The eight-year old gelding Iron Age added another success to his illustrious career when he lifted the Dr SC Jain Sprinters Championship (Gr.2), Sunday’s prime event run over six furlongs. Trevor Patel went on a wire-to-wire mission astride Imtiaz Sait nursed Iron Age and thwarted the gallant bid of Hunting Goddess, who was pitted against some seasoned campaigners. PS Chouhan-ridden Hunting Goddess shadowed Iron Age (Strong Suit – Intrigue) till the horses turned for home and it was the closest she could get to the winner during the race. Trevor gave Iron Age a couple of reminders with his stick in the last furlong as the bay kept his advantage intact till the end. Corfe Castle raced at the wrong end of the five-horse field till entering the straight and improved to finish third ahead of Market King and Fast Rain, who ran hopelessly throughout.

The juvenile filly Reminiscence, who is bred as full sister to Forest Flame, made a winning debut to claim the NM Irani Trophy. Maysara jumped out smartly from the widest draw to take charge of the running with Bubbly Boy, Golden Glow and Ugly Truth close on her heels. Chouhan made steady progress with Reminiscence to join the pack at the bend and chose to come the shortest way home. Reminiscence (Leitir Mor – Memory Bay) luckily got a safe passage as she came alongside Bubbly Boy towards the inner rails and got a clear run with a furlong and half left for the winning line. It took just a couple of backhanders for the bay filly to trigger a superb run en route to an authoritative victory over Maysara, which provided Chouhan his second winner and the third for her master. Maysara held on grimly to finish runner up, a nose ahead of Golden Glow and Transcend who, despite running erratic in the closing stages of the six furlong event, ended a neck away. Neeraj Rawal-piloted Azrinaz ended fifth after failing to quicken when asked for an effort.   

With the very recent emphatic victory under her belt, Pesi’s ward Swift was backed to the exclusion of her rivals in the day’s opening event, a six-furlong sprint. Apprentice Kirtish Bhagat-ridden Swift (Dabirsim – Love Is Enough) lacked initial speed but came from way behind to join initial leaders Toussaint and Inishmore, who were chased by Queens Pride and Pyrrhus in the home stretch. Swift, who essayed her challenge on the extreme outside, displayed a tremendous turn of foot opposite the stands to register another facile win. Pyrrhus ended a good second with Queens Pride and Inishmore in close tow.

The bay filly Inamorata, who went down to San Salvatore over seven furlongs in fading light last Sunday, relished the extra furlong and was powered by Chouhan to inflict a narrow defeat on Justin, who had almost toppled her close home. Chouhan settled Inamorata close on the heels of leader Otello and assumed command when the field straightened for home even as Alpha Domino tried to collar her but in vain. Meanwhile Justin was off to a tardy start but recovered swiftly to hug the inner rails and charting a straight course. But Justin played truant the moment Bhawani Singh switched lanes in a bid to bring Karthik Ganapathy’s ward into contention. Similar to his act on debut, Justin veered out alarmingly with Bhawani having a harrowing time in controlling his drift. It was too late by the time Justin could race on an even keel which allowed Inamorata (Roderic O’Connor – Coccinella) to hit the wire first and finish three-parts length in front. Alpha Domino and Galway Bay followed them home.

Following his ward’s defeat on Derby day, trainer Narendra Lagad’s decision to race Son Of A Gun without any lead in his saddle in the highest class paid off as the son of Top Class out of Indian Serenade earned his third bracket this season. Unlike his previous outing, apprentice Mustakim Alam succeeded in getting Son Of A Gun to hit the front and the bay colt scampered home to frustrate A Sandesh atop favourite Count Of Savoy, who failed to match strides despite his rider’s feverish attempts to get him going. Flying Visit and Giant Star figured on the judge’s board. 

Later in the day, Mustakim justified trainer Faisal Abbas’s decision to claim his 3.5kg allowance atop Murwara Princess and gave a confident riding display to ward off the spirited challenge of Charlie, who was hard-ridden by Chouhan. Key To The Mint assumed the front running role over the mile and quarter assignment and was followed initially by Rue St Honore, Empower, Kiefer and Flaming Lamborgini. The S Saqlain-steered bay gelding held the advantage till passing the 200m-marker where Charlie and Murwara Princess were stirred into action simultaneously. Fortune favours the brave it is said and Mustakim’s risky call in making his bid through the inner rails worked in Murwara Princess’s favour. Murwara Princess (Tenth Star – Radical Attraction) slipped through the gap offered by Kiefer and this first move advantage gave her a slender lead over Charlie who was just getting into his stride. Mustakim seemed quite pumped up as he tackled Rue St Honore and Key To The Mint and then showed good resolve in repelling Charlie’s fierce attack to emerge victorious by the proverbial whisker. Sandesh-ridden Zarak, after coming from way back, faced traffic problems when taking the shortest route home. Despite rallying well, the weight seemed to have told on Zarak’s effort as he finished third. Similar was the story of top-weighted Regal Command who ended a close fourth.

It was a case of third time lucky for Willy Wonka from trainer S Waheed’s yard, who ran true to form to gain his maiden success. Ridden by Sandesh, Willy Wonka (Smuggler’s Cove – Enchanted Forest) was racing in company of horses who barely possessed any current form and not surprisingly was he backed down to even-money favouritism. Ridden well off the pace over the mile and quarter journey as Prince O’War called the early shots, Sandesh launched his assault with Willy Wonka only when the field entered the final lap. The moment Sandesh relaxed his grip on the reins, Willy Wonka surged past Zborowski and the winner was sighted long way from home. Mighty Wings ended runner up with Gimme finishing in the money ahead of Verdandi. Mighty Wings was the best of the beaten lot and could strike before the season ends.