Having taken a backseat during the previous two race meetings, jockey A. Sandesh bounced back to form with a scintillating performance in the saddle which fetched him five winners. The card of seven races on Saturday was dominated by favourites, the lone surprise winner emerging in the Threptin Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes (Gr.3), the main event. The terms of this event were totally in favour of Faisal Abbas-saddled Thalassa while it was the opposite in the case of Psychic Star from Pesi Shroff’s yard. Thalassa was rated 107 on the handicapper’s chart and was carrying 51kgs on her back but Psychic Star, rated 86, had to carry 59kgs putting her at a disadvantage on the scales, especially against the former. Strangely, Regina Memorabilis also figured in the five-horse field. Strange because she was rated 68 but was asked to carry the same weight as the Thalassa. The Imtiaz Sait-trained filly’s participation in the nine-furlong event seemed an optimistic move: Nothing to lose but everything to gain. Of course, there was glimmer of hope for Regina Memorabilis if one were to consider her neck defeat against owner-mate Odysseus, who went on to register a shocking victory in the Indian St. Leger. Following the footsteps of Odysseus, or so it seemed, Regina Memorabilis upset the applecart of fancied duo Psychic Star and Thalassa.
 
Soon after the starter’s flag came down, Madam Rich zoomed ahead to establish a long lead over her rivals headed by Queen of Kings. Both Psychic Star and Thalassa chose to play the waiting game and raced behind Regina Memorabilis. The pace picked up when the field crossed the Turf Club House corner as Neeraj Rawal-partnered Regina Memorabilis ranged alongside Queen of Kings and closed in on Madam Rich when taking the final turn whilst Psychic Star and Thalassa were both off the bridle. Regina Memorabilis surged ahead when the field straightened for home with G. Vivek making a strong bid with Psychic Star. The latter shifted out slightly under pressure and failed to catch Regina Memorabilis (Ampere – Ibiza Empress), who kicked on gamely under the whip to keep her rival at bay by just under a length. In a disappointing display, Thalassa was going nowhere in the straight when asked for an effort by Sandesh which allowed Madam Rich to keep the third spot by a margin of half a length.
 
King Ke, the winner of the Independence Cup earlier this season, completed an encore in the Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy. Treat tried runaway tactics over the mile and quarter journey with King Ke racing unperturbed on the heels of the leader. Pesi Shroff-schooled King Ke (Multitude – Woman O War) went cruising into the lead when the field swung into the home stretch with Vivek driving him plain hands and heels for a convincing victory. Black Thunder overcame traffic problems at the turn and later survived a bump from Treat before apprentice Aditya Waydande courageously steered the mare to grab the second berth from Doctor Dolly and Zarak in a three-way finish.
 
Sandesh started his winning blitz with Seneca in the Panamera Plate (Div-II), the day’s opening event. The Adhirajsingh Jodha-saddled colt raced in the mid-bunch as no-hopers Lara, Muskoka, Majestic Warrior and Cornerstone made the initial running till entering the home stretch. Majestic Warrior led the field into the straight and held the advantage before Seneca collared him in the last furlong. Sandesh drove Seneca (Deauville – Star Nijinsky) vigorously to gain the upper hand and did not release the pressure till the end when staving off Remy Red’s threat. Empower finished third, a neck in front of Illusionist, who took a tardy start and improved well despite coming wide into the straight. The stewards found themselves in a quandary after a stewards’ enquiry was initiated following trainer Nazzak Chenoy’s protest claiming jockey TS Jodha astride Empower was not ready when the start was given whereby the horse reared up, losing considerable ground in the bargain and thus a fair chance to win. After due deliberations, the stewards decided to declare Empower a non-starter only for betting purposes whilst the judges’ placing remained unaltered.
 
Ultimo from PS Chouhan’s string gave Sandesh an armchair ride enroute his second winner in the Gruezi Plate. Sandesh hit the front with Ultimo (Surfrider – Honey Dew) as the field took off for the seven-furlong journey and showed a clean pair of heels to his seven rivals, making ample amends for his previous failure. Second favourite Ataash failed to make any impression on the winner when finishing second. Alpine Star and Spanish Eyes took the third and fourth places.
 
The Faisal Abbas trainee Darcy too made it pillar to post in the October Handicap, a six-furlong handicap sprint for three-year old juveniles. Darcy (Sanus Per Aquam – St Pauli Girl) went straight down to business as soon as the gates opened and made every post a winning one without giving any chance to his opponents, leaving them fighting for the minor places. Ministry of Time made tremendous progress from the rear to pip Esteban for the runner-up position whilst Santana Row ended close behind. Don Julio failed to improve whilst Charlie Brown veered out towards his left when making his bid and finished sixth behind the former.
 
Adhirajsingh completed a double taking the first division of the Panamera Plate through Wings of Fury towards the end of the day’s proceedings. Wings of Fury was off to a fluent start over the seven-furlong journey and had his main rivals Timeless Fortune and Ange Raphael in pursuit. The on-money favourite failed to keep a straight course when pressed to retain the advantage over Timeless Fortune in the last furlong but Sandesh skilfully averted the dreadful situation and ably guided Wings of Fury (Top Class – Dangal) to his second straight victory. Red Merlot slipped through the rails to snatch the second slot from Timeless Fortune, who too failed to raise a fluent gallop in the closing stages whilst Treasure Gold completed the final frame of four.
 
The only winner ridden by Sandesh for whom the bookmakers offered generous odds was Wind Dancer from Dallas Todywalla’s yard. Top-weighted Wind Dancer stayed within striking distance of rookie Ramswarup-ridden Escape Velocity and started to inch closer as they entered the final run-in. Wind Dancer (Western Aristocrat – Watchmyscript) got stronger at the finish as he wore her down inside the last furlong to earn his second career success. Escape Velocity retained the second slot and finished far ahead of Star Impact and Maratha Admiral, who followed her home.