Fresh after his first Indian Derby success, jockey A. Sandesh was on a roll on Sunday as he picked up three winners in the card of seven. He may have failed to steer It’s My Time to victory in the feature event, but the lad from Matheran was in sublime touch on the victorious steeds. That said, but for trainer Narendra Lagad’s contribution of two runners – Son Of A Gun and Alpine Star to make up a field of four contestants, the Mulraj Goculdas Trophy would have probably not seen the light of the day. Regardless, veteran Imtiaz Sait’s ward Christophany ran true to form and notched his first win in the highest class with a comfortable victory over It’s My Time. Lagad’s pair made the initial running with Sandesh, in an attempt to catch Neeraj Rawal-astride Christophany on the wrong foot, brushed It’s My Time to grab the lead from Son Of A Gun at the two-furlong marker. But Neeraj held his nerve knowing that Christophany had the ability to catch hold of her adversary. Neeraj got Christophany into her stride before scrubbing her to draw level with It’s My Time and was soon enroute her success in the highest class. Sandesh tried reigniting an effort from It’s My Time but it was wasted as Christophany (Planetaire – Nuray) reached her destination unscathed. Alpine Star and Son Of A Gun followed them home. Christophany may not have given any flashy performances during her career spanning just under a year and half, but winning six races from eleven starts since her debut and not once finishing off the board is nothing but a tribute to Sait’s diligent work with his protégé.
 
Coming back to Sandesh’s feat, it were his riding skills which gave an edge to two out of the three victors he rode. He tasted his first success astride Substantial, whom he brought through the shortest way home in the final run-in to range alongside Mighty Sparrow as they both went in chase of leader Chardikala. Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Substantial had no room to slip through between Chardikala and Mighty Sparrow and just when everybody thought that it was curtains for the favourite, Sandesh persisted and found a narrow opening. In a daring act, Sandesh got Substantial to squeeze through that gap and then packed enough punch in his efforts to outsmart R. Ajinkya-partnered Mighty Sparrow and prevail by three-part of a length in the Nawabzada Rashiduzzafar Khan Trophy. Eaton Square came late into the picture as usual and finished third ahead of Chardikala.

The best from Sandesh was yet to come and his artistry in the saddle was witnessed atop Kimiko in the Sonny Brar Trophy. Giant King led from the gates before being passed by Gordon and they both entered the straight with Kimiko in tow. Sandesh went into the overdrive on Kimiko and drove her to tackle both Giant King and Gordon, who were falling back. Meanwhile, Mustakim Alam-partnered Endurance from Sait’s yard came with a sustained run to throw a strong challenge at Kimiko. However, Sandesh pulled out all stops on Karthik Ganapathy-groomed Kimiko (Win Legend – Hauhaiwunai), who stretched out well to keep Endurance at bay by a margin of a long-neck. Giant King retained the third spot with Multiverse taking the fourth place.
 
Sandesh did not have to slog on his third winner Bashir, also saddled by Ganapathy, when scoring a facile win in the Nadir & Yawar Rashid Trophy. Bashir lacked initial pace and graced the wrong end of the field as no-hoper Star Romance dashed into the lead with second favourite Celestial waiting to pounce on him. Bashir made gradual progress under pressure to close in on the leaders. G. Vivek-piloted Celestial appeared poised to take over the running from Star Romance inside the last furlong and half when Sandesh brought Bashir (Dali – Burnished Gold) with a flourishing run and had the race sewn up a furlong away from home. Celestial was proved no match for Bashir and ended over four lengths behind the winner. Axlrod managed to finish in the money, a short-head in front of Lord and Master.
 
Trainer Pesi Shroff had a solitary winner but not exactly the way he would have expected. The three-year old chestnut colt Superstar was expected to benefit from the two runs he had earlier and was the firm favourite to win the NM Irani Trophy, a seven-furlong event for maiden juveniles. Superstar raced in a handy position in the mid-bunch as Millenium Star sprinted ahead while debutants Abhyankar and Red Bishop graced the rear. Vivek made his move in the home stretch and brought Superstar with a smooth run to collar Millenium Star even as Jackson and Machiavellian, the other two fancied candidates in the field of ten, were going nowhere after being in hot pursuit of the leader. Superstar headed the field but shifted out under pressure and found his stablemate Red Bishop breathing down his neck after unleashing a brilliant down the straight. Before Vivek could get Superstar to race on an even keel, C. Umesh-steered Red Bishop (Kingda Ka – Solar Midnight) wore down the favourite a couple of strides before the wire to make a winning debut. Abhyankar also put in a late run to beat Machiavellian for the third place.
 
Vivek, who was partnering well-fancied Mojo, experienced a similar situation in the previous event, the RM & Rukmani Goculdas Million. Mojo was shaping like a winner when overtaking leader Divine Intuition opposite the stands when lesser-known rider G. Santosh spurred Malet Spring who started to gain momentum. Adhirajsingh-nurtured Malet Spring (Sedgefield – Saporelli) spurted well in the final stages to overwhelm Mojo in the shadow of the winning post. Favourite Maysara appeared shorn of her initial speed and ran thereabouts to end third with Arbitrage half-length away.
 
Running on demotion and entrusted in the strong hands of S. Zervan in a no-whip race, Altamash Ahmed-groomed Applause finally managed to graduate from the maiden ranks in the concluding event, the Gentlemen’s Groomers Trophy.  Joint-favourite Otello sped into the lead whilst Zervan urged Applause shortly after the start and improved his position steadily to be in close contention behind the leaders as they entered the home stretch. A vigorous effort from Zervan enabled Applause (Leitir Mor – Iceglow) to lengthen his strides in the straight before overwhelming Otello in the last furlong and drew away for a comfortable win. Otello held on to the second berth from late finishing Trillionaire, who was followed home by Dagger’s Strike.