Jockey Suraj Narredu clearly has a Midas touch as far as winning the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million (Gr.1) is concerned. He partnered Elpenor and Excellent Lass in the preceding two years and this year Suraj steered Malesh Narredu-trained Big Bay to victory and completed a PBMM hat-trick. Big Bay took a fluent jump from the barriers to hit the front only to find A. Sandesh-piloted Miracle Star slip through the inner rails and storm into the lead, which helped the former settle beautifully on his heels. Circle of Dreams and Elusive Art came close behind whilst favourite Prokofiev was being niggled by David Allan to stay in touch with the leaders. Suraj shifted gears the moment he entered the straight behind Miracle Star and drove Big Bay fervently to draw level with her inside the last furlong and half and then pulled out his whip. Big Bay (Speaking of Which – Clementi) took flight immediately and sprinted away for a convincing victory over Circle of Dreams and Prokofiev, who were left fighting for the runner-up berth with the former succeeding in keeping his rival at bay by a short-head. Sovereign King, who had a troubled passage in the straight, finished fourth. Big Bay is co-owned by Messrs Balam Mohla, Sanjay Kothari, Anil Saraf, Jehangir Mehta & Mrs Rashmee Amersey, Mrs BE Saldhana and Mrs Homi Mehta and was bred at the Usha Stud Farm.
 
The other event for maiden juveniles went the way of Giacomo, who finally shed the maiden ranks but had to perform out of his skin to overpower Kavya in the dying moments of the Intervalve Poonawalla Ltd Trophy. Kavya, the debutant saddled by SS Shah, zoomed into the lead from the gates and almost made it before David Allan got into Giacomo and powered the Dallas Todywalla trained colt to increase his speed. As he gradually bridged the leeway ahead, Giacomo (Leitir Mor – River Dance) made a determined effort in the last few strides to emerge triumphant in a thrilling finish by just under a length. It’s Game Time ended far behind to be third ahead of Prasanna Kumar-trained and Akshay Kumar-ridden Hazel, who after a sluggish start travelled wide into the straight but ran green thereafter to finish a poor fourth.

The day’s curtain raiser, the mile-long Kumar R. Dalal Trophy, was contested by only three horses but it had an interesting finish in store for the race-goers. Sandesh aboard Bashir found himself in the front as the field crawled in the initial stages of the race. The race picked up momentum only in the straight when the three contestants went off the bridle with Bashir battling to hold on to the lead whilst Pride’s Prince and Chagall closing in on him. Antony Raj went all out on Imtiaz Sait-saddled Pride’s Prince (Excellent Art – Polished Chrome) and managed to overwhelm Bashir close home. Chagall put his head in front at the wire to deny Bashir the second place.
 
Pesi Shroff-groomed Gordon also tasted his second career success after a failed attempt in the highest class. Pitted against four rivals in the Prince Karim Aga Khan IV Memorial Trophy run over a mile and half. R. Ajinkya had Gordon racing in the third spot as Floyd went on a start-to-finish mission with Alexandros, Black Thunder and Galloping chasing him in a single file. There was no change in the order of running till Neeraj Rawal-atop Alexandros decided to throw a challenge at Floyd shortly after turning for home. While the front-runners were disputing the lead, both Black Thunder and Gordon made their move simultaneously. Sandesh drove Black Thunder relentlessly as he held a narrow lead over Gordon but Ajinkya packed enough power in his efforts as both went hammer and tong at each other in the last furlong. However, Gordon’s (Holy Roman Emperor – Phantasmagoric) final burst found him getting the measure of Black Thunder in the shadow of the winning post and secure a half-length victory. Both Alexandros and Floyd faded out to run third and fourth respectively.

The five-year old mare Misty from Hosidar Daji’s string lived up to the promise shown in her last run by the winning the Florrie & Freddy Sopher Gold Trophy. Star Romance led shortly after the start with Fontana and Decacorn in pursuit while the other runners were closely bunched up and Misty at the tail end. Fontana snatched the lead from Star Romance in the final and half but was soon joined by Timeless Vision even as Trevor Patel unleashed Misty on the outer flank. Misty (Cougar Mountain – Smoke Ring) produced her trademark finishing burst which enabled her to humble Timeless Vision in the last hundred metres. Timeless Vision ended second, just a head in front of Quicker, who had Fontana in tow.
 
The winners of the last two events, Credence and Storm, both sported the colours of owner Jaydev Mody and were well backed by those anticipating them to succeed. Apprentice S. Siddharth-partnered Credence (Excellent Art – Maleficent) was off to a flying start from the gates and bolted ahead. The Shazaan Shah-nursed filly dominated her rivals and proved to be far too speedy for them as she kept increasing her lead on the way. Credence eventually finished well clear of Maysara, Chelsea and Escape Velocity, who ended behind in that order, each separated by a short-head. Interestingly, Pradeep Chouhan-saddled favourite Chelsea failed for the second time against Credence this season.
 
Behram Cama-schooled Storm, who had finished a suggestive fourth in the maiden race for juveniles, struck immediately in the handicap event for horses in the lower class, however, it was no cakewalk for the TS Jodha-ridden favourite. The top-weighted bay filly lacked early speed and raced in the rear bunch as another maiden filly named You dashed to the front and nearly made it start to finish. Storm (Planetaire – Organic), however, made steady improvement with every stride she took in the straight and stretched out well to overwhelm You close home. Continental Drift and Taabir finished over a length away to complete the final frame. Remy Red gave a disappointing performance to beat just one home in the seven-horse field.