SS Attaollahi trained Forest Flame showed yet again that he is an extraordinary athlete, showing no signs of any rustiness and thumping the opposition while winning the Maharaja Jeewajirao Scindia Trophy (Gr2) in an emphatic fashion. Whatever the opposition, it takes talent to reappear on the race track after a nine-month layoff and then win in the manner she did!

Forest Flame (Leitir Mor – Memory Bay, Poonawalla Stud) stayed off the pace through the first half of the nine-furlong race as Bold Legend surprisingly made all the early pace. Forest Flame, with Sandesh up, cruised past them all early in the straight and tackled them easily to shoo them away and win easing up by a healthy margin at that. Taimur followed the winner home a good three lengths away.

It was a similar case a couple of races earlier with Iron Age (Strong Suit – Intrigue, Manjri Stud) blowing away his rivals in much the same manner. The Imtiaz Sait ward put his loss in the Sprinters’ Cup behind and was fresh for the new task on hand. He led from the start and jockey Sandesh had him on a tight rein for most of the six-furlong sprint and unleashed just when required to race away from his rivals and make it a no-contest bagging the Mahalaxmi Trophy (Gr3) in style. Augustus Caesar ran on to beat Gazino close home for the runner-up slot.

Narendra Lagad’s Son of a Gun (Top Class – Indian Serenade, Mukteshwar Stud) regained lost ground at the start as jockey Dashrath Singh confidently pushed his mount to take over the running within the fist two furlongs, leading them into the straight. Son of a Gun was hard held until well into the final furlong while the others were off the bridle much sooner. Fortunate Son, who led until Son of a Gun got past him at 600m, warmed up late, thus narrowing down the margin to just one length. Emperor Roderic also gained in the final furlong to finish a fair third. Prince O’ War looked work-in-progress and will have to improve as he failed to make an impression.

Forest Flame (Leitir Mor – Memory Bay, Poonawalla Stud) stayed off the pace through the first half of the nine-furlong race as Bold Legend surprisingly made all the early pace. Forest Flame, with Sandesh up, cruised past them all early in the straight and tackled them easily to shoo them away and win easing up by a healthy margin at that. Taimur followed the winner home a good three lengths away.

It was a similar case a couple of races earlier with Iron Age (Strong Suit – Intrigue, Manjri Stud) blowing away his rivals in much the same manner. The Imtiaz Sait ward put his loss in the Sprinters’ Cup behind and was fresh for the new task on hand. He led from the start and jockey Sandesh had him on a tight rein for most of the six-furlong sprint and unleashed just when required to race away from his rivals and make it a no-contest bagging the Mahalaxmi Trophy (Gr3) in style. Augustus Caesar ran on to beat Gazino close home for the runner-up slot.

Pesi Shroff trained Northern Lights (Lethal Force – Perception, Usha Stud) raced to his second victory, pegging back stablemate The Bawaji in a narrow finish. The Bawaji took over from Empower past the 1000m mark and was soon joined by Northern Lights. Into the straight, The Bawaji stuck by, even as Northern Lights, ridden by Kritish Bhagat, threatened to surge away. Wayin was cramped for room while Multistarrer was not making much headway despite an all-out effort. Northern Lights eventually nailed it by a neck from The Bawaji, with Empower and Wayin alongside. The top four finished within half a length.

Altasmah Ahmed’s Enid Blyton (Showcasing – Passing Hour, Equus Stud) snatched a thrilling win to claim the Mathradas Goculdas Trophy for Class II horses. Revelator led for the most part early on, but fell back when Pride’s Angel came alongside and quickened for home. Pride’s Angel galloped well and neither Sunrise Ruby nor Mount Moriah could match up to him. Enid Blyton started to close-in approaching the distance post and soon engaged Pride’s Angel on a long rally. The duo fought out the final furlong and it was only in the last couple of strides that Enid Blyton got the better of the fighting Pride’s Angel to win by a head. Sunrise Ruby finished more than two lengths further behind.

Subhag Singh trained Marlboro Man (Royal Gladiator – Money Penny, Pratap Stud) put up a good show to get his maiden win on his ninth start. It was hard labor though for jockey TS Jodha, who had to work on Marlboro man even before they turned for home. Shadows and Beastia were in front on entering the straight and Marlboro Man was pushed hard to get closer. It was in the last 150 meters or so that Marlboro Man drew level with Beastia and as he put his neck in front, there were fresh threats brewing. Verdandi, Power of Thor Sussing were all closing-in fast but Marlboro Man held his nerve and lunged at the winning post to spare a clear half-length to the fast finishing Power of Thor. Verdandi did well to finish in the money as did Sussing to take the remaining post in the frame.

HJ Antia trained Untitled (Sussex – Overdrive, Pratap Stud) pulled off a neat start-to-finish victory in the opener of the day. Jockey Shubham took untitled to the front and once in the straight kept the nine-year-old going all the way. Untitled shifted out too midway down the straight, but Shubham managed to stay well ahead to carve out an easy three lengths plus margin victory. Lagertha held on to the runner-up slot from Hilad.

Chamonix (Dunaden – Beacon Lady, Manju Stud) scored a memorable debut win and also provided Shroff and Bhagat with a good double on the day. The race came to a boil once they turned for home and Luminosity had barely taken over when Redefined surged past him. Chamonix soon arrived on a tight rein and toyed with Redefined before darting ahead to pull off an impressive win. Luminosity added further woes as he rallied to beat Redefined for the second place. Chamonix scored an impressive win for a debut run and is most likely to score an encore.

Desert Fire (Arazan – Lady Angharad, Villoo’s Greenfield Farm) to a facile victory as she dominated in the homestretch to outpace the rest. Dilbar led them into the straight but soon lost the lead to Desert Fire. Jockey Sandesh was in complete control as Desert Fire blazed away to pile up the lead, to win by five lengths. Stars For You ran on to beat Enlightened for the second spot.

For the professionals, trainers Pesi Shroff and Narendra Lagad saddled a double each; jockey Sandesh scored a treble while jockey Kirtish Bhagwat scored a double.