Adhiraj Jodha trained Pure Zinc (Sedgefield – Skipperess, Jai Govind Stud) who last won over two years back and has battled fitness issues, bounced back to beat hot favourite and Classic hope Missing You with a perfectly timed finish. Missing You did most things right; she took a good jump and cruised in to the lead and held sway all the way until surprised by Pure Zinc.

Missing You entered the straight and looked on course to score an encore. Flying Visit the closest behind Missing You, was stretching the favourite as he was right at her heels. Pure Zinc was a good couple of lengths further behind with less than two furlongs to go. One thought she would gallop away as she had done last time out, but there was a twist this time round.

Pure Zinc with apprentice jockey Santosh in the saddle, started to accelerate approaching the distance post and was catching up at a brisk pace. He first accounted for Flying Visit and then challenged Missing You with less than a 100 to go. Sandesh rode all out, yet could not contain the fast finishing gelding and Pure Zinc created a flutter when he surged ahead to register an exciting victory by a narrow half-length margin.

Pure Zinc had last run in February this year and it is to the credit of trainer Adhiraj Jodha to have brought him back to the level of fitness he showed while beating the filly in form, particularly after a longish break. As for Missing You, there is not much to be disappointed over this loss, as the start to finish tactics may not have suited her best. She has the potential to shrug this defeat off and will live to fight another day.  

Kildare (Leitir Mor – Awarding, Poonawalla Stud) after an ordinary showing in his earlier run, came good and how! The Sunderji trained colt settled nicely in third as his main rival and second in demand God’s Plan made the early running with Luminosity a close second. Sandesh decided to make an early move and guided Kildare past the front runners to lead them into the straight.

Once he took charge, Kildare sailed away delightfully and shut the competition out early in the straight. He strode away fluently adding distance with every stride, eventually winning with a huge margin. Sandman could have been ridden a lot better. Not that he would have threatened the runaway winner, but he was urged early, took the turn wide and ended a faraway second which didn’t look good for a seasoned rider. God’s Plan was a patch of his early run and ended a tame third.

Hosidar Daji’s ward Sunrise Ruby (Whatsthescript – Venus Arising, Nanoli Stud) picked up her second victory on the trot with a splendid graduation to a mile. She had won over seven furlongs last time out fighting off Notoriety, but this time she looked in command and tackled the extra furlong with ease. Sunrise Ruby had run third to Kildare on her debut in Mumbai; interestingly, Kildare, Notoriety and Sunrise Ruby each won their respective races on the same day this time.

 Sitting behind leader Fleur De Lys all the way, app jockey Nazil galloped past the leader to take charge early in the straight. The lad rode out vigorously as he had Mighty Warrior coming up with a game challenge. Nazil deftly handled the outward drift of Sunrise Ruby and kept his cool and control over the filly and successfully thwarted the attempts of Mighty Warrior who was constantly applying pressure from the outside. Sunrise Ruby kicked on relentlessly to stay ahead wearing down Mighty Warrior to spare just over a length at the wire. Enid Blyton was under pressure all through the straight, but did well to pip Safdar on the post for the third spot. Rainbow Trout disappointed and was never in the hunt.

Pesi Shroff’s Notoriety (Speaking of Which – Farrfesheena, Usha Stud) improved upon her previous showing and notched up her maiden victory on her third start and obliged a large following. The on-money favourite settled quickly in second behind Akina Speed Star and got last the leader as they wheeled round the corner.

Once in the lead, jockey S John got the filly going picking up momentum soon on turning for home. Gold Magic got a bit closer in the first half of the straight, but failed to sustain. Notoriety pushed further ahead in the final few strides to win drawing away in the last part. Gold Magic ran on to finish second, just ahead of the fast finishing Ex’s And Oh’s while Velvet Vibes improved slightly to take the remaining berth in the frame.

Debutante Recall of You (Excellent Art -   Polished Chrome, Villoo’s Greenfield Farm) scored a memorable debut win, but did get a scare in the final stages with a spirited challenge from Lady Lanette and Rising Sun in the final run up to the winning post.  

Getting off the blocks quickly, Recall of You galloped at a steady pace to lead the field comfortably until into the straight. While Ashwa Chintz faded out after chasing the leader into the straight, Rising sun and Lady Lanette set about in chase of the Dallas Todywalla ward in front. Recall of You had a lead of about two lengths approaching the distance post. Lady Lanette and Rising Sun both launched an all-out attack and inched closer to the leader. Jockey Sandesh was at his persevering best and kept the momentum going all through even as the duo was getting too close for comfort. Recall of you held on to win narrowly with Lady Lanette and Rising Sun breathing down her neck in a thrilling three-way finish.

Dallas Todywalla got his second for the day with Golden Guest (Excellent Art – Queen’s Guest, Poonawalla Stud) who notched up his fourth win in six starts, showing his penchant for the shorter sprints after finishing off the frame in the SA Poonawalla Million a mile affair.

He was right there up front in second alongside Pokerface until the turn, with Silver Flames and Hells Bells not too far away. Headway was a couple of lengths behind these four.

Jockey David Egan surged ahead with Golden Guest at the turn and soon built a handy lead. Silver Flames failed to quicken and looked in trouble the moment they turned for home. Headway moved up nicely to beat the rest while he too could not match up to the final blaze that Golden Guest displayed. Golden Guest won convincingly sparing over two lengths over Headway while Silver Flames just about managed to save the place money holding off Castilian, the latter improving from the rear.         

 Earlier, at the start of the day, Ms Nazzak Chenoy’s Maestro (Phoenix Tower – Xtreme, Manjri Stud) brought about his maiden win on his 14th start. He was up in front disputing the lead with Bohemian right from the start. Once they entered the straight, Maestro broke away from his companion and galloped gamely all the way to ensure he sealed the issue past the stands.  Romantic Eyes did cover some ground, but could only manage to beat Cray Cray for the runner-up berth.

Rehanullah Khan trained Eternal Dancer (Dancing Forever – Moselle, Hazara Stud) won the concluding race of the day, with the jockey Kishore Kadam holding his nerve and balance as the front running Angels Harmony veered out at a crucial stage and bumped into Eternal Dancer. As a result, jockey Akshay Gaikwad atop Angels Harmony sustained a fall but escaped almost unhurt. Angels Harmony had a slight advantage inside the final furlong, but Eternal Dancer was catching up at a quick rate. Just when Eternal Dancer caught up with Angels Harmony, the latter shifted out and ran into Eternal Dancer resulting in the fall. Jockey Kishore glanced over instinctively, but was in control to ensure victory despite the sudden and unexpected collision. Sandalphon and Royal Ace deadheated for the minor places.

For the professionals, trainer Dallas Todywalla and jockey A Sandesh scored a double each.