Five-year old Dream Alliance from trainer Imtiaz Sait’s yard gave a superlative performance to triumph over a small field of five contestants in the JK1 Best Odds Eve Champion Trophy (Gr.3) on Sunday. Dream Alliance reached Class II without any victory against his name and could taste his first success only in November last year. Regardless, Antony Raj-ridden Dream Alliance gave a mature performance to win in the highest class. Lesser fancied than his three younger opponents – Arkadian, Duke of Tuscany and Pyrite, Dream Alliance raced behind El Greco, who was slow at the start before making lost ground to show the way to the field, and Arkadian over the mile and quarter journey. Duke of Tuscany, however, graced the wrong end of the field. El Greco had a runaway lead till approaching the final turn where both G. Vivek and Antony made their move. But, Dream Alliance quickened well to make rapid improvement and join El Greco when the field entered the home stretch. Antony drove Dream Alliance vigorously to snuff out the brief resistance put up by El Greco and kicked on gamely to claim the honours. Duke of Tuscany warmed up in the final furlong and half and was hard-ridden to grab the runner-up slot ahead of Arkadian and Pyrite, who failed to liven up the proceedings like she had done in her previous two outings at Mahalaxmi. Dream Alliance (Planetaire – Shaktiroop) was bred at the Sohna Stud Farm and is co-owned by Mr Sudhendu Shah, Mrs Preeti Shah, Mrs Pooja Shah, Dr Rahul Shah, Mr KM Shah, Mr Tanmay Mathurawala, Mrs Hiral Shah and Mrs Varsha Shah.
 
The most exciting finish of the day was witnessed in the Indian Association of Equine Practitioners Trophy when Superstar pipped Golden Dancer virtually on the post to provide trainer Pesi Shroff, who had resumed his professional duties during the weekend, his first winner of the season. Phantasmique headed the field of eleven maiden juveniles with Machiavellian and Duesenberg racing on the haunches of the front-running duo whilst Superstar bided his time behind them. As the field skirted the false rails to enter the final run-in, A. Sandesh pressed the accelerator on Golden Dancer to tackle Phantasmique in the last furlong of the mile trip but soon found danger lurking behind as G. Vivek-piloted Superstar started to gain momentum. Golden Dancer made a valiant attempt to hold on to her lead as Sandesh tried to repel Superstar’s onslaught. However, Superstar (Leitir Mor – Shane) put in a resolute bid and wore down Golden Dancer in the shadow of the winning post. Phantasmique finished third whilst Heart finished a tame fourth. After racing prominently in the third position till the final turn, well-fancied Machiavellian started to drop back and faded out to end last.
 
Sandesh was involved in a similar close finish atop Ardakan in the Moosa M. Hoosein Trophy as he encountered a stiff challenge from SA Amit-ridden Ataash. Both Ataash and Ardakan moved simultaneously in a bid to overhaul leader Fortunate Son inside the last furlong and then waged a ding-dong battle for supremacy. Sandesh’s power-packed finish saw PS Chouhan-saddled Ardakan (Excellent Art – Desert Lightning) crush Ataash’s resistance and assert his superiority in the last fifty metres. Pride’s Prince rallied late to finish third ahead of Singer Sargent, who was lethargic at the start. Favourite Celestial bowed out of the contest at the bend just when he seemed poised to overtake Fortunate Son on entering the final stretch.
 
Sandesh had a relatively easy ride aboard favourite Esconido in the day’s curtain raiser, the Aspinalls Plate run over a mile and quarter. Willy Wonka hit the front and was followed by Silver Braid, Leo The Lion, Esconido, Goldiva and Toofan in a single file. The order of running did not change till entering the home stretch where Sandesh made a swift move to bring S. Waheed-groomed Esconido from the wide outside. Esconido (Leitir Mor – Pure Allure) quickened well to go sailing into the lead when the field had straightened for home and left her rivals to fight for the minor places. Goldiva improved from the rear to finish second ahead of Leo The Lion and Silver Braid.
 
The speedy mare Esperanza, entrusted to 5kg-claimer Aditya Waydande, justified the faith imposed in her ability by the punters to take on younger rivals in the Bushtops Plate. Trained by Shazaan Shah, Esperanza took off smartly from the barriers and all that the young apprentice had to do was ensure staying put in the saddle all the way. Once into the straight, Esperanza (Phoenix Tower – Ana Capri) stepped up the pace and drew away for a convincing victory over Midnight Express, who was in a futile chase throughout. Fast Approach ran thereabouts to be third whilst Timeless Vision ended fourth. The other three contestants were outpaced all the way and, not surprisingly, finished off the board.
 
Either by accident or design rank outsider Chelsea decided it was time for her to make her presence felt in the Animal Welfare Board Trophy, an event where jockeys were not allowed to carry a whip. Chouhan thus achieved a double as Chelsea (Western Aristocrat – Knockenduff) exploited her early speed and left her opponents, including favourite Vincero, gasping for breath as she raced away merrily in the front to record her maiden win. Vincero appeared to be in the reckoning till the last furlong but Chelsea lengthened her strides to stay beyond his reach. Exciting improved late to deprive Vincero the second place with Remy Red finishing on to complete the judges’ frame.
 
She’s A Teaser, a runaway winner on the opening day of the season, tried the same tactics again but failed in her bid as favourite Precioso proved too good for her. TS Jodha-ridden Precioso did not have the initial speed as he lay in the rear with only one behind him in the six-horse field, Untitled. However, Precioso (Ampere – Gruezi) from Nazzak Chenoy’s yard made steady progress to be in the frontline as the heads turned for home and then quickened well to go away for a comfortable victory. She’s A Teaser held on grimly to the second slot from Prince Igor. Coin Empress took the fourth spot.