With just a solitary success under her belt and then placing fourth in the Indian Oaks and India Derby which increased her rating by 30 points, the four-year old filly Thalassa found herself contesting in a Class II handicap event. Faisal Abbas-schooled Thalassa was asked to take on four seasoned campaigners in the Western India Race Horse Owners’ Association (WIRHOA) Trophy, Sunday’s feature event run over a mile and quarter. When the race was flagged off, Eaton Square grabbed the lead from Splendido after travelling a couple of furlongs from the gates and dictated the terms with Splendido, Flaming Lamborgini, Exuma and Thalassa, ridden well off the pace by A. Sandesh, following him in a single line. All the five contestants went off the bridle when they turned for home and it was here that Sandesh decided to shift gears. Thalassa moved resolutely under the urgings of Sandesh and made steady progress to join the issue with Eaton Square and Splendido as they neared the last furlong. Thalassa (Excellent Art – Thurayaat) was easily the best moving horse among the three as she soon slipped into the lead and went on to record a comfortable victory over a bunch of worn-out horses. Eaton Square and Splendido finished runner-up and third respectively whilst Exuma and Flaming Lamborgini followed them home.
 
A powerful finishing effort from Sandesh astride Cinderella’s Dream helped both him and Abbas to complete a double. Apprentice Aditya Waydande-partnered Ocean pierced through between Wind Dancer and Divine Intuition at the two-furlong marker but soon found Cinderella’s Dream making a determined bid to topple her. Both Ocean and Cinderella’s Dream (Surfrider – Cracklin’ Rosie) fought a grim battle over the next furlong and half which eventually climaxed in a thrilling victory by a nose for the latter in the last stride. Moonlight Kiss ran well to finish a game third ahead of Divine Intuition. Trevor Patel-ridden favourite Wind Dancer sprinted ahead and hit the front soon after the start with Divine Intuition racing abreast. Wind Dancer suddenly lost pace after having led the field till the final two furlongs and dropped back gradually to finish off the judges’ board.
 
In a similar finish, which in fact was by far the best witnessed during the day, Yash Narredu-powered Zephyr put paid to the hopes of favourite Don Julio in the last couple of strides over the five-furlong scurry. Don Julio seized the initiative from Zephyr as soon as the field sorted itself out when the start was given and led comfortably in the final run-in. However, Malesh Narredu-mentored Zephyr started to inch closer when asked for an effort by Yash and ranged alongside Don Julio about a furlong and half away from home. The two horses were then engaged in a ding-dong battle with Haridas Gore astride Don Julio driving his mount resolutely but Yash was equally adamant on Zephyr (Phoenix Tower – Hostess) and the latter eventually snuffed out the favourite’s resistance just before hitting the wire. Seneca took the third spot ahead of Ministry of Time, who ran a disappointing fourth.
 
Pesi Shroff-saddled Eagle Day ran true to the promise shown in his previous essay and was ridden confidently to his maiden success by A. Prakash. Sands of Dubai made the initial running as is her wont with Looking Like A Wow and Eagle Day going in pursuit. Prakash alerted Eagle Day (Speaking of Which – Margarita Rita) soon after the field straightened for home following which the colt made rapid progress under the whip to gain the upper hand in the last hundred metres and sailed away for a convincing win over Sands of Dubai, who stayed in second place. Empower made an aggressive move in the straight but failed to quicken before finishing third ahead of Stalin.
 
Rambler, the oldest horse in the field of six competing for the Trainers Trophy, proved too good for his fancied rivals over his pet distance of seven furlongs. True to his name, the Shazaan Shah trainee rambled in the rear as Earth took charge of the running soon after the gates flew open and had the fancied troika of Chardikala, Fontana and Spanish Eyes in pursuit. Rambler picked up momentum once the field had straightened for home and unleashed a devouring run to tackle the front-runners one by one and soon reached the haunches of Earth, who was being hailed as a winner close home. Whipless Waydande drove Rambler (Leitir Mor – Stravella) forcefully to overwhelm Earth in the shadow of the winning post. Fontana and Spanish Eyes could do no better than end in the third and fourth position respectively.    
 
Much to the delight of his followers, Trevor powered another popular treble this season and his first winner came aboard the three-year old juvenile Diligence from the yards of Dallas Todywalla, who made a remarkable improvement over her initial two runs. Diligence (Excellent Art – Devoted Eyes) was sharp enough to seize the lead as Trevor hustled her and the filly simply cantered home for a superb win. Marcelle had a good educative run as she responded well to her rider’s efforts and finished runner-up ahead of Enchanting, who laboured hard to catch the winner close home but lacked the speed to tackle her. Luna was well supported in the betting on the back of her preparatory work but the debutant filly was outpaced and could only finish fourth.
 
Aman Hussain’s ward Manor House made amends for his expensive failure in the previous outing and went on to register his maiden win in Trevor’s hands. Unlike his previous two runs when he spent himself by running in the front, Trevor held Manor House in check behind Dulari, who decided to go on a start-to-finish mission which came to end inside the last furlong and half. Manor House darted to the front when Trevor gave him his head and stretched out well to oblige his supporters. Scaramouche ran on to take the second spot ahead of Star Romance and Lord Eric, who was running after a long layoff and seemed to be a bit rusty.
 
Trevor achieved a treble when he steered favourite Marlboro Man to victory in the concluding event. Subhag Singh-saddled went straight down to business from the word go and brushed aside the aggression shown by We Still Believe in the straight enroute his success, which provided his master the first winner of this season. Oh Kay ran  to take the runner-up berth, three-part length ahead of The Sengol Queen with The Flutist completing the judges’ frame.
 
Earlier, at the start of the day’s proceedings, six-year old Adonis gave trainer Vijay Kasbekar his second winner of the season after staving off the threat posed by fast-finishing Arbitrage. Adonis took a smart jump from the innermost draw to head the field till his rider, K. Nazil, decided to ease him off to allow Lightning Blaze to take charge of the running but kept him in close attendance of the leader. Once the field straightened for home, Nazil eased Adonis into the lead once again and made free use of his whip when Arbitrage started to bridge the leeway and posed a grave threat to his chances. Adonis (Shifting Power – Ainra) survived to win by three-parts of a length from Arbitrage with Moment of Madness finishing in the money ahead of last-outing winner Sorrento Secret, who found the trip a bit sharp for his liking.