Just a couple of hours before the races started, the Royal Western India Turf Club’s authorities held an urgent meeting to decide the fate of Saturday’s programme as rains lashed the city till early morning. Eventually, the decision to hold the races was taken and thus, to put it mildly, a run-of-the-mill card of seven events  went through. As the fields barring those reserved for maidens was sparse, winner picking was a bit easy for punters which in turn meant that the odds offered by bookies were meagre. Most punters did not have the desired start for the day as the prime favourites in the first two races missed their target. Jockey Antony Raj started from where he had left last Sunday to repeat his feat of booting home a winning treble.
 
The day's feature event was a contest between five horses including Shambala, whose impressive credentials made him the obvious choice. Lady-trainer Nazzak Chenoy had kept Shambala, the star performer from her barns, fighting fit despite running after a gap of six months and the chestnut colt had no difficulty in tackling the older lot in the Times of India Trophy. Son Of A Gun went streaking into the lead as the starter’s flag came down for the seven-furlong journey and Shambala let him enjoy the advantage as he stayed close on his heels with Mojito, Market King and It’s My Time running close behind. On entering the home stretch, Antony Raj just niggled Shambala (Planetaire – Ice Cube Baby) and the colt went surging ahead about a furlong and half left for the wire. The half-money favourite was given just a tap on his haunches as he drew away for an authoritative victory over runner-up Son Of A Gun with Mojito taking the third place ahead of It’s My Time and Market King who were both unable to give a decent fight to the winner as widely expected.

The Free Press Journal Trophy, the day's supporting event, was an easy picking for Giacomo, the A. Sandesh piloted colt schooled by Dallas Todywalla. Giacomo was settled behind no-hopers Lord And Master and Opus Dei, who took the pole position as the field of five raced in a single file. The heavily backed colt ranged alongside Lord And Master by overtaking Opus Dei shortly after Sandesh launched his bid when turning for home. With no resistance offered by the leader, Giacomo (Leitir Mor – River Dance) zoomed ahead and skipped clear of his rivals to achieve an encore. Rosario was hard ridden by A. Prakash to finish second and was probably in need of this run. Lord And Master retired to be a faraway third with Vincero half a length behind him.
 
The Shazaan Shah-nursed mare Esperanza, who had burst her blood vessels when flopping as an on-money favourite last month, was raring to go after the compulsory four-week rest from racing. No wonder she went on to make amends for that failure in the day’s curtain raiser, the Mid-Day Trophy, and at lucrative odds too! Entrusted in the hands of the 5kg-claimer Ramswarup, Esperanza jumped out smartly as usual and outpaced her three rivals to land the spoils. The only time the 10 to 8 on favourite Midnight Express’s chances looked promising was when the NS Parmar-ridden filly reached the haunches of Esperanza when turning for home. Cellini too joined them but both were left frustrated as Esperanza (Phoenix Tower – Anacapri) picked up speed and sauntered away to win by just under three lengths with Cellini finishing an identical distance behind in the third spot. Liban, the fourth contestant in the field, also ran.

El Moran was another on- money runner during the day to find his mark in the Hindu Trophy. Narendra Lagad-saddled El Moran (Dali – Daily Edition) stormed into the lead with Trevor Patel in the saddle and showed a clean pair of his heels over the five-furlong scurry to his rivals. Lightning McQueen was in futile chase of the winner before holding on to the second slot by a head from stable-mate Heaven's Rhythm whilst Skanda ran fourth.

Though treated with a none-too-exciting fare earlier in the day, there was a delectable finish in store for race-goers in the Race Mirror Trophy, the day's concluding event. Phantasmique started as the clear favourite to claim the seven-furlong handicap event for maiden juveniles. With jockey Nirmal Jodha declared to ride Adhirajsingh Jodha's ward Merchant of Venice, punters thought that the colt would have another easy outing. But they were in for a surprise as Merchant of Venice came in for sustained support in the betting ring to end up as second-in-demand only to Phantasmique, whose fortunes were being guided by Trevor. Phantasmique went straight down to business from the word go and seemed to be making it when Aman Hussain-trained Miracle of Hanukah burst on to the scene to overhaul him in the final furlong. Before Miracle of Hanukah (French Navy – Grenadine) could breathe easy, Nirmal brought Merchant of Venice into contention but Antony still had adrenaline flowing in his veins and he packed enough power in his finishing effort to ensure that the former prevailed by a neck in an absolutely thrilling climax. Jackson finished on to beat Phantasmique and acquire the third spot.
 
Lord Murphy, the owner and stable-mate of Esperanza, appeared to have the best chance in the Indiarace.com Trophy, an event for horses in the lowest class run over seven furlongs, and was quoted at 10 to 7 on in the betting ring. But apprentice Aditya Waydande-partnered Lord Murphy found the weight of money riding on his back too heavy a burden to carry and could do no better than finish second. S. Waheed-groomed We Still Believe, who had been improving with each run this season, pulled off an upset win in the hands of jockey K. Pranil. Gold Caviar hit the front and showed the way to the field before passing on the baton to his stable-mate We Still Believe when approaching the final turn. We Still Believe (Saamidd – Musk Rose) stayed ahead and held on resolutely to ward off the threat posed initially by Arbitrage and then Lord Murphy. The favourite languished in the rear but was way ahead of Alpha Gene, who trailed the field after a lethargic start, and improved as the other runners fell back. We Still Believe, however, was in no mood to surrender and spared a length and quarter to Lord Murphy at the winning post giving Pranil his first winner after five years. Arbitrage managed to take the third spot ahead of Baleno.
 
Veteran Bezan Chenoy led in Etoile, who lived up to the promise shown when finishing second to Red Dust earlier this month. Etoile, though lacking in initial speed, treated her rivals with disdain. Mirae tried to exploit her initial and runaway with the sprint event with stable-mate Lightning Blaze in chase. Favourite Etoile (Planetaire – Stardom Calling) was brought through the shortest route by Antony in the straight and the mare just flew towards the end for a fluent win. Mirae, Adonis and Moment of Madness followed her home.