Seven months after the tragic demise of his original mentor, late Parvati Byramji, four-year-old African Gold rediscovered his lost form in the Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy (Gr.3) on Sunday. Akshay Kumar eased African Gold into the lead shortly after the field began its journey over nine-furlongs with Odysseus, Golden Dancer and Psychic Star in close attendance. After African Gold brought his rivals into the straight, G. Vivek pressed the accelerator on Psychic Star and shunted back both Odysseus and Golden Dancer, who were unable to tackle Darius Byramji’s ward. With about a furlong and half left to travel, favourite Psychic Star threw her gauntlet at African Gold but the dark bay gelding stuck to his task as Akshay refused to buckle under the pressure. Pesi Shroff-trained Psychic Star inched closer, however, African Gold (Multidimensional –Botswana) held on gallantly to ward off the threat and register a length and a quarter victory. Thalassa and Odysseus ran close behind in the third and fourth place.
 
The recent trend of racing form going for a toss and fancied favourites failing to oblige continued to cause distress among punters. The success of the two-year-old juvenile Elevate had nothing to do with current form and it was only Don Julio and Zafferano, both ridden by A. Sandesh, who obliged their supporters to an extent. Deepesh Narredu-schooled Elevate was the only horse in the field of nine running with the benefit of an outing and he had smart money coming his way ahead of Spectra and Tempo. Elevate (Portamento – Nuray) spurted ahead to assume command and showed a clean pair of heels eight rivals with Yash Narredu ensuring that his mount, who cut across the field to seize control of the running after the start was given, stayed on a straight course all the way home. The favourite went on to record a facile victory over Spectra, Tempo and Rouge, who were simply outpaced by the winner as was Inheritance.
 
The other event for two-year-old horses had Alexios and D’Artagnan cornering much of the betting in the bookmakers’ ring. However, Buckingham, who found enough support to go out as third favourite, vanquished the fancied duo. Antony Raj settled Buckingham in the mid-field as no-hoper Ghost of Victory darted to the front with Alexios in striking distance behind whilst Mirani and Cherubine followed the pair ahead. Vivek-partnered D’Artagnan from Shroff's yard made a strong bid inside the last furlong and half after Alexios failed to quicken and wore down Ghost of Victory. However, before D’Artagnan could break free in the final furlong, Karthik Ganapathy-saddled Buckingham came with a long-stretched run to join the issue with former. The slender lead enjoyed by D’Artagnan slipped away as Buckingham (Holy Roman Emperor – Thanielle) got stronger at the finish and eventually snubbed his rival. Alexios ran a tame third ahead of Vortex.
 
Nazzak Chenoy-nursed Ataash seems to have taken a liking for the rookie rider A. Omkar. The bay mare, who was entrusted with Omkar for the first time in October last, achieved a hat-trick in the young lad’s hands when claiming the Karl Umrigar Salver, an event framed in memory of the talented young rider who lost his life in a tragic accident at the Mahalaxmi racecourse. Market King hit the front with Christophany and Son Of A Gun in pursuit whilst Chagall, Ataash and Ardakan raced behind. When the field went off the bridle in the home stretch, Christophany rallied well when asked for an effort by apprentice Ramswarup and gained the upper hand over Market King, who was slowing down, and Chagall. In the meanwhile, Omkar switched Ataash (Speaking of Which – Sacred Fire) on the wider outside and as soon as the mare was shown the daylight, she moved swiftly to overwhelm Christophany and won with a degree of comfort. Chagall, who could not get a clear run towards the rails after being inconvenienced by Christophany, finished third ahead of Market King. Ardakan, who failed to jump fluently out of the gates, languished in the rear throughout the seven-furlong trip.
 
Rehanullah Khan’s ward Don Julio shed his maiden status after receiving an inspired ride from A. Sandesh in the Dr IC Nagree Trophy. No-hopers Sophisticated and She’s My Gal made the initial running with Skanda, Muskoka and favourite Charlie Brown in pursuit whilst Don Julio raced in the mid-bunch. Skanda slipped through the inner rails soon after the heads turned for home with Charlie Brown making a forward move to join the issue with him. Both Skanda and Charlie Brown fought a pitched battle inside the last furlong and half but before they could settle their dispute, Don Julio arrived on the scene. Sandesh packed enough punch in his riding which enabled Don Julio (Moonlight Magic – Santa Lucia) to overwhelm Skanda in the last fifty metres and post a length and quarter victory. Mulan and Santana Row both warmed up late to finish third and fourth respectively ahead of the tiring Charlie Brown.
 
Sandesh completed a double when he steered Adhirajsingh Jodha-saddled Zafferano to a convincing win in the Ram Zodge Plate, the concluding event of the day. Surrealist, with apprentice S. Siddarth in the saddle, showed plenty of initial speed to grab the lead and brought the field into the straight. Timeless Fortune took over from the leader as soon as the field straightened for home and held on to the advantage till he was challenged by Zafferano. After riding him off the pace, Sandesh launched his assault in the final run-in and found Zafferano (Kingda Ka – Auburn) producing a superb run to overrun Timeless Fortune just under a furlong away from home. Favourite Starseed, who was hampered at the start by Timeless Fortune and graced the wrong end of the field till the final turn, came with a powerful run towards the end but shifted out under pressure before finishing runner-up ahead of Timeless Fortune and Surrealist.
 
Two candidates – Storm Cloud and Lightning Blaze, from trainer Narendra Lagad’s yard surprised the punters in their respective events. Storm Cloud went out as the underdog in the day’s curtain raiser where top-weighted Bee Magical was the favourite. However, Storm Cloud came from the widest draw to be in the front and then showed a clean pair of heels to well-fancied Azure and his other rivals. Apprentice Avinash Paswan rode a confident race atop Storm Cloud (Leitir Mor – Priceless Art) despite coming under pressure from Azure and Joondalup and lasted out to win narrowly. Shirsa put in a late burst to finish third behind Joondalup whilst Azure retired to be fourth. Bee Magical looked to be in the reckoning in the last furlong but failed to quicken and ended a tame sixth.
 
Six-year-old Lightning Blaze, who could never earn a bracket during her previous forty-six starts, stormed into the lead in the DW Reid Plate and was never headed though Maratha Admiral came closer in the final stages of the mile-long event. K. Nazil-ridden Lightning Blaze (Phoenix Tower – Bernsteinkuste) opened a long gap soon after the start and was over a distance ahead of her nearest rival Maratha Admiral till entering the final stretch. Nikhil Parmar sent Maratha Admiral in hot pursuit of the leader but fell short by half a length at the wire. Baleno just about managed to finish in the money ahead of Leo The Lion. Favourite Jagger once again swerved to his left when the gates opened and was practically out of the race thereafter.