The bay colt Odysseus showed that he possessed whatever speed and stamina was required to win the last Indian classic of this year’s racing calendar over the demanding expedition of a mile and three quarters on Sunday. Saddled by none other than Pesi Shroff, Neeraj Rawal settled Odysseus behind stablemate and pacemaker Tiepolo when the eight contenders started their journey from the gates with Golden Thunder, Positano, Pyrite, Duke of Tuscany, Thalassa and Doctor Dolly spread out behind as the field travelled towards the halfway mark without any change in the order of running. The pacemaker was still in command but his lead was cut down as the field approached the final turn where Neeraj braced himself for launching his assault knowing fully well that Tiepolo was about to concede the ground.
 
Odysseus was the first to enter the home stretch with Golden  Thunder, Positano and Pyrite all breathing down his neck. Shortly after crossing the two-furlong marker, Akshay Kumar-piloted Positano shifted in slightly and closed the opening through which Golden Thunder was poised to make headway, evaporating whatever chances of Karthik Ganapathy’s trainee harboured. Positano and K. Mukesh Kumar-partnered Pyrite both headed Odysseus for a fleeting moment but the colt was in no mood to give up and so was Neeraj, who got that extra bit out of his mount. In his renewed bid, Odysseus (Ulysseus – Hidden Valley) wrest back the lead as Positano retreated and then brushed aside Pyrite’s threat to win by a length. A. Sandesh-ridden Thalassa improved in the straight but failed to quicken and ended in the third spot as Duke of Tuscany and Positano packed up. Odysseus was foaled at the Equus Stud Farm and is co-owned by Messrs Shyam Ruia, KH Vachha, Suhrud Jhaveri, Gautam Lala and Berjis Minoo Desai. Odysseus’s victory added another feather to Pesi Shroff’s classics cap as the colt fetched him his seventh success in the Indian St. Leger which, incidentally, was also his 86th Group 1 triumph.
 
Jockey Antony Raj, who missed a fair fight in the St. Leger astride Golden Thunder, was on a roll earlier having steered three winners. He started his score with Imtiaz Sait-schooled Pride’s Prince, who avenged the defeat he suffered at the hands of Chagall a month ago. Pride’s Prince, for a change, was off quickly from the blocks but Antony eased him off to settle behind Alpine Star and Chagall, who headed the field of six. Apprentice Siddharth spurred Chagall into the lead when they were turning for home but the chestnut horse flattered to deceive and succumbed easily to Pride’s Prince (Excellent Art – Polished Chrome), who was unstoppable after Antony gave him his head. Chagall ended five lengths behind the winner with Singer Sargent and Alpine Star managing to complete the frame of four.
 
Antony wore the same colours as Pride’s Prince aboard Narendra Lagad-trained Western Star, who achieved a hat-trick and remains unbeaten in all his three career starts. Social Butterfly was expected to resume her winning ways after a lung-opener in the FD Wadia Trophy last month and was the hot favourite to claim the Suraiya & Masoom Master Cup run over six furlongs. Despite taking charge shortly after the start was given, Social Butterfly surrendered meekly when Western Star ranged alongside about a furlong and half away for home. Western Star (Dali – Lucky) drew away for an emphatic win over Bee Magical, Aperol and Goddes of Dawn. Divine Intuition took no part in the race as he reared up when the gates opened and fell down.
 
Tyrannus gave Antony his third success of the day after the Imtiaz Sait trainee staved off the spirited challenge of favourite Diego Garcia and Caradoc in a three-way finish for the DCN Million. Tyrannus showed plenty of early speed to assume command but was challenged strongly by Sandesh-steered Diego Garcia, who was in hot pursuit all the way. Trevor Patel brought Caradoc with a powerful run close home to join the issue with Tyrannus and Diego, who were engaged in a fierce duel soon after entering the straight. However, Antony packed enough power in his finishing effort astride Tyrannus (Leitir Mor – Equine Lover) to secure a shorthead victory over Caradoc, who beat Diego Garcia for the runner-up slot by a nose. Dreamer rallied well in the straight to finish a close fourth ahead of Conjurer.
 
Aman Hussain-saddled Ariyana Star made amends for her previous failure with a fluent victory in the Noble Prince Trophy in which Flashman attracted majority support in the betting ring. Trevor kept Ariyana Star within striking distance of the leaders Impulsive and Coin Empress and unleashed the mare in the final run-in. Ariyana Star (Kingda Ka – Malawi) quickened well to grab the lead in the last furlong and skipped away for an easy win over We Still Believe, Impulsive and Coin Empress. Flashman failed to improve in the straight and finished off the board.
 
Scaramouche from Behram Cama’s stables relished the extended trip of seven furlongs and the handicap advantage he had for running in the upper class as he went on to claim the Mystic Memory Trophy. Favourite Kavya, with NS Parmar in the saddle, grabbed the lead from Chardikala who showed the way to the field enroute the straight. However, TS Jodha-partnered Scaramouche (Roderic O’Connor – Isn’t She Special) accelerated well to collar Kavya and got stronger at the finish to claim the honours. Shirsa ended third ahead of Chardikala.
 
Hosidar Daji-trained Johnny Mac made every post of the five and half furlong scurry of the Warsaw Pact Trophy (Div-II) winning one but had to repel the strong challenge of Mojo in the closing stages of the race. Jockey G. Vivek kept Johnny Mac (Fiero – Siyabonga) going under the pressure to retain the advantage to enable the colt to taste his second career success. Mojo, Lion King and We Still Believe took the minor places behind the winner.
 
Apprentice Aditya Waydande also achieved a treble to complete his 20th career win. The young lad had an easy path in the day’s curtain raiser when he guided the piping-hot favourite North Bound to a confident victory over Yuletide. Aditya rode PS Chouhan-groomed Northbound well off the pace in the mid-bunch as Marlboro Man settled into the lead with Yuletide and The Flutist chasing him. Yuletide tackled Marlboro Man in the home stretch but North Bound (Quasar – Pristina) came with a flourishing run to overhaul him inside the final furlong and eventually beat him by a length. The Flutist and Marlboro Man followed them home.
 
Trainer Sanjay Kolse’s decision to claim Aditya’s 3.5kg allowance did the trick for Abhicandra, who registered his first success in Western India. Abhicandra followed the front-runners House of Lords and Storm Cloud in the initial stages of Warsaw Pact Trophy (Div-I) and Aditya pressed him into action as they reached opposite the grandstand. Abhicandra (Dali – Roman Flame) responded gallantly to Aditya’s call to wear down the leaders and sailed clear in the last hundred metres. Both favourite Foujita and Cinderella’s Dream came across one better in the winner and were beaten fair and square in the end. House of Lords ran fourth.
 
Giant Gold, who was carrying featherweight on her back, emerged from the maiden ranks towards the end of the day in the Bay of Treasure Trophy, a handicap event run over a mile. Desert Classic called the early shots before being overtaken by Marcus shortly after crossing the two-furlong marker but Giant Gold, despite stumbling before the halfway mark, came with a big run to range alongside. Aditya then gave Giant Gold (Top Class – Marilyn) a solitary tap on her haunches to drive home the advantage over Beyond Stars, who ended in the second berth ahead of Marcus and Absolute Gorgeous. Second favourite Saseka far below expectations to finish a tame fifth.