With the handicap scales tilted in his favour, Sheraz Sunderji trained Market King (Leitir Mor – Only For Gold) was spot on as the market fancy in the betting ring when he carried the public’s purse to victory in the Fair Haven Trophy, a sprint event for horses in Class I. The bay gelding achieved the fifth success of his career in workman-like fashion. NS Parmar propelled Market King into the lead when the gates opened and the 6 to 4 against favourite was never headed by any of his six rivals though Endeavour made a gallant but failed attempt to catch him in the final furlong. The second favourite was done in by the weight he was asked to concede but the Imtiaz Sait trainee was not disgraced in this defeat. Unable to wrest the lead at the start, Sky Fall who had shown a clear pair of heels to Market King earlier was outpaced throughout and ended a tame third after Endeavour improved his position. Gazino and the rest “also ran”.

Another horse who failed to shoulder the burden on his back was Pesi Shroff’s ward Botero, the on-money favourite to win the Juventus Plate. B Prithviraj schooled Karanveer (Excellent Art – Starry Eyes) dictated the terms to his four rivals over the mile and half trip and had enough fuel to reach his destination. Trevor Patel played a waiting game astride Botero till the heads turned for home and then brought him into contention. Botero made an aggressive move but A Imran Khan kept Karanveer going under the whip and won sparing a length. Easy Rider also started his bid in the straight but could only beat the tiring Own Voice and Own Legacy.

Trainer Narendra Lagad had an ace up his sleeve in Golden Neil (Excellent Art – Mauna Kea) with whom he claimed the BK Lagad Trophy reserved maiden juveniles. The Joy Chinoy ridden chestnut gelding was fit as a fiddle after his easy outing in the WIRHOA Trophy early and he simply smashed his rivals to lift the trophy for owner Laxmikumar Goculdas, whose family patronised late BK Lagad during his heyday. Favourite Sierra Dela Plata warmed up late to her task and ended a faraway second to Golden Neil, Kimiko and Silver Spring filled the frame. The rest of the runners were reduced to spectators by the winner’s speedy show.

Lady trainer Nazzak Chenoy took both the divisions of the Yogender Singh Trophy through Enlightened (Leitir Mor – Mazeej) and Sovereign Master (Strong Suit – Sky High), who had both run in the race won by Esperanza on Independence day. While the victory of Enlightened was on expected lines, Sovereign Master surprised everyone with the surprising progress in form. Nevertheless, the half-money favourite Enlightened gave Trevor Patel an armchair ride and proved far too speedy for the older set contesting on this occasion. Enlightened won pulling up from Stars For You, Victoria Peak and The Pianist.

The fact that Sovereign Master had finished dead last,17 lengths behind Esperanza and had cut a timing which was slower than that of runaway winner Northern Singer on the same day put the punters off his trail on this occasion. Entrusted to 5kg-claimer Praveen Shinde after his two runs in the hands of R Shelar, Sovereign Master showed remarkable improvement over his previous effort and stuck to his task after leading all the way. Apprentice Shinde earned his maiden career win in the process. Northern Singer wasn’t able to assert his superiority despite matching stride for stride with Sovereign Master from the start, he failed to overhaul the winner who proved to be three parts of a length superior at the wire. Gusty Girl ran a good third and should improve after this exposure. Cipher was outpaced and ended fourth.

MK Jadhav trained Amped (Speaking Of Which – Ambrosia) lived up to the promise shown in her last run when she ran an eye-catching third in the Independence Million behind Leto and earned her maiden win in the lowest class. The filly was taken on a pillar to post mission over the mile and quarter journey by NS Parmar and the bay filly cantered home ahead of Lightning Fairy who was in hopeless chase throughout. Verdandi ran on to find a place in the money ahead of Willy Wonkaa.

Mystical Rose (Speaking Of Which – Supreme Princess) provided her master Malesh Narredu the first win of the season when she was powered by MS Deora to gain the upper hand in the shadow of the winning post. The bay filly ran on strongly in the final furlong to overtake Midas Touch, Sky Hawk, Tyrone Black and Dragoness who were disputing the issue in the home stretch. Dragoness failed to improve on her gate manners but raised hopes with a dazzling run as she cover lost ground and appeared poised to wrest the lead from Midas Touch. The filly couldn’t gallop fluently and ended fifth. Favourite Full Of Grace was hampered for room just before the turn as Dragoness went past and then she travelled wide in the home stretch, which may have marred her chances. Full Of Grace couldn’t do much except finish a close sixth abreast of Tyrone Black, Midas Touch and Dragoness.

The aged gelding The Flutist (Burden Of Proof – Angel Child) put in a resolute run when jockey TS Jodha alerted him and snapped rank outsider Twelfth Earl’s runaway bid. The Flutist won by neck from Twelfth Earl in a three-way finish and an identical distance behind was Cognosco. Anoushka ran fourth.