Form held good on the opening day of the new Mumbai season with fancied horses coming to the fore and giving the punters a decent start to the season. It was special for jockey Leigh Roche as he got down to business and enjoyed a great first day at office with a fine treble to begin his campaign in style. Roche took to the Mahalaxmi track instantly, winning his first mount here and then shining through the day winning three of his five riding engagements.

Intense Stylist (Western Aristocrat – Spica, Ruia Stud) bounced back to winning ways and this one too was an impressive display. Jockey Trevor just had to guide the Sunderji ward and nothing more.  He settled nicely and quickly in the fourth spot as Colosseum led them homewards with Improvisso and Anatevka close behind.

Improvisso took charge briefly on turning for home but soon Intense Stylish drew abreast on tight reins and looked the winner there and then! Intense Stylist was far too superior and simply cruised ahead to sail further away without Trevor having to move a muscle. He strode out majestically to score his third career win with a lot in the saddle and is certain to add to his win tally. Merlot improved in the straight and did fairly well to take the runner up spot ahead of Jetfire and Anatevka.   

The enthusiastic Sunday crowd watched Roche get his first leg-up in the second race of the day, partnering Pesi Shroff trainee Spitfire (Phoenix Tower – Athlone, Manjri Stud). Roche nursed the three-year-old nicely and settled closer to the rear end of the field as Mount McKinley hit the front and leading the all the way until the turn.

Mount McKinley faded out soon and with Bold March unable to forge ahead, Collegium took charge in the straight. Roche eased Spitfire into a rhythm and cruised up on the outside. He tackled Collegium easily and surged ahead in the final furlong to sail away and win easing up. It was a clinical victory on debut for Irish jockey on the Indian turf and had the crowd nodding in appreciation in the manner he won with the on-money favourite Spitfire. Timeless Deeds ran to beat Collegium for the runner up berth.

The major betting trend was distributed between Between The Waters and Arabia. After seeing Roche in action a race earlier, punters confidently backed Arabia despite the filly not doing too well at Pune on her debut. Roche had earned a reputation after just one race! And he did not let his supporters down.

Eagleinthesky hit the front with Smart Choice in close attendance, Arabia right behind these two with Mount Olympus moving up to run alongside, then came Sandalphon, Between the Waters and the rest.   

Eagleinthesky led them into the straight with Mount Olympus on his outside; Roche ensured he did not get caught between the duo keeping Arabia right between the two and moved through the gap just at the right time without hurrying the filly. Between the Waters was off the bridle soon on turning for home and was catching up with the trio when Roche pressed the button. Arabia (Multidimensional – Adamile, Usha Stud) responded well and surged forward instantly to break away from them all. Just two cracks and Arabia stretched out nicely to score an emphatic maiden victory by a healthy margin. It was not the quickest with regard to the timing, but a four-length victory on her second career start holds promise of potential and the filly sure has a bright future. Between the Waters ended a humble second. Bounty Queen did well to earn place stakes.

Leigh Roche rounded off the day with another victory astride La Rondine (Kingda Ka – Rahy’s Serenade, Nanoli Stud) in the day’s concluding race. Roche was tested here as he moved up from fifth to be third entering the straight, just behind Marianella who in turn was a couple of lengths behind leader Flaming Martini. Roche was caught in two minds as he first went on the inside of Marianella and then changed his mind and switched to the outside with about 400 to go. That he did it deftly without break the filly’s stride, who was out on her debut, was laudable. They still had some leeway to cover and Roche had to ride all out. They set about bridging the gap and inched closer with every stride with a furlong to go. La Rondine picked up speed closing in on Flaming Martini and accelerated well to zip ahead and post a comfortable victory on debut. Flaming Martini ended second ahead of Marianella and Kingsman.

Riquewihr (Phoenix Tower – Coconut Squeak, Manjri Stud) produced a fiery gallop to win the five-furlong scurry beating the rest emphatically. Sitting in a close second position alongside Arabian Storm until the turn, Riquewihr stormed into the lead soon on turning for home. The Shroff-trained filly picked up speed and tore away from the rest leaving no chance to any of her rivals to even make a fight of it. She won easing up allowing Pokerface to cut the margin of victory without giving him any hope whatsoever.  Locarno managed to pip Gold Field to finish third.

Adhirajsingh Jodha trained Lucky Luciano (Rebuttal Aksinya, Vikram Greenland Stud) packed a punch in his finish and he needed anything but luck to score a resounding victory to clinch the Janak Ram Jethmalani Memorial Trophy, a mile affair for class IV horses. He was way behind in the early half of the race as Angels Harmony and Golden Hind shot ahead to establish a runaway lead all the way until the turn. While the former petered out, Golden Hind had a handy lead approaching the distance post. However, he failed to sustain and was tiring towards the end, but Lucky Luciano finished with a flourish to storm ahead and post an impressive victory. Strong Strom and Pandarosa finished on well to take the minor placing. Hyannis laboured hard but the weight told and finished one off the frame, just behind Golden Hind who just about managed to hold a place in the frame.     

 Adhiraj had earlier saddled Blitzkrieg (Sedgefield – Forest Family, Jai Govind Stud) who spoiled the party for Bonafide, pegging the latter back close home, in the opening event of the day. Bonafide shot into the lead soon on turning for home getting past both early leader Outstanding and Fire Flame. He built up a sizable lead and was shaping well to last the stretch when Blitzkrieg start to inch closer. It was in the last 100 meters that Blitzkrieg really started to get the measure of Bonafide and eventually surged ahead to win by a narrow margin. 

For the professionals, trainer Pesi Shroff had a fruitful day leading in three winners as did jockey Leigh Roche. Trainer Adhirajsing Jodha and jockey P Trevor scored a double each.