Trainer Aman Altaf Hussain had one of his best days in the field as the young professional had a hat-trick of winners on Sunday. Aman’s treble included Snowfall, who gave a brilliant performance in the Yohan Z. Poonawalla Turf Club Trophy (Gr.2), the day’s main attraction. Siege Courageous, the winner of this event last year and the highest rated horse in the fray, was installed as the favourite. Jade and Snowfall, a failed favourite on the inaugural day of this season, were next in demand. However, it was the rank outsider Market King who stormed into the lead and had It’s My Time and Siege Courageous settled on his haunches. Constable and Jade raced close behind while Snowfall and Madam Rich graced the rear end. Market King was still in control of the running when the field entered the straight and was in no mood to surrender when challenged by Siege Courageous inside the last furlong and half. At his stage, G. Vivek astride Jade decided to take the shortest route home but was denied a clear run forcing him to switch lanes. Meanwhile, Snowfall unleashed a brilliant run when alerted by Yash Narredu in the home stretch to swoop down on Market King and Siege Courageous in the last half furlong and surged ahead close home. Snowfall (Territories – Markabah) won sparing a length to Market King and an identical distance behind was Siege Courageous. Jade, who finished a whisker behind the favourite, clearly did not have the luck of the race but lives to fight for another day.

Aman went on to lead in both the winners in the next two races to achieve a hat-trick. Divine Intuition, who had scored a runaway win earlier this season, proved that his success was not a flash-in-the-pan when repeating his feat under Trevor Patel’s guidance on this occasion. Moonlight Kiss, the speedy mare saddled by Narendra Lagad, received remarkable support in the betting as she was receiving chunks of weight from Divine Intuition, however, that did not hinder the target of Aman’s ward. Trevor hustled Divine Intuition to be in the pole position and held him on the bit while allowing both Moonlight Kiss and Mojo to race alongside. However, that privilege lasted only till they approached the final turn as Divine Intuition (Roderic O’Connor – Intuition) gradually stepped up the pace and increased the tempo in the straight. The chestnut gelding skipped away leaving Moonlight Kiss and Mojo to fight for the minor places with Mila running thereabouts all the way to finish fourth.

Star Impact, the recent entrant in Aman’s stables, entered the winner’s enclosure for the first time after fourteen failed attempts in the concluding event. However, her task was rendered a bit easy as the pre-race favourite Purple Martini was withdrawn on veterinary grounds. Ridden by Vivek, Star Impact went on a start-to-finish mission after she jumped out smartly from the gates. The filly had a comfortable lead when entering the home stretch but she drifted out alarmingly towards the outer rails and almost kissed goodbye to her chances before Vivek got her to race on an even keel. Once she regained her balance, Star Impact (Multitude – Fortaleza) flew past runner-up Between Friends, who had slipped through the rails. Prince Igor had his own band of supporters in the bookies ring but was outpaced and managed to finish third ahead of Speak The Breed. Vivek not only helped Aman complete a hat-trick but also guided his fourth winner of the day in the process.

The sparingly-raced Oliver from Pesi Shroff’s stables was the piping-hot favourite in the opening event who set the ball rolling for Vivek. Last-outing winner Wind Dancer tried runaway tactics yet again and was well in front of his six rivals when the field turned for home. Oliver was scrubbed all the from the halfway mark and Vivek drove him relentlessly following which the colt unleashed a powerful run to overhaul Wind Dancer in the last hundred metres and wrapped up the race before late-finishing Treasure Gold could create a flutter. The two front-runners, Wind Dancer and Marcus, ran third and fourth respectively.

Vivek had a back-to-back double when he steered Pradeep Chouhan’s ward Fontana in Jockeys Association of India Trophy. Fontana was speedy enough to show a clean pair of heels to her rivals after taking over the running shortly soon the start. Fontana maintained the lead though she came under pressure initially from Lord Eric, who was bidding for a hat-trick, in the straight. Vivek kept urging Fontana (Multidimensional – Botswana) till she was out of the danger zone. Favourite Bee Magical decided to come through the shortest way home when making her bid but Neeraj Rawal changed course after sensing that he would not get a clear passage ahead. Bee Magical rallied well but could only edge out Lord Eric for the runner-position. Aperol ran fourth.

Vivek’s third winner of the day came atop Psychic Star in the Rajaram Chhatrapati Trophy run over nine furlongs. Alpine Star decided to set the pace for the supporting event of the day with Regina Memorabilis, Psychic Star, Thundering Phoenix and Regal Command following him in a single file whereas Eaton Square was left standing in the gates. The order of running altered only when Neeraj pressed Regina Memorabilis to overtake Alpine Star but her lead was short-lived as Vivek launched his assault with Psychic Star. The bay daughter of Multitude out of Psychic Light easily overwhelmed her adversary and the Shroff trainee was well within herself when claiming the honours. Regina Memorabilis had the consolation of taking the runner-up slot with Alpine Star retaining the third place ahead of Thundering Phoenix.

Credence, the speed-machine taken care of by Shazaan Shah, was ridden confidently by Aditya Waydande as she won the Iron Age Trophy, a six-furlong sprint for horses from Class I. Credence took charge of the running as usual and bowled along merrily and stretched out nicely when Trevor-partnered Divine Star tried to intimidate her opposite the stands. Waydande gave Credence (Excellent Star – Maleficent) a tap or two and the filly strode out magnificently to frustrate Divine Faith, who was surprisingly backed down to on-money favouritism in the betting arena. Son Of A Gun finished third ahead of Irish Gold.