The bay filly Kavya unveiled a stunning performance on the Mahalaxmi racetrack to bring home the Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr.1), the first Indian classic of the season for her mentor, Mansingh Jadhav. Pesi Shroff-saddled Fynbos went out as the overwhelming favourite for the Guineas’ crown, which would have been her fourth straight success and her trainer’s fifth 1000 Guineas winner in a row. However, Kavya scripted a fabulous show aided by the impeccable handling of her English saddle partner David Allan. Azalea stormed into the lead by divesting it from Social Butterfly whilst Allan settled Kavya beautifully in a striking position close on the heels of the latter even as Fynbos raced with the rear pack, unperturbed by the early pace. Timing his challenge to perfection, Allan shifted gears only in the last furlong and half to take charge from Social Butterfly and drove the filly for all she was worth. Meanwhile, soon after entering the home stretch, Trevor Patel decided it was time for Fynbos to stage her appearance and thus he signalled the filly to launch her assault. Fynbos responded by starting to devour ground and came with raking strides in the last furlong, but Allan’s effort ensured that Kavya had a firm grip on the title. Kavya (Win Legend – Maun Vrat) thwarted Fynbos by half-length to bring Jadhav a belated classic triumph. Social Butterfly ran a length and half away in the third slot with Fourth Wing finishing a shorthead behind. Kings Gambit performed below expectations when failing to figure on the judges’ frame. Kavya, incidentally, had finished seventh, over twelve lengths behind Fynbos, who won the Fillies Trial Stakes during the Bangalore summer racing season in June last.

A veteran professional for exactly five and half decades, Jadhav could not have asked for a better reward than winning the classic precisely on the day when he started his career fifty-years ago. What made Kavya’s victory sweeter was that her owner Prashant Nagar happens to be Jadhav’s nephew. Nagar has not only given unstinted support as an owner to his maternal uncle but even volunteered to fly down David Allan for guiding the fortunes of Kavya. Jadhav was obviously choked with emotions during the post-race interview when expressing his feeling about the feat he had just achieved. Kavya was foaled at the Dashmesh Stud Farms and bred by the Dhunjibhoy family owned Five Stars Shipping Company Private Ltd. & Hyperion Bloodstock Private Ltd., owned by Farouq Rattonsey’s family.

Allan was clearly a delight to watch as he displayed his artistry in the saddle and started his stint in India this season by piloting Evaldo to a facile win in the day’s curtain raiser, the RJ Kolah Trophy. Aman Hussain-saddled Evaldo raced in the rear of the three-horse field as Shubankar slipped into the lead with Charlier in pursuit over the mile and quarter journey. Allan gave Evaldo (Gusto – Farrfesheena) his head as they approached the final turn following which the bay gelding bridged the leeway to overtake Shubankar shortly after passing the two-furlong marker and then wrapped up the race without much ado. Shubankar and Charlie followed him home.

Before his triumph in the day’s feature event, Allan atop Miss American Pie very nearly had the Mahalaxmi Sprint Million in his pocket. Miss American Pie stalked the speedy filly Credence right from the word go before Allan set her alight after turning for home. Miss American Pie gained the upper hand over Credence about a furlong away from home only to find Jade steadily picking pace and throwing a strong challenge at her. Allan prodded Miss American Pie to stay on but Shroff-groomed Jade (Multitude – Majestic Opinion), confidently steered by G. Vivek, wore down her rival in the last fifty metres to secure a half-length verdict. Credence retained the third place from Christophany who ended fourth. Constable, the winner’s well-fancied stablemate, failed to quicken in the straight and ran sixth.

Vivek nearly pulled off a pillar-to-post victory aboard Eagle Day over the mile-long endeavour for the MN Nazir Trophy but caught a tartar in Break Point. Eagle Day bowled along merrily ahead of his three rivals – Treat, Break Point and Substantial, who followed him in a single file. The heavily backed Break Point from PS Chouhan’s yard weaved his way through the middle and took some punishment from jockey Akshay Kumar before ranging alongside Eagle Day in the final hundred metres. In a ding-dong battle that ensued, Break Point (Dream Field – Sweet Caroline) prevailed by a head over Eagle Day. Treat managed to take the third berth ahead of A. Sandesh-ridden Substantial, who was stuck in the fourth position throughout.

Young Behram Cama-nursed filly Foxy gave a speedy display to record her third straight success over a five-furlong scurry in the Jehangir P. Dubash Trophy. Bottom-weighted Manor House showed out in the initial stages of the race with Sandesh-partnered favourite Elusive Art in hot pursuit whilst Foxy was settled towards the inner rails. Elusive Art and Storm Cloud both failed to tackle Manor House in the final run-in even as apprentice Aditya Waydande made a courageous move and showed remarkable composure as he spurred Foxy through the gap left open by the leader towards the rails. Foxy (Surfrider – Lorraine) accelerated well to seize control of the running about a furlong and half away from the wire and scampered home to score a comfortable win. Bee Magical lacked initial speed but warmed up in the straight to finish runner-up ahead of four horses which were involved in the fight for the minor placings. Moonlight Kiss, Storm Cloud, Manor House and Elusive Art, who followed home the pair ahead, were separated by the shortest of margins.

The four-year-old filly Ashwa Gypsy (formerly named Dulari), who had come under trainer Sanjay Kolse’s charge after change in ownership, justified the support she received in the concluding event of the day. Ashwa Gypsy was fine-tuned for this success by Kolse which she proved when making steady progress from the fourth position to tackle the three front-runners – Chelsea, Red Mist and Aries shortly after the field straightened for home. Haridas Gore then urged Ashwa Gypsy (Tenth Star – Radical Attraction) to gain the advantage following which the bay filly stretched out nicely to register a gratifying win over Star Impact. Chelsea and Red Mist faded out to finish third and fourth respectively ahead of the field which “also ran.”