The Zavaray Poonawalla Evening Racing day saw two juveniles crowned champions. Cataleya shocked the fillies’ lineup with a determined start to finish run and baffled the experts by her effortless victory as she found few takers in her support. For the colts, Star Councillor used the same tactics as the filly did and reaped rich rewards, but he had to ward off a couple of challengers snapping at his tail.  

Cataleya (Multidimensional – Farrfesheena, Usha Stud) was the quickest out and galloped ahead at a crisp pace. Never Say Never was close behind with Costa Smeralda and Silken Eyes and the others following the front bunch.

Cataleya entered the straight with a handy lead and kept going under the handling of PS Chouhan. Costa Smeralda was striving hard to keep pace with the leader, Never Say Never too was fighting bravely but going nowhere. Book Thief shifted wide at the turn and that did not help her cause. Eternal Sunshine veered out alarmingly drifting out the entire breadth of the homestretch and ended up on the stand side rails. While the others were making no impact, Comic Timing gained ground to finish a decent fourth. Cataleya galloped on gamely to clinch the Forbes Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies’ Championship (Gr3) sewing up the issue meters from the winning post.

It was a moment of pride and joy for owner Dr Ram Shroff representing Stride Livestock P Ltd and trainer Malesh Narredu.

The same pattern unfolded in the Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders’ Colts’ Championship (Gr3) as well with 6/1 shot Star Councillor (Arazan – Indian’s Feather, Villoo’s Greenfield Stud) getting into a fine rhythm right from the outset. Sandesh brought Star Councillor hard-held into the straight and had him on the bit well into the straight. San Martino followed the leader all the time and when the time came to go for it, San Martino closed in, but could only get as to the haunches of Star Councillor. Sandesh rode out the Karthik ward astutely to last it out and Star Councillor kicked on to stay ahead at the wire. Star Martino fell short by a narrow margin. Germanicus was closing in when all was over and had to be content with the third spot ahead of Carbonara, who surfaced from the last position at the turn.

Sandesh was at his dazzling best winning four races on the day. Strategic Move (Dancing Forever – Springbrakemistake, Hazara Stud) was his first successful mount. This one too was a start to finish effort and Strategic Move galloped smoothly all the way from the start. Ravello, The Magician, Wild Waves and Egyptiana were close behind but none could catch the winner. Strategic Move built on his lead once they turned for home and Sandesh kept the momentum going all the way to win with a good measure of comfort. Ravello did well to beat the rest.

The start to finish trend continued as Sandesh partnered Champagne (Arazan – Chantale, Poonawalla Stud) powered his way ahead to enter into the straight well ahead of favourite Alien. Seacrets and Naumee tried to challenge Champagne but found his too hot to handle. IN the final furlong Champagne, trained by Rehanullah Khan, skipped away to steer clear of the rest. Alien arrived when all was over but moved purposefully to take the runner-up berth beating Shining Melody to third.

Flamboyant Flame (Arazan – Yutai, Poonawalla Stud) was yet another won that made it end to end without trouble. The even money favourite delighted her supporters scoring a facile victory without causing any anxiety to her backers. Sandesh guided the Dallas Todywalla trainee into the straight and then marched on ahead to draw away from her opponents to pile up a huge near-six length victory. Ice Angel finished on second comfortably ahead of Cyclone. Zanzibaar came from a long way back and did well to figure in the frame.

Jefferson (Ravel – Crystal Slipper, Chhatari Stud) galloped to his fifth victory in nine starts and this one was as sweet as any. He followed Heather and Rodeo into the straight and still bided his time on straightening up. Heather left a little room along the inside rails and if that was a ploy to trap Jefferson into the old trick, it came unstuck. Dashrath Singh is an old hand and he simply moved out and with his mount all set to shift gears, he had no trouble in surging ahead approaching the distance post. Jefferson sailed away once in the lead and won like a money-back favourite ought to win. Heather ran on t take the runner up spot on expected lines.

Saker tried the runaway tactics in the opening event of the day, but Majestic (Phoenix Tower – Riyasat, Manjri Stud) was up to the task and jockey S Zervan rode a perfect race keeping Majestic well off the pace and picking up at the right time to land the spoils. Saker was a distance ahead through the backstretch and enjoyed a healthy lead approaching the home turn. Daishonin was the first to close in on Saker and joined him on turning for home. Soon Majestic arrived on the scene and Zervan easily got past the fighting duo to emerge clear in the final furlong. Majestic won well and Saker put in a determined bid to stay on to grab the second slot. Glorious Opinion improved to peg back Daishonin for the third spot.

Benezeer (Noverre – Ridiyza, Sohna Stud) showed no signs of the lay off and made her first appearance for the season a winning one. Jockey CS Jodha kept the Faisal Abbas ward in close second just alongside Scarlet of Hope until the turn. Deltin, Stellenbosch and Another Ace were close behind as they turned for home. Benazeer showed quick progress as she surged ahead and took charge past the 400. Jockey CS Jodha rode out splendidly to keep Benezeer going all the way. None could catch up0 from behind. Another Ace ended a decent second but well behind the winner. Deltin ran on to take the place money ahead of Scarlet of Hope. Stellenbosch broke his stride early in the straight and never found his optimum touch. However, he may have needed the run and ought to be watched in his next outing.     

For the professionals, Sandesh dazzled with four winners, while trainers Malesh Narredu and Karthik saddled a double each.