Fit as a fiddle after his back-to-back victories during the current Bangalore season, four-year old Divine Star completed a hat-trick of wins within a span of two months when he claimed the JE Hughes Trophy on Friday. Full credit to young Aman Hussain for keeping his ward’s winning form and fitness intact, which was reflected in Divine Star’s effortless victory on his return to Pune. Divine Star, with Trevor Patel aboard, hit the front from the word go and brought the field into the straight with Alpine Star, Azrinaz and Fighton on his tail. Trevor loosened his grip when the heads turned for home following which Divine Star (Roderic O’ Connor – Starletina) simply cantered home to earn a well-deserved promotion to the highest class. Fighton managed to peg back Alpine Star for the runner-up slot with Azrinaz finishing a whisker behind.
 
Immediately after Divine Star’s success, Aman led in the friendless Divine Intuition in the next race. Six-year old Divine Intuition took off smartly from the innermost draw to hit the front and had Majestic Warrior keeping him company till the turn. Sensing no danger in sight, Akshay Gaikwad asked Divine Intuition (Roderic O’Connor – Intuition) to step up the pace and soon had his mount in the comfort zone. The rank outsider then kept going under the whip and stayed beyond the reach of the late finishing favourite Liam and Treasure Gold. Believe took the fourth place.
 
Pradeep Chouhan saddled Ultimo gave no anxious moments to the punters when making every post of the seven-furlong journey a winning one in the hands of R. Ajinkya. Ultimo (Surfrider – Honeydew) shot into the lead as soon as the gates flew open and never came under any threat from his four rivals as he went on to claim the SK Sunderji Salver, the event framed in memory of his former master. Golden Glow took the second place with Lord And Master, Medusa and Caliph trailing behind in that order.
 
Among The Stars was installed as the first favourite for the fourth consecutive time but the Malesh Narredu-schooled and Yash Narredu-piloted juvenile could not live up to the expectations of the public. The Antony Raj-partnered Azure from Imtiaz Sait’s barns was second in demand to Among The Stars but that made no difference to her ability or performance as she won almost start-to-finish over the five-furlong scurry for the JK1 Gaming Trophy. Interestingly, Azure shifted to her left as she moved out of the gates causing inconvenience to Muskoka, AR Star and Among The Stars, who was drawn widest of all. Azure recovered and took charge of the running with Among The Stars also improving to run on the former’s haunches. However, the favourite failed to quicken when Yash asked her for an effort whilst Azure (Fiero – Fjord), in contrast, kept going under Antony’s urgings for a comfortable win. Mulan ran thereabouts to be third ahead of Viennoise.
 
Nostalgia was another horse from Sait’s string to have emerged out of the maiden ranks to provide both the veteran trainer and Trevor their second winner of the day. Sands of Dubai went to the front as is his wont with Nostalgia being ridden well off the pace and Doctor Dolly racing in the mid bunch. Hagibis took over the running from Sands of Dubai at the bend with Vincero making his move whilst A. Sandesh astride Doctor Dolly making his bid from the wide outside. Meanwhile, Trevor brought Nostalgia through the shortest way home to join Doctor Dolly and in the ensuing duel both the fancied runners went stride for stride in the last furlong. Eventually it was Nostalgia (Western Aristocrat – Panamera) who prevailed by just under a length over his rival with Vincero taking the third birth ahead of Esconido.
 
Bottom-weighted Yuletide stormed into the lead when the gates opened and made every post of the seven-furlong journey a winning one. Narendra Lagad-trained Yuletide (Surfrider – Snowing) enjoyed a handy lead when entering the home stretch and A. Prakash-steered gelding refused to give up and went on to taste his first career success. Favourite Bohemian Rhapsody was well supported on the expectations that the Aditya Waydande-piloted filly would repeat her last week’s success. Bohemian Rhapsody, however, failed to bridge the leeway despite improving steadily from the tail end and had to settle for the second place ahead of Red Dust and Baleno.
 
Between Friends, saddled for the first time by MK Jadhav after trainer SS Shah’s retirement, came with a powerful run in the final stages of the five-furlong sprint to dash the hopes of Mirae, who led all the way from the start till beaten near the post. Prashant Dhebe-ridden Between Friends (Western Aristocrat – Ivana) raced in the fourth position behind Mirae, Northern Singer and Collateral when they turned for home and moved well under the whip to snatch the verdict in the last few strides. Mirae, Northern Singer and Collateral followed him home. Interestingly, nine-year old Between Friends entered the winner’s enclosure after a gap of over four and half years and this was only his second career success!