After emerging from the maiden ranks with a fluent win earlier last month, the three-year old bay filly Fynbos completed an encore with utmost ease in the Forbes Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies’ Championship (Gr.3) on Sunday. The Pesi Shroff-nurtured Fynbos actually had a walk in the park as she hit the front shortly after the field of seven was flagged off for the mile event and Trevor Patel-steered filly made the contest look like a mock race. Fynbos (Kingda Ka – Mahali) came all alone into the home stretch and she sauntered home leaving her rivals fighting for the minor places. Pristine Glory had the privilege of chasing the winner almost all the way home before taking the runner-up berth ahead Heart, who finds it difficult to match the persona of her full-brother Santissimo. Heart was tardy at the start and graced the wrong end of the field till entering the final stretch and despite finding her feet, it was too late and the Deepesh Narredu-groomed filly could do no better than finish third with Mystical Dawn ending fourth.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-saddled Diego Garcia was largely expected to improve on his previous effort in the Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders Juvenile Colts’ Championship (Gr.3) but the colt had a tough time dealing with Miracle of Hanukah, who went on a strong clip in the initial stages of the race. A. Sandesh-piloted Diego Garcia managed to tackle Miracle of Hanukah shortly after entering the home stretch but his flattering business lasted briefly as Stormy Sea came motoring along when given his head by Antony Raj. Saddled by Mansingh Jadhav, Stormy Sea (Dreamfield – Anjeze) collared Diego Garcia with about a furlong and half left for home and it ceased to be a contest thereafter. Gunsmoke loitered at the tail end for a fair part of the mile journey and by the time he could get into his stride, Stormy Sea had wrapped up the race and he had to settle for the second place. Diego Garcia struggled to retain the third place and finished a neck ahead of Miracle of Hanukah with Red Bishop, who failed to quicken, close behind.

Bred as full sister to the reputed sprinter Isn’t She Beautiful, debutant Social Butterfly scored a runaway victory in the maiden set competing for the J. Rustomji Soparivala Trophy. Trainer Dallas Todywalla had Social Butterfly well-tuned for this showdown and the filly gave no anxious moments to her supporters as she made every post of the five-furlong scurry a winning one. Sandesh quickly seized the initiative astride Social Butterfly (Excellent Art – Lady Danehill) as the gates flew open and never let the advantage slip away as the filly raced merrily in the front, easily outpacing her rivals. Dreamer tried to cut pace with the winner but proved to be no match as she chased her in vain and had to be content with the runner-up berth, just ahead of late finishing Vegatha while debutant Bishop ran fourth.

Five-year old Pride’s Prince, who has figured consistently on the judges’ board, raked in more prize money for his connections when claiming the JP Vazifdar Trophy. Opting to run in the higher class after his narrow defeat in his previous essay, Fortunate Son once again tried runaway tactics with Ardakan, Celestial and Splendido in pursuit whilst Imtiaz Sait-trained Pride’s Prince was ridden off the pace by Antony. Ardakan was ridden vigorously by Sandesh to overhaul Fortunate Son inside the last two furlongs but before he could break free, both Pride’s Prince and Splendido started to close in. Ardakan led for a furlong or so but was forced into submission by Pride’s Prince (Excellent Art – Polished Chrome), who put in a spirited run close home to gain the upper hand and won comfortably after warding off runner-up Splendido. Ardakan ran third ahead of Fortunate Son while Celestial faded out to be fifth after being prominent till the final turn.

After waiting patiently for her turn for over a year since coming under trainer SN Joshi’s charge, the five-year old mare Shirsa (formerly named Rush) not only earned her corn bill but also a rich haul for her connections in the opening event of the day. Shirsa was taking on a younger and inexperienced lot in the six-furlong event for the Star Shine Trophy (Div-II) but the amount of smart money that flowed in her direction in the betting ring had a story of its own to tell. The odds against ante post favourite Manor House went astray but, to be fair to the maiden big made horse, the Aman Hussain trainee did give a run for his money. Manor House shot into the lead from the gates till he appeared to be running out of fuel when Trevor pulled out his whip in the last furlong. Trevor went flat out to keep Manor House’s hopes alive till the last fifty metres before conceding defeat as Prasad-partnered Shirsa (Sanus Per Aquam – Isotta) gained ground with every stride and wore down the favourite to eventually land the spoils. The rest of the field reduced itself to being a spectator with Galloping Glory finishing faraway to be third, a short-head in front of Cinderella’s Dream.

Were it not for the spirited bid of Sandesh aboard favourite Toscana, Joshi and Prasad very nearly hit the jackpot in the last race with Star Romance. The latter snatched the lead from Toscana shortly after the field jumped out of the gates but was engaged in a fierce duel by Pradeep Chouhan’s ward opposite the stands. Although Toscana (Surfrider – Showstopper) gained a slender lead, Star Romance refused to yield as Prasad kept whacking him with unbridled force but Sandesh’s skills helped the former to prevail by a long-neck in the end. Joint-favourite Eloquent with Trevor atop was late to flash on to the scene as usual and finished third, just half-length behind Star Romance. Mojo ran fourth.

Chouhan had earlier led in the 20 to 1 shocker Absolute Gorgeous (formerly named Aafreen) ridden by lesser-known jockey Nirmal Jodha, whose services have been used more as a work rider, in the Star Shine Trophy (Div-I). Absolute Gorgeous (Win Legend – Imperial Verse) took off smartly from the barriers and skipped away to taste her maiden success. Top-weighted Vincero came with a late charge when the race was in the safe-keeping of Absolute Gorgeous and fell short by half-length at the wire. Zendaya, the winner’s former owner-mate, was also hard-ridden by Sandesh in the final stages but the filly couldn’t overtake the winner and ended a close third. Favourite Dulari ran as if she was contesting over the Derby distance and warmed up when it was of no consequence to finish a tame fourth.

Living up to the promise shown in her previous essay, the interestingly named filly You had luck favouring her as she escaped the clutches of Luminosity to record her maiden success. Sait’s ward hugged the inner rails as she kept leader Luminosity company from the word go. Luminosity, who was being ridden by the outstation apprentice Abhishek Mhatre, drifted out alarmingly after entering the straight and ended up racing on the outer rails. You (Top Class – Organic), meanwhile, was kept going by Antony and survived in a pulsating finish to achieve a well-deserved treble and also complete a double for Sait. Luminosity lost out by a head with Operation Finale and Marlboro Man taking the third and fourth place respectively.