post.  

Richard Hughes famously said that the last jockey to go for his stick is more often than not going to win. The logical reasoning is that the jockey knows how much he has left in the tank and that his rivals are already in top gear while he himself is in cruise control. Red Fort (Sedgefield – Bulan, Jai Govind Stud) loomed up on the front-runners after having being switched off on the rails until they turned for home. Jockey A Sandesh travelled beautifully with him to take over the running while all the other runners were in full flight. With a furlong and a half to go Sandesh pressed the button and was galloping away at the finish to score a comfortable win, while Pracs made her presence felt finishing a decent second.

Magical Dancer (Thewayyouare –Alexander Nightlady, Lumbini Stud) decimated the opposition to register the second winner of the day for Narendra Lagad’s yard. Jumping from the widest draw of 11, Magical Dancer was guided by Dashrath Singh and was too good for his rivals. He was settled in about 5th but always in touch with the pace and mid-way through the straight when asked for an acceleration, he found many a gear. His manner of victory suggests that this horse may improve further and does not belong with the class of horses he beat, and as such is one for the notebooks. Fringe Benefit did well to beat Quatro for the runner up berth, while Tonteria disappointed.

Phenomenal Memories (Glory of Dancer – Phenomenale, Nanoli Stud) out lasted the rest to win the Amateur Riders’ Club Trophy with a steaming finish to spoil the party for favourite Lavender Blue who essayed it start to finish. Lavender Blue led them all the way into the straight and had a handy lead to make it count. However, Phenomenal Memory made rapid progress with Zervan in the saddle and the Dallas Todywalla ward pounced on the leader and sped away to score an easy win. Lavender Blue could only finish second ahead of Joss.

The Other Song (Ace – Singtia, Poona Stud) picked up the Royal Bombay Yacht Club Trophy with a late, but well-timed run. She was way too far back even as Armel turned for home, with Light of Arabia in hot pursuit.

Light of Arabia soon took charge and scampered away to build a handy lead past the distance post. Super Bolt was trying to find the acceleration with Gatsby too getting into the mix with Masterstrike alongside. Jockey Zervan had The Other Song nicely warmed up for the finish and the Zadmal Singh ward gathered momentum approaching the final furlong. She covered ground impressively towards the finish and zipped past them all to score a comfortable victory. Light of Arabia did well to end runner-up. Admission too improved well in the end, falling just short of raking in the place money from stablemate Super Bolt.     

Miss Arazan failed yet again to deliver, but it is learnt that she hurt herself at the gates while taking the jump. Riot of Colours enjoyed a slender lead with One Aim and El Tycoon matching strides, Miss Arazan raced a couple of lengths further behind with Chily Chily along the rails.

One Aim was focused to the task and went into the lead smoothly on entering the straight. Jockey Sandesh just needed to give the Karthik trainee a tap with the whip and One Aim skipped away fluently to stretch away from them all and clinch the Willingdon Sports Club Trophy in style. He looked the winner early as Sandesh rode hands and heels in the final furlong. Miss Arazan ended a tame second while Chily Chily ran green but managed to snatch the third from Riot of Colours.

Acker Bilk (Ontario – Oscar Silk) foremost task was to settle in a good position from an outside draw and Trevor did just that. Only, he rushed to the front in tearing hurry and on the way brushed aside one of his rivals in getting to the front. This gave an opportunity to trainer Antia to raise an objection on technical grounds which held no water with the Stewards.

Acker Bilk took charge soon on entering the straight and galloped on gamely to hold his own. Antia’s Big Bro finished on fastest as did Ensign, which explains the reasons the objection was taken.   

Excelonce (Chine Visit – Exquisite, Usha Stud) justified the support and won her first race fairly comfortably. He settled well and early in the fourth spot and made his move on straightening up. Armando led them in and soon faded out. Excelonce seized his opportunity early in the straight and skirted around the drifting Armando to take charge. Once in the lead, Excelonce picked up momentum and soon was sailing away from the rest. Another Ace tried hard to catch up but was no match to Excelonce. Jockey Neeraj Rawal had the race sewn up and won easing up. Lohtse arrived to pip Jarama for the place money.

Seacrets (Sakhee’s Secret – Oh Bej Oh Bej, Vikram Greenfields) notched up a maiden victory winning it start to finish. He shot into the lead and had Noble Lady for company until the turn with Brown Dynamite and Wings of Glory in close vicinity. None from behind could topple the front running quartet.

Seacrets and Noble Lady were stuck together for the entire length of the long Mahalaxmi straight. Jockeys PS Chouhan and Sandesh were involved in a fight to the finish and it was indeed a thrilling battle. Neither Brown dynamite nor Wings of Glory could make much impression on the two in front. Noble Lady did put up stiff challenge all through, but Seacrets got that extra bit of effort to quell the challenge and etch out a narrow win.   

For the professionals, trainer Narendra Lagad saddled a double, while jockeys A Sandesh, P Trevor and Zervan scored a double each