Despite conceding weight to his two rivals, Golden Neil put in a solid performance to overshadow both Rasputin and stable-mate Coeur De Lion when lifting the RN Kanga Trophy on Sunday. Crowd favourite Rasputin, with S. Saqlain aboard, lacked initial pace and it was PS Chouhan-piloted Coeur De Lion who assumed his customary front-running role and was followed closely by Mustakim Alam-driven Golden Neil. As the three-horse approached the final turn, Rasputin progressed to make headway through the shortest way home. Rasputin slipped through the narrow opening towards the inner rails to range alongside Coeur De Lion and Golden Neil and looked poised to assume command. But Mustakim immediately switched gears to spur Golden Neil and it took just a couple of strides for the Narendra Lagad trained son of Excellent Art out of Mauna Kea to gain the upper hand over his two adversaries. Golden Neil then gathered momentum and went clear of both Rasputin and Coeur De Lion. Saqlain tried to get the judges' verdict overturned in the stewards' room but it turned out to be a hopeless exercise as it was clear from the replay that despite the interference he caused when overtaking Rasputin, Golden Neil was the better moving horse. Mustakim thus avenged the defeat astride Coin Empress, which he had suffered at the hands of Saqlain-ridden Mighty Wings half an hour earlier. 

In the day's opening event, Coin Empress took charge of the running shortly after the field of seven took off for the mile event with Mighty Wings, Zarafat, Goomah and the rest running in a single file. Saqlain brought Mighty Wings into contention as the field swung into the straight and closed in on Coin Empress. The two horses fought a pitched battle thereafter with Coin Empress putting up a brave front till the final furlong where Mighty Wings (David Livingston – Fearless Nadia) gained a slender lead and then Saqlain got the well-backed Hosidar Daji-groomed mare to stretch out and snuff out his rival's valiant effort. Zarafat and Goomah ran on to take the other two minor places on the judge's frame. 

Lady trainer Nazzak Chenoy, who had just a solitary winner this season, added two to her tally through Shambala and Liam. The three-year old chestnut colt Shambala had advertised his fitness when finishing late but an impressive second to Raise The Stakes a fortnight ago and was installed as a firm favourite to claim the Charles Forbes Trophy (Div-II). Shambala (Planetaire – Ice Cube Baby) swerved to his left as he jumped out from the widest draw but Imran Chisty gained control swiftly to go surging into the lead. The even-money favourite then showed a clean pair of heels on the way to his maiden success. Trillionaire was in pursuit of the winner all the way and ended runner-up ahead of Thundering Phoenix and Celestina. Second favourite Substantial languished in the rear throughout the six-furlong trip. 

Antony Raj ridden Liam produced a sparkling run when asked for an effort and swooped down on both Phenom and Whatsinaname in the shadow of the post. Lord Fenicia made the initial running and held the advantage till close home where Whatsinaname managed to tackle after being hard-ridden by Saqlain but her lead didn't last long as Fashion Icon and NS Parmar-steered favourite Phenom were both breathing down her neck. Meanwhile, Liam found his rhythm and came with a powerful run to join Phenom in challenging Whatsinaname. Antony's power-packed finishing effort enabled Liam (Planetaire – Swan Maiden) to overwhelm both Phenom and Whatsinaname a couple of strides before the wire in a three-way finish. A neck separated Liam from Phenom with Whatsinaname finishing three-parts of a length away. Stunning Visual finished on well towards the end to finish close on the haunches of Whatsinaname. 

Malesh Narredu-schooled also benefitted from his debut run and found lady luck smiling on him as he went on to graduate from the maiden ranks in the Charles Forbes Trophy (Div-I). Quicker, with Yash Narredu in the saddle, showed the way to his rivals and had a narrow lead over Aperol and Knight Crusader as the duo chased him all the way. Cs Jodha-driven Aperol and Knight Crusader both launched their assault about a furlong and half away from home and looked poised to overpower Quicker. But Antony Raj-partnered Knight Crusader drifted out alarmingly at this juncture to reach the outer rails whilst Aperol failed to quicken. Yash remained unruffled and drove Quicker (Speaking Of Which – Quaker Ridge) resolutely to gain a comfortable win over Aperol and Knight Crusader. Pesi Shroff-saddled debutant Mighty Sparrow showed no early speed and raced at the wrong end of the field before warming up to his task in the final run-in. The bay colt has good scope to improve after this educative run and should do well over a longer trip. 

Angelo from Shroff's yard also veered out in the home stretch but he put in a spirited effort to floor Giant King in the JV Shukla-Ashwamitra Plate run over nine furlongs. Giant King expectedly headed the field with Angelo, Eaton Square and Big Red doing the chasing business. Jockey G. Vivek had Angelo settled nicely towards the rails and waited for the opportunity to make his presence felt. After a sluggish start, Neeraj Rawal brushed Eaton Square, Giant King's stable-mate, to rapidly join the leaders and started shadowing Angelo thereafter. Vivek kept his ground and waited till he found room to manoeuvre his way through when Giant King shifted out slightly for a stride or two. Angelo had to be steadied when Giant King changed his path and moved in to close the gap forcing Vivek to change his course with a furlong left for the destination. Angelo, however, shifted out to his left and ended up near the outer rails despite Vivek's attempt to get him to race on an even keel. The bay gelding, however, finished on with a burst on reaching the edge of the outer rails and galloped resolutely to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Angelo (Multidimensional – China Creek) won sparing a length and half to Giant King. Big Red ended third ahead of Eaton Square. 

With favourite Dexa declared a non-starter at the gates, second favourite Irish Gold's task was rendered easy and jockey Akshay Kumar made full use of the opportunity score astride Dallas Todywalla's ward. Irish Gold ( Roderic O'Connor – Irish Bailey) raced alongside Alpine Star from the word go and was given his head once the field straightened for home. Akshay went all out on his mount to overhaul Alpine Star and steered him to a comfortable win. Alpine Star finished second while Believe and Charlie followed them home. 

M. K. Jadhav nursed nine-year old gelding Jetfire came with a blazing run down the straight to play spoilsport for Constable, who had all but registered his maiden win. Winter Agenda went into the lead as the start for the 'no whip' race was given with Constable and Azrinaaz hot on his heels. Joy Chinoy engaged apprentice S. Saba ridden Winter Agenda with just under two furlongs left for home but found him a hard nut to crack. Chinoy surely must have missed the whip on this occasion as no sooner had Constable snuffed out Winter Agenda's belligerence, Prashant Dhebe-piloted Jetfire (Total Gallery – Daffodils) flashed onto the scene. Jetfire frustrated Constable by a nose in a finish that was too close to call till the official verdict was announced. Azrinaz finished in the money ahead of Empower.