Augustus Caesar (Holy Roman Emperor – Snowy Day In La, Equus Stud), trained by Altamash Ahmed,  carved out a hard-fought victory displaying superior resolve to shake off Awesome One who was looming large and at a time shaped well enough to raise expectations of even pulling off a comfortable win midway down the straight. However, some astute riding skills from Neeraj Rawal and the pull in weights that Augustus Caesar enjoyed, swayed the result in the favourite’s favour.

The race was reduced to a two-horse race as early as when Augustus Caesar and Awesome One locked horns passing the 400 m marker. At that juncture, Awesome One seemed to be shaping up nicely to collar the favourite. However, jockey Neeraj Rawal rode out determinedly and stuck alongside Awesome One. This pair fought stride for stride all the way to the wire. At one point, inside the final furlong, Awesome One again seemed on course to pull it off, but Augustus Caesar fought back fiercely to launch a strong rally to ward off the challenger and snatch a narrow verdict on the post. Awesome One and jockey Trevor will rue the missed chance as the race could have gone either way.

Dallas Todywalla trained Successor (Leitir Mor – Sweeping Success, Poonawalla Stud) pulled off her maiden win after a hard debut in early December. The 7/4 favourite had it relatively easy this time as he settled in third or fourth until the turn and then moved out slightly to get past early leader Zaeim soon on turning for home and then got going to take charge past the 400m.

Once she picked up momentum, jockey David Egan drove her forward and Successor was soon bounding away from her rivals. Zaeim failed to put up any resistance nor did Magic In The Wind. Successor looked the winner coming into the final furlong and scored a comfortable victory by a margin of two lengths. Alita ran on to take the runner up berth.

Pesi Shroff’s Del Mar (Phoenix Tower – Alumina, Manjri Stud) flaunted his superiority over his rivals, with a very late dash that surely must have set the hearts of his large supporters thumping. It was not an easy race for Del Mar as he was squeezed between horses at the jump and was trailing the bunch with only the unfancied Pulverize behind him. Trevor was calm all through and settled the gelding along the rails all the way into the straight.

Up ahead, Clarke Kent was galloping freely while entering the straight and had a bunch of horses a couple of lengths behind. Divine Glory came up with a fair challenge and collared Clarke Kent to take charge. Baku, Properly Posh and Oui Savage were racing alongside one another and Trevor tried to take Del Mar through the rail side. For his horror, Properly Posh closed the gap and Del Mar had to search for passage with only 300 to go. Trevor had to pull him out all the way and that took some doing. By then Properly Posh was scuttling towards the winning post with Divine Glory and Oui Savage close behind. Del Mar made a dramatic forward surge and picked up dazzling speed in the final fifty or so to floor them all and forge ahead to score a sensational win, thus scoring an encore in an impressive fashion. It would be surprising if Del Mar doesn’t extend his winning run and compile a hat-trick when he is out next.

Vishal Gaikwad worked wonders with his ward Van Dyke (Kingda Ka – Lassere, Nanoli Stud) for the manner in which the five year old gelding bounced back to score a win after a long layoff. And to have him tipped confidently to win on the strength of only preparation and mock drills this was commendable.

Western Front did most things right as he darted to the front soon on start and led the field into the straight. Van Dyke followed the leader into the straight and jockey Trevor had to work his way to bridge the gap Western Front had piled up. Inside the final furlong, Western Front was still clearly ahead, but Van Dyke arrived with a steaming burst of speed to collar Western Front a stride from the winning post and surged past to make his return to the turf remarkable and successful. Western Front was gallant in defeat and fought all the way only to give it away on the last stride.

Malesh Narredu trained Mystic Bay (Leitir Mor – Memory Bay, Poonawalla Stud) was another won who had some redemption to do and the trainer had him fit as a fiddle to roll out another victory, his first over the scurry.

Namaqua darted into the lead and jockey David Egan soon had Mystic Bay settle close behind the leader, with Impala and Wild Fire right on the tail. Namaqua felt the pressure soon on turning for home as Mystic Bay cruised along and got past him. Mystic Bay then powered away with giant strides and it was all over for the rest. Mystic Bay stretched out majestically to win by three lengths without having to spend much. Chephirah did well to finish second from the fast finishing Ebony and Super Mario.

Second in demand Athulya (Phoenix Tower – Java Bleue, Manjri Stud) spoiled the party for Nicollini with a splendid final spurt to floor the favourite close home. Nicollini had no trouble calling Rogue One’s bluff as the latter had led them all the way into the straight.  Nicollini brushed him aside with ease and galloped into the lead, also opening up a fair cushion. But she had no answer when Athulya picked up momentum in the final 100 meters. Jockey Nicky Mackay timed his run to perfection and nailed Nicollini a stride or two from the winning post to add to his solitary win that came in Pune last October. For Nicollini it was a shock defeat as she had beaten Athulya comfortably just three weeks ago. Sustaining through the additional furlong this time and the winner’s penalty may have swung it in Athulya’s favour.

Narendra Lagad trained Black Cherry (Kingda Ka – Maun Vrat, Nanoli Stud) put in a power-packed finish to trounce the opposition and notch up her maiden win on her tenth start.

About The cloud led them into the straight with Titanium in pursuit, fancied Twinspire raced along the rails when jockey Joy Chinoy produced Black Cherry from the outside. The moment they arrived on the scene, it was curtains for the rest as Black Cherry galloped powerfully and left them all stranded. She pulled away and kept the momentum going to score by close to three lengths. Grand Sinatra improved well towards the latter half of the straight to take the second place ahead of Titanium and Twinspire.  

Peerless (Poet’s Voice – Finnmark, Nanoli Stud) was showing off her fitness off her fitness on the work track and when she translated that fluency on the race track, there was no chance for the others, especially after she seemed to warm up rather late in the homestretch. Regal Shot stuck by Peerless from the entrance of the straight until past the distance post. That’s when jockey Akshay got Peerless to pick up speed. Once she found her rhythm, the MK Jadhav trainee stretched out nicely to win drawing away. She won with a good measure of comfort by a margin of two and half lengths. Regal Chot fought well and ended second. Dragonmoss, who was languishing cloer to the rear end, ran on to take the third spot.

For the professionals, jockeys P Trevor and David Egan scored a double each.