Martinique (Placerville – Moving Image), powered by B Prakash, played a waiting game and saved her best for the last. It was El Clasico who was quick to lead the bunch with Agni Baan, Rein In Spain, Soneeyo, Limitless Hills, Lake Superior and Martinique following closely in a cluster. Lake Leader and Ashwa Prabir were a bit slowly off and tailed the rest, but not too far behind. It was not a cracker of a pace either, with El Clasico taking it easy and the rest were content to follow. El Clasico brought the field in for the final run and at 400, they were all set for a seemingly gruelling fight. Soneeyo slipped through the rails, Rein In Spain was getting into top gear, Lake Superior getting past Limitless Hills and all ready to make it a contest.

All, until Martinique arrived on the outside! Approaching the 300 m board, El Clasico and Lake Superior were battling for the lead when Martinique simply cruised past them with a fiery gallop. Prakash got cracking on Martinique and a couple of backhanders was all she needed to surge ahead and post a thumping victory. Lake Superior was a good second just over a length away. Soneeyo finished a faraway third while Lake Leader ended in the frame, despite a tardy start. Martinique has had a busy schedule and this was her fifth run of the season. That she gave weight to her contemporaries and yet won with ease, speaks well of her ability and fitness. Most of the runners were impressive debut winners and were a lot fresher than Martinique. Despite all this, Martinique was the firm favourite and she did not disappoint whatsoever.

She has campaigned well and risen whenever expected. Although the timing was not exactly sizzling, speed certainly is her forte. For Young trainer Neil Darashah, this was a memorable moment as his ward Successor (Ontario – Lakes of Killarney) won him his first success on the Mahalaxmi track. Successor won the RM Goculdas Trophy end-to-end without being tested. He shot ahead in the small three-horse field and led on his own terms going at a decent clip on a tight rein. Ikaria followed closely and Pepe Junior too was not too far back. Into the straight, Successor improved further and kept galloping, outpacing his two rivals with each stride. He won well on a familiar track and provided his trainer Neil Darashah a lot to cheer about. Trainers Imtiaz Sait and MK Jadhav had a good day saddling a brace each. Proud Star (Mr Mellon – Star Pride) earned a hard-fought victory with Sandesh contributing to the success with a good measure.

River Gem shot ahead early on start, while Sweet Symphony lost a lot of ground at the gates. Sandesh steadily improved position with Proud Star and taking the shortest way into the straight was right in the thick of things early in the homestretch. Past the 400, Proud Star shot ahead of River Gem but soon was subjected to a lively challenge from Banana Boy. Banana Boy covered ground at a fair clip but could not keep the momentum going. Proud Star wrested back the advantage and kicked on to score. Meanwhile, Circus Ring, who clearly looked short of run, galloped on when it was all over and ended a notable second. Circus Ring surely deserves another chance. In the very next race, Imtiaz’s ward Starrer (Senure – Anmol) compiled a long due victory, jockey Srinath carrying a kilo and a half notwithstanding.

Go Guzzi Go led the field all the way into the straight and then dropped out of contention. Living The Dream, who was chasing Go Guzzi Go all the while, got to the front and went all out. Midway in the straight, Starrer appeared galloping at full steam to storm past Living The Dream to coast to a facile victory. Icon only managed to get past Go Guzzi Go to end a tame third. Rococo was never in the hunt. Lyrical Symphony (Placerville – Lyrical Fantasy) provided trainer MK Jadhav his first of two winners on the day. Golden Heart went over the mile trip right from start and led at a steady pace. Constantina was a close second almost alongside the leader as they turned for home. Golden Heart shook off Constantina easily as Distant Promise joined in the fight. Lyrical Symphony then came up with a brilliant effort to knock them all over and sailed past them with ease to compile a convincing victory. Golden Heart did well to not let any other contender get past her to hold on to the runner-up berth.

Distant Promise earned the place money for a decent effort finishing just a length behind Golden Heart while Constantina stayed in the frame. Jadhav then saddled the second winner from his stables in the last race of the day. Daffodils (Senure – Love Call) has been exceptionally consistent this season. Sitting well up along the rails this time with the front bunch comprising the favourite Aliyana, Forward Charge and Moon Farer, Daffodils went for the kill when she got the opening along the rails as leader Aliyana began to drift outward. Once Daffodils took charge past the 400, she looked solid and tore away from the pack that was in chase.

It was clear that Daffodils was in no danger early in the final furlong and Daffodils duly won with a good measure of comfort. Scenic Silver ran on to finish second, while Emerald Valley and Guns N Roses improved towards the finish to edge out Aliyana from the frame. Eye Of The Storm (Hawkeye – Storm River), who has been running over the longer trips, confounded most with a stunning performance to land the spoils over the shorter six-furlong sprint. The slow pace of the race might have been ideal for the Naren ward ably ridden by Sunny Chinoy well away from the front bunch. Glorious Miss led until the final furlong before surrendering to Apocalypse. However, before Apocalypse could capitalise on his forward charge, Eye Of The Storm swung her way to the front from the centre of the track to swoop down on the leaders and run away with the race.

The hot favourite Caramel could do little of note and ended a tame third, never really raising any hope. Atlantic Star laboured to earn the place money. The first race of the day set the trend for fancied horses to fare well through the day as five first favourites obliged during the day. Nou Camp (Sussex – Chicane), backed down heavily at race time to further reduce the miserly odds on her, was sent on a successful start-to-finish mission. Nou Camp led the bunch soon on jumping out of the gates with Gold Vault on her outside and then accelerated well in the straight to register an easy victory without encountering any resistance. Nou Camp looked the winner soon on turning for home and was imposing all the way through. Unstoppable improved in the straight to take the second spot ahead of Nuncio and Gold Vault. Jockeys B Prakash and PS Chouhan scored a double each as well.