Champion Jockey A Sandesh thrilled those who followed him winning three races atop fancied horses. Melinda (Dancing Forever – Superlative, Hazara Stud) was the shortest priced runner on the day and Sandesh guided the Cooji Katrak ward to a clinical victory, making the right moves at the precise moments.

Staristocrat led the bunch of four all the way into the straight with Caesars Star alongside and Melinda and Mountbatten on their heels. Staristocrat kicked on gamely on straightening up and left it to others to wear him down. Melinda made her move past the 400 and gradually inched closer to the leader. Mountbatten was ridden out, but was not quickening well enough to bother the two in front. Melinda eventually got the measure of Staristocrat inside the final furlong to surge ahead and post her second victory on the trot, probably closing her campaign with two wins, as many seconds and a third in her five starts for the season which is a fairly good result. Staristocrat’s too was a good performance considering he had some niggle and was racing after more than a 100 days. Mountbatten disappointed, he was expected to do better.

Sandesh then partnered Diablo (Kingda Ka – Phoenix Rising, Nanoli Stud) to a solid victory, taking no chances and ensuring his mount was focused all the way. Diablo was in third behind Charging Empress and Allegiance and had favourite Jester close behind at the turn.

Sandesh wasted little time as he quickly changed gears and sent the Hosidar Daji trained Diablo to the front with just under 400 to go. He also used his whip-hand effectively sending Diablo well ahead of the rest. Sandesh did not relax even after piling a fairly good lead and was on the job all the way past the winning post. Jester failed to reproduce his last run and ended a tame third. Pracs ran on to finish second.

Sandesh then guided Few Dollars More (Chinese Whisper – Sea Spray, Tohana Stud) to a fluent victory providing the Daji camp a grand well-backed double. Sandesh settled Few Dollars More closer to the rear most of the way.

Barringo brought the field into the straight and soon faded out. Iridescence could not produce the run to match and dropped out of contention as well. Fast Lady moved up quickly and got past Hedwig and the rest with ease. Sandesh switched lanes and once he got the clear passage, he got Few Dollars More going. The Hosidar Daji trained filly responded crisply and within strides had surged well ahead of Fast Lady to score an encore with an even better finishing run than earlier. Sandesh was confident all the way and just added the perfect finishing touches to a neatly crafted script.

Golden Belle (Ace – Abs Fabs, Poonawalla Stud) has been in rousing form of late and was another one to score back-to-back victories. Partnered by young Yash Narredu, Golden Belle hung around the leader Ravello with the favourite Maleficent tagging by and Merchantofvenice had Incentio behind him until they turned for home.

Once into the straight, Golden Belle accelerated well and drew level with Ravello fighting hard to stay in contention. Maleficent was not firing as she is known to and looked beat early. Merchantofvenice improved from the middle and rose to challenge Golden Belle. Yash rode powerfully to hold off the challenger and won it with a length to spare.

Jockey TS Jodha is a quality rider and surfaces time to time with horses that are usually friendless or at longer odds. He won atop two such horses today starting the day with a bang piloting Armel (Diffident – Sensuality, Greenfield Stud) in the day’s opener. Jockey TS Jodha darted into the lead with Armel and soon amassed a big lead. Favorite Super Bolt was in the mid-pack until they entered the homestretch.

Armel galloped merrily in front playing catch-me-if-you-can and was not showing any signs of tiring. Super Bolt had too much ground to cover as did the rest. Maqsad went wide and lost his chances and Riposte was even wider. Armel kept at it with jockey TS Jodha egging him on all the way. Super Bolt did cover ground in the final furlong, but Trevor for once, had left it too long and he had too much to do in too little time. Armel held Super Bolt off narrowly to carve out an exciting win for trainer HJ Antia.

Las Salinas (Oath – Coco Beach, Pratap Stud) was another one at 7/1 and this time jockey TS Jodha had to make the challenge for a come-from-behind victory. Golden Glory had gone clear and was shaping up well coming into the final furlong. Las Salinas, trained by Don Surti, set about sizing up the handy lead the favourite enjoyed past the distance post and started to inch her way closer. Jodha rode his heart out and in the final 100 started to mount pressure on the leader. Golden Glory and Las Salinas were engaged in a grim battle before Las Salinas wore the favourite down and won it by mere half a length.

Among the rookies, Dallas Todywalla trained Imperial Heritage (Ace – Priceless Memories, Poonawalla Stud) shocked the field as he was the rank outsider among some well-backed horses. Covert Action and Eiger’s Tiger were the two top fancies with the others bar the winner, finding some support as well.

Snow Crystal made all the early running, setting up a rather slow pace for the 1800 m race. Imperial Heritage was up next a couple of lengths away with Synchronicity in third and the two favourites Covert Action and Eiger’s Tiger in the rear.

Snow Crystal entered the straight ahead of the rest and sustained as long as the distance post. Imperial Heritage soon made a forward charge and got past Snow Crystal with ease. Cover Action didn’t look too convincing and made no real impact. Eiger’s Tiger went wide and made his bid in the final 100 meters. However, Imperial Heritage, ridden by Zervan, had the race well sewn up by then and scored his maiden victory ahead of Eiger’s Tiger.  

Airlift (Arazan – Perpetuate, Poonawalla Astonish Stud) scored a handsome win on debut and for a first run, he did pretty well. Jockey Trevor had Airlift settle well in fifth of sixth as the others rushed to the front at the jump. El Tycoon had a slender lead coming into the straight with the heavily backed Philadelphia waiting to pounce, while the others were jostling for vantage positions and were in a cluster on turning for home.

Trevor waited patiently for the rush hour traffic to clear out somewhat. Philadelphia had barely taken charge when she got the first jolt from Rock In Rio. Airlift then made a bold bid between horses to surface for the fight. Trainer Faisal Abbas had tuned his charge to perfection as he finished with a bang! In spilt seconds he was past the fighting duo and had drawn away to register a thumping win by over two lengths. Double Nine rallied from behind to end a good notable second.

Magic In The Air (Tariq - Absolutely Royal, Equus Stud) avenged his defeat to Arsenal when they last met and won handsomely. Arsenal paid the price for not getting into a good position at the start and was behind a wall of horses right through with only Spontaneous Eddie behind her.

Matrioshka looked good briefly and so did Royal Classic as they grappled for the lead. Soon Magic in the Air arrived with a sustained gallop and stormed into the lead. Once in front, the Narendra Lagad ward further quickened to pull away from the rest. Royal Classic did well to beat the rest while Achieve heaped more woe on Arsenal to snatch the third spot in a close finish from Arsenal.

For the professionals, trainers Dallas Todywalla and Hosidar Daji saddled a double each, while jockey A Sandesh was at his best securing a treble and T S Jodha scored a lucrative double.