While the Shirke colours dominated last Sunday on the Gitanjali Indian 1000 Guineas day, his partner and buddy KN Dhunjibhoy’s silks captured the Panchshil Indian 2000 Guineas day’s highlights. SS Attaollahi trained Serjeant At Arms (Ikhtyar – Rahy’s Serenade, Nanoli Stud) had come with a reputation and was the hot favourite to win the second Indian Classic this season and what he displayed on the track was simply devastating.

He ran up with the pace in second behind House Of Commons with the rest of the fleid fairly closely huddled. Serjeant At Arms, confidently ridden by Sandesh, made a bold dash to the front at the turn and sailed into the lead with a powerful surge. He looked the winner the moment they turned for home and Sandesh held him in check well until midway into the straight. By then Serjeant At Arms had well and truly beaten his opponents. He flew past the winning post a touch short of four lengths, clocking a decent1:36:49 without extending himself.

This was an absolute clinical performance and his manner of victory would surely have won him a great number of admirers. The Panchshil Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr1) was a first success at the Indian Classics for the Bangalore based trainer SS Attollahi, who is enjoying a great amount of success of late.

Lucas did well to take the second spot while St Andrews ended a good third beating Supreme General to fourth.

For Mr Dhunjibhoy, it was a good start for the day when he along with partner Mr Vijay Shirke led in Geranium (Mastercraftsman – Kirtle, Highgrove Stud) in the day’s second race. Germanium showed out in the race right from the gates as she jumped out and straight away went into the lead. Trombone chased the leader all the way.

Geranium paced it out smoothly dictating terms right through and once they turned for home she always kept a safe distance in the homestretch to win easing up. With such a authoritative win in only her second outing, her first on the Mumbai track, Geranium looks good to add a few more quickly.

Renee (Glory of Dancer – Venus Arising, Nanilo Stud) provided similar success for the Dhunjibhoys with a smart start to finish victory. Renee, off the blocks quickest ambled along until the turn and then generated fiery pace to keep rivals at bay. Rule Downunder tried hard to make a race of it, but Renee, in the hands of Sandesh gave nothing away and finished strongly to draw a first win at Mumbai after a series of consistent performances.

Critics Choice (Tariq – Berkeley Lodge, Capricorn Stud) made it three in a row for the former Chairman of the Club beating more fancied Dancing Prances to fourth. Holy Smoke ran a good forward race leading them into the straight and then galloping on fighting all the way. Congressional and Bryhill were close behind Holy Smoke with a furlong to go. Crictics Choice started to warm up and with in-form jockey Neeraj Rawal beginning to urge him on, Crictics Choice finished with a flourish to kill it in the final fw strides. Congressional finished a good second, just managing to pip Holy Smoke, while Dancing Prances for once, failed to make an impact.

Ruffina (Excellent Art – Miss Danehill, Villoo’s Greenfield Stud) made a memorable debut winning the Allah Rakhkha Gold Trophy with a fiery finish.  Art of War and Admo entered the straight together and just as Admo surged ahead to take charge, Ruffina gathered momentum and wrested the initiative from Admo. Once into the lead, Ruffina sailed clear and looked in no danger as she kicked away to score impressively. Raiden warmed up far too late but was in no position to bother the winner. Admo fought back but Raiden just managed to nose out Admo to the third slot.

Arlene (Multidimensional – Allaire, Mehra Stud) was one of the most facile winners of the day. She set off at a quick pace and settled beautifully for the 2000m race dictating her own terms right from the start. In the homestretch she galloped fluently at a good clip to reduce it to a no-contest. She won drawing away to pile up a huge lead over Highland Breeze, the last start winner finishing too far away for the runner-up berth.

Allora (China Visit – Serrafina, Usha Stud) pulled off a sensational win warding off a stiff challenge from Ancient Glory. She led them into the straight and surged further away into the lead with a pack of horses snapping at her tail. Flashy Wings flattered to deceive as he came with threatening strides but failed to sustain. Ancient Glory threw a real scare as he arrived with a big finishing gallop but Allora with Trevor in the saddle craned her neck just in time to win by a nose. Nature Boy too did well to end a close third.

For the professionals, trainer Pesi Shroff saddled a double, while jockeys A Sandesh, P Trevor and Neeraj Rawal scored a double each.