There was rare excitement at the Mahalaxmi turf this Sunday not only because the season's first Indian classic was being staged but also Indian race-goers were eager to see the saddle artistry of Oisin Murphy. Well, none were disappointed. Murphy had a dream debut thanks to trainer Pesi Shroff's winning duo, Chamonix and Jendayi.

Murphy settled Jendayi in the rear bunch as her stable-mate Democracy went storming into the lead when the eight-horse field took off from the gates for the mile-long Trilegal-sponsored India 1000 Guineas (Gr.1). Murphy made his move only when the field had entered the home stretch as he switched gears astride Jendayi. In response, the bay daughter of Glenseagle out of Monasada quickened her pace and weaved her way through the middle to range alongside Cordelia and West Brook within a matter of seconds. Murphy pulled out his whalebone with a furlong left for home and Jendayi lengthened her strides to swoop down on Democracy, who enjoyed her uncontested lead, in the last few metres and romped home in style. Democracy held on to the runner-up slot from Ameerah, Miss American Pie and Cordelia. NS Parmar-ridden Miss American Pie, after gracing the wrong end till the final turn, took the shortest route throwing her gauntlet at the leaders and fought hard for supremacy in the final furlong. The second favourite was unable to gather enough momentum and had to settle for the fourth spot, a head behind Ameerah with Cordelia finishing a neck away. Bred at the Nanoli Stud Farms, Jendayi is the joint property of Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, Messrs Khushroo N. Dhunjibhoy, Zahir K. Dhunjibhoy and Ms Anita J. Captain.

The sparingly raced mare Chamonix, who started her career with a hat-trick about two years ago and then had to wait till October last to enter the winner's enclosure, was spot on with her form in the RJ Kolah Trophy, contested by a small field of five over a distance of a mile and quarter. Murphy couldn't have asked for a better ride to make a winning debut on the Indian soil as Shroff had a readymade winner for him in Chamonix. The British champion allowed bottom-weighted Golden Kingdom to call the early shots and kept Chamonix a handy second while Wall Street, Truly Epic and Rasputin raced behind. No sooner had Golden Kingdom brought the field into the straight, Murphy released the brakes on Chamonix (Dunaden – Beacon Lady) and got her going in a couple of strides. The mare streaked clear of her rivals and left them to chase her shadow in the last furlong. Golden Kingdom ran second with Rasputin and Wall Street finishing close on his haunches.

Shiraz Sunderji-nurtured Market King showed remarkable improvement over his previous run at Pune, when he ended fifth as favourite, and made ample amends for that failure in the Mahalaxmi Sprint Million. Yash Narredu aboard Joaquin and apprentice Mustakim Alam-ridden Son On A Gun virtually cut each other's throat in trying to wrest the lead as Market King and the Mysore-challenger O Hansini went in chase. Trevor Patel kept his cool despite the over five-length lead enjoyed by the front-running duo and came gunning for them both on entering the final run-in. The six-year old bay gelding was still travelling on the bit when he joined the issue with Joaquin after Son Of A Gun had expended his fuel. Market King (Leitir Mor – Only For Gold) sailed past Joaquin in a trice with Trevor guiding him for an effortless triumph. Joaquin succeeded in keeping Son Of A Gun at bay for the second place. O Hansini disappointed her band of followers as she failed to make an impression and ran fourth throughout.

Sunderji was back on the race-track to lead his second winner of the day in the last race when Superimpose made amends for his narrow defeat at the start of this season. Fancied as strongly as both Misty and Portofino Bay, Sunderji's ward ran in close attendance of Fidato who sprinted ahead as is his wont and led the big field of fourteen into the straight. S. Saqlain-driven Superimpose (Roderic O'Connor – Sorrento Steel) soon collared Fidato, who caved in meekly, and stretched out well to hit the wire first to lift the Korea Racing Authority Cup (Div-I) and also reverse the agonising trend of finishing runner-up in all his last four attempts. Phenom, though lethargic at the start, improved well to find his way through the shortest way home and finished a good second ahead of Adamas and Zukor. Top-weighted Misty was the last to enter the straight but finished fifth with a late-warming run. Portofino Bay was prominent till the last furlong and half but dropped back to finish at the tail end.

Malesh Narredu-mentored New Dimension also came into her own and justified her favouritism in the day's curtain raiser, the Korea Racing Authority Cup (Div-II). Mirae led the field in the early stages of the scurry with well-fancied Serrano overcoming the widest draw to be in close contention of the leader. New Dimesion however lacked early speed and was already under pressure as she progressed gradually from the rear. At one stage, when the heads turned for home, it appeared that Serrano would conquer Mirae but the well-bred gelding faltered and in fact receded from the fray. Meanwhile, Yash had set alight New Dimension (Multidimensional – Victoria Falls) and she came with a blistering run to tackle the leaders and stormed home for a convincing victory. Moonlight Kiss, Sweet Emotion and Mi Arion finished in that order in close proximity of each other behind the winner. Serrano is reported to have burst his blood vessels during the race.

The two-year old juvenile filly Spanish Eyes from Dallas Todywalla's string cashed in on her fitness and made a winning debut in the Satinello Trophy. Spanish Eyes (Excellent Art – Irish Bailey), assisted in the saddle by Trevor, tracked early leaders Earth and Trillionaire till opposite the grand stands. Trevor asked Spanish Eyes for an effort at this juncture and made his bid from the inner lane as Earth drifted out under pressure. Spanish Eyes swiftly assumed command and scampered home for a comfortable victory. CS Jodha succeeded in correcting Earth's drift and managed to edge out Running Star for the second slot. Desert Classic ended faraway in the fourth spot. Running Star should benefit from this experience.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-saddled Kanya Rishi tore away from the pack and established a runaway lead of more than a distance shortly after the nine-horse field jumped out of the starting stalls for the mile journey in the MN Nazir Trophy. Kanya Rashi did upset the calculations of his rivals but apprentice Mustakim-driven Golden Glow produced a sparkling run when asked for effort in the straight. Imtiaz Sait-schooled Golden Glow ranged alongside Trevor-partnered Finch as they both tackled Kanya Rishi, who had nothing left in his fuel-tank. Golden Glow (Excellent Art – Iceglow) flourished under Mustakim's confident hands to spurn the efforts of both, his main adversary Scaramanga and Finch. Kanya Rishi retired to the fourth place. Scaramanga appeared to be short of a run and should improve on this effort soon.

The six-year old grey Silver Steps, Scaramanga's owner-mate, finally managed to taste his maiden success in the Kusumben Dhirubhai Shah Trophy. Dagger's Strike with Trevor astride was smartly off from the blocks and, closer home, it appeared that the SS Shah trainee would kick on. But apprentice Navnath Bhosale brought Shazaan Shah,-trained Silver Steps (Saamidd – Princess Yamuna) with a spirited gallop down the straight to overwhelm Dagger's Strike in the dying moments of the race. The two were separated by a neck at the post. Spiritual Rock and Toofan, who completed the judge's frame, were both denied a clear run at a crucial juncture. Rubik Star, who was running on demotion, attracted a lot of money when being installed the first favourite but got into his stride quite late before finishing a close seventh.