The four-year old colt Time And Tide, whose master was based in Western India, was forced to start his career in Chennai due to the problems arising out of Covid pandemic. Regardless, Time And Tide made a winning debut on Christmas Eve in 2022. The colt came back to Pune soon after horseracing returned to normalcy following the disruption caused during the COVID outbreak. After spending the monsoon season at Pune last year, trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha decided to send the colt to Kolkata, the hometown of his owner. Time And Tide bloomed beyond expectations in the East, reaching the pinnacle of his career with four victories and capped his winter campaign by claiming the Invitation Sprinters’ Trophy last month. Time And Tide then travelled to Mahalaxmi to take a tilt at the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Challenge during the Indian Racing Carnival. The flashy dark bay colt gave a dazzling display of his sprinting talent and stunned the seasoned campaigners who were in the fray.

As the field jumped out of the gates, Son Of A Gun spurted into the lead with Magileto and Joaquin close behind. PS Chouhan had Time And Tide (Dali –Starlet) settled comfortably behind the front-runners whilst well-fancied Siege Courageous was unfavourably placed in the rear. Magileto tackled Son Of A Gun inside the last two furlongs even as Chouhan pulled out Time And Tide from the rails and spurred him into action. Time And Tide bounded forth and in a trice caught up with Magileto and sped away to make his debut at Mahalaxmi a winning one. Market King rallied well in the final stages of the race to finish runner-up. Siege Courageous was the last horse in the field of eight to enter the home stretch and started devouring ground with every stride he took towards the winning post only to find that Time And Tide had already inscribed his name in the roll of honour. Siege Courageous ended third, under a length behind Market King whilst Magileto retired to be fourth. Adhirajsingh, a third generation horse-trainer, has truly come of age in the past one year and the success he has achieved clearly establishes this fact. His ward Time And Tide is the proud property of Mr Vikram Bachhawat and was bred at the Mukteshwar Stud.

A solid gallop from Royal Mysore soon after the heads turned for home saw the Bangalore-based professional Prasanna Kumar trainee claim the Gromor Million, his fourth straight success. Reminiscence brushed aside Alpine Star shortly after travelling a furlong from the blocks to head the field of eleven competing for the supporting event of the day. Reminiscence was still in command in the home stretch with Ataash in hot pursuit in the final lap where both favourite American Pie and Royal Mysore started to get closer to the leaders. About a hundred metres from home, Ataash ranged alongside Reminiscence but Trevor Patel driven Royal Mysore had picked up momentum and gained the upper hand over both the front-runners. NS Parmar failed to get American Pie to raise a fluent gallop at the crucial stage of the race and couldn’t do better than finish third behind Royal Mysore (Gusto – Daffodils) and Ataash with Reminiscence ending fourth a short-head away.

Trevor was back to his winning ways after a week's gap and piloted Galloping Glory to a convincing win in the Arktouros Million, the opening event of the day. Galloping Glory raced in a striking position behind Light Of Life, who showed the way to the field from the gates and brought them into the straight. A. Sandesh ridden favourite Zarafat, who was in chase of Light Of Life all the way, tried hard to tackle him but couldn’t quicken and found Galloping Glory raising a winning gallop. Rank-outsider Mariella looked dangerous as she came with a long-stretched run in the straight but Vinesh-schooled Galloping Glory (Oiseau De Feu – Candela) had sewn up the race till then. Light Of Life held on stubbornly to the third spot after Zarafat faded out of contention.

Pesi Shroff-nurtured El Greco recorded an encore against the run of expectations when he defied the handicapper in the Star Fortune Million. Lesser fancied than owner-mates Fontana and Waikiki, El Greco (Multidimensional – Alice Springs) hit the front as the starter’s flag came down and the S. Saqlain ridden bay relished running freely in the front and made every post a winning one. El Greco checked in two lengths clear of runner-up Fontana and Waikiki, who tried in vain to collar him in the last furlong and half. Favourite Star Prosperity failed to make any significant progress in the straight and ended a poor fifth behind Murwara Princess.

Interestingly, Shroff had led in another long-priced winner in the previous race when Alexandros graduated from the maiden ranks with a fluent win in the Blue Horizon Million, run over a mile and quarter. Bottom-weighted Alexandros, who was running without the hood and ear plugs on this occasion, raced well up with the leaders as Coin Empress went surging into the lead from the barriers. After racing alongside Treasure Gold till half-way through the journey, Alexandros made gradual progress to be in close hunt behind Coin Empress. Neeraj Rawal alerted Alexandros (Moonlight Magic – Alexandra Pearl) as the field was homeward bound and drove him vigorously to snuff out Coin Empress’s bid in the last furlong. Treasure Gold rallied in the closing stages but had to settle for the second slot ahead of Coin Empress and the late-finishing Stunning Visual. Kimiko and Mariana failed to raise any hopes whilst favourite Multiverse, with Sandesh aboard, raced prominently till the final turn but faded out without making any impression and finished in the ruck.

Celestial, the day’s lone favourite from Shroff’s yard, failed to live up to the promise shown during his debut run and was beaten fair and square by MK Jadhav trained Turn And Burn in the RWITC Ltd Multi-Million, a five-furlong scurry for maiden juveniles. Chouhan-partnered Celestial took a smart jump from the gates but was eased off by his rider as Dazzling Duchess came alongside in her bid to take over the running. Dazzling Duchess soon assumed command and entered the straight ahead of Storm Cloud with Turn And Burn racing on the latter’s haunches. With about two furlongs left for the wire, Turn And Burn (Western Aristocrat – Celestrella) cruised into the lead when given his head by NS Parmar and was home and dry by the time runner-up Bashir warmed up to his task. Chouhan astride Celestial found himself in a mess when racing towards the rails which caused the favourite’s downfall. Chouhan could not get a clear run and got badly pocketed towards the rails after the field racing behind closed in on him when he tried to switch lanes. Celestial recovered but it was too late and he was forced to settle for the third spot ahead of Touch Of Gold.

Bubbly Boy from Malesh Narredu’s string proved his versatility as he registered an encore despite the shortened trip and achieved his fourth success of the season in the process. Lesser fancied than both Portofino Bay and Fighton in the Bay Of Angels Million, the concluding event of the day. Maysara zoomed into the lead with Yash Narredu-steered Bubbly Boy racing alongside Portofino Bay and Fighton. Trevor and Parmar atop Portofino Bay and Fighton ranged abreast of Maysara, who started to lose pace, in the last furlong but found Bubbly Boy (Fiero – Bubbly Bellini) breathing down their necks. In the ensuing battle, Bubbly Boy got stronger at the finish and sailed past the fancied duo. Fighton ended second with Portofino Bay close behind. Ultimo ran fourth.