Trainer Dallas Todywalla and jockey David Allan picked up the first two races of the Mumbai Season 2017-18. The first race of the new season had two horses that hogged most of the betting with Anacapri and Goldie’s Pet being the top fancies.

God’s Own led them into the straight but could not carry on as he had done in Pune. David Allan had to wait a while atop Goldie’s Pet (Arazan – Ramjet, Poonawalla Astonish Stud)  as Anacapri alongside was too close for comfort and David had to squeeze between horses to make his way at the right juncture. Anacapri had the best chance to get the early advantage approaching the distance post, but she took a stride to many to make that surge forward. Goldie’s Pet poked through in a trice and galloped away to win comfortably. Anacapri needed this run and looks capable to score in her next outing.

Ruffina (Excellent Art – Miss Danehill, Villooo’s Greenfield Farm) had a usual day at the office making the final furlong her own. David Allan had the filly settled well along the rails as Remember Me hurried off to the front with Ship Rock in second. Mygrator ran alongside Ruffina with Super Shine in the rear.

Ship Rock picked up speed to go past Remember Me and with Mygrator warming up on the outside, Ruffina had to make her own way. David zig-zagged around the tiring Remember Me and sizzled through along the rails to charge ahead and leave them all behind, notching up her fifth victory on the trot and maintaining her unbeaten status. Ruffina is surely a star filly and higher glories are in store for the Dallas Todywalla trained filly.

Jockey P Trevor too showed good form, picking up a lucrative double on the day. He first partnered trainer SK Sunderji’s Turning Point to win, warding off favourite Take Five to carve out a narrow half-length victory.

Irisis led them into the straight and faded away. Take Five moved up to take the lead briefly as Trevor got Turning Point going inside the final furlong. Turning Point shot past Take Five and pulled off an exciting victory. Glorious Eyes arrived with a late gallop covering a lot of ground but just failed to land the runner up berth, finishing close behind Take Five.

Trevor next scored astride Lady Sergeant (Phoenix Tower – Autocop, Manjri Stud) downing hot favourite Lincoln with ease. Lincoln had to work his way to the front at the start and he led them by a couple of lengths right through into the homestretch. Trevor was never too far behind and stuck to the inner rails and then gradually pushed the SS Shah trained filly to move up. Lady Sergeant responded with a sparkling finish to get past Lincoln and gallop on ahead to win with a healthy margin. Lincoln managed to survive a scare to finish second as both Fringe Benefit and Shaoqing finished way too close for the minor placing.

Malesh Narredu ward Renato (Arazan – Free Radical, Poonawalla Astonish Stud) lived up to the reputation he had earned on his debut win at Pune with an all-out effort making a late dash to notch up a well-fought victory at Mumbai.

Princesslessgirl led them into the straight and kicked on gamely right till the end. Ascension put in a lively challenge and fought hard with the determined leader. Renato was still a couple of lengths behind the pair and jockey Suraj Narredu put in sustained efforts to egg the favourite on. Renato took his time to get into the groove but when he did, he came in with a sustained gallop to get the pair on the post in an exciting three-way finish.

Jockey YS Srinath made his presence felt with a good double partnering Forest Fairy and Moonshine skillfully to achieve positive results.

Forest Fairy was down the fiend in the first half of the race and had a lot to do in the straight as well. Hot favourite In The Stars was seeming on course to an expected victory and she had taken charge to lead them into the final furlong. Srinath improved positions in the straight and put in a lively chaolenge with Forest Fairy gaining ground at a brisk rate. In The Stars got under pressure and caved in and Forest Fairy zipped ahead with less than 100 to go. Sassy Lass progressed well and came up with a fast finish and did well to bag the runner up berth ahead of Glyndebourne and In The Stars.

Moonshine (Rebuttal – Crosspatch, Hazara Stud) did not get an ideal start and Srinath had to nurse the Karthik ward to improve positions initially. He was up with the front bunch at the turn and then rallied well to warm up well at the business end.

Milwalkee looked good in the straight but he was a touch wayward in the final furlong. Moonshine was coming at Milwalkee and Srinath had to be weary of the leader’s erratic run. Moonshine got forceful in the final fifty to outpace them all and win pulling away.

For the professionals, trainer Dallas Todywalla saddled a double, while jockeys YS Srinath, Trevor and David Allan scored a double each.