The penultimate race day of the Mumbai season saw only two favourites obliging. The Rajcoomar Gujadhur Trophy had two divisions and Enchanted, the shortest priced runner on the day was shocked in the dying moments of the race. Sanjay Kolse trained Charles Bridge (Varenar – Cogito Ergo Sum, Equus Stud) looked a no-hoper for most of the race until the time he was switched out near about the 300m mark.

Enchanted was out in front shaping up well to provide the finish for his good early speed. However, Dashrath Singh chose to niggle her on even past the 300, thereby not taking advantage of the early advantage. Charles Bridge, ridden astutely by jockey SA Amit, worked up good speed coming into the final furlong and swooped on the leader to gallop away covering the deficit quickly to carve out a narrow win on debut. Don’t wirte Enchanted off just yet, the Pune straight looks ideal for her and she could pull off a much needed win.

The upper division of the race was claimed by Dallas Todywalla ward Eden Rock (Strong Suit – Kismat, Manjri Stud) in an emphatic fashion, making a quick move from the gates to settle behind leader Julio Cesaro.

Julio Cesaro led them into the straight but when Eden Rock opened throttle, he surrendered his led meekly. Eden Rock picked up momentum and surged into the lead and then accelerated well to draw away from them all and post his debut win with a healthy margin. Chezza caught the eye too, surfacing from behind to fall just short of Fire Flame for the runner-up berth.

Southpaw (Bushranger – Quiet Appeal, Hazara Stud) pulled off another victory, this one perhaps the sweetest of his three wins in a row. He shot into the lead soon on settling down and worked up a fine rhythm coming into the straight. Apprentice jockey G Amit drove out Southpaw and the Faisal Abbas ward showed a good clean pair of heels to run away from his rivals commanding over the rest all through the homestretch. Princess P ended a good second while favourite Miss Moneypenny ran on to save place money.

The Faisal-Amit combination struck again in the concluding race of the day with Rio De Janerio (Arazan – Glorious Fantasy, Cyza Stud). The change of name certainly worked for her and she shook off the jinx and achieved her much needed maiden win.

Rio De Janerio settled in third coming into the straight with Adams Beginning leading them in. Rio De Janerio got past Forever Free to join Adams Beginning past the 400m mark. Jockey G Amit rode out astutely to progress steadily with every stride and soon overhauled Adams Beginning and draw away. He looked the winner in the final 150 m or so but Amit egged him all the ensuring no last second surprises. Adams Beginning was humbled but stayed put for the runner up berth. Eternal Dancer improved well to end in the money.

Golden Eclipse (Aqlaam – Dream Dance, Nanoli Stud) picked up the Racing Journalists Trophy in a humdinger. Fribourge looked in control coming into the homestretch, but he had a bunch of horses snapping at his tail. Jockey NS Parmar showed a lot of patience and experience in waiting along the rails with Golden Eclipse and this bore fruit as he got the opening he was waiting for in the ick of time. He shot through in a trice with less than 100m to go and stuck it out valiantly to win in a blanket finish. Cosimo was the quickest of the finishers and did splendidly well to come through a bunch of horses and take the second slot ahead of Relentless Pursuit and Lady In Red all finishing in closely.

Nextstar (Stern Opinion – Miss Langkawi, Pratap Racecitement) galloped away to an easy start to finish victory. He was backed with confidence too and a successful soup was pulled off nicely.

Hitting the front from the start, Nextstar produced good speed in the straight to stretch his lead all the way past the winning post. None of the opposition, including fancied Bidstone Hill could match up with his scorching pace. Royal Ace did do any good to his cause by drifting out wide and racing on the half nearer to the stands. Yet he managed to finish second by just over a length. Montana pushed hard along the rails and managed to edge out Bidstone Hill for the third place.  

Dazzle N Daze (Sedgefield – Dixie Dahlin, Jai Govind Stud) got one better over his last outing second, this time forcing his way forward under the able handling of jockey SA Amit. Whoopsydaisy led them into the straight and was shaping well when Dazzle N Daze whipped up good forceful gallop to get the better of his more fancied rival. Favourite Sweeping Move never looked in the hunt finally ending third just ahead of Star Ace.

For the professionals, trainer Faisal Abbas saddled a double, while apprentice jockeys SA Amit and G Amit scored a double each.