Three weeks ago, when finishing runner-up to Gunfire on debut, Zayyan gave enough hints that he won’t be lingering in the maiden ranks for long. Surely, he did not have to wait. Zayyan turned out next to contest in the Rajpipla Trophy, a seven-furlong event that featured Sunday’s card for evening races. Going by the cramped odds offered against Zayyan by the bookies, it seemed that the event would be of academic interest at best. When the starter’s flag came down, Pesi Shroff-trained Zayyan got straight down to business and made his rivals dance to his tune all the way home. Zayyan (Ten Sovereigns – Call Me Sweetheart) was eased up a hundred metres before passing the winning post by G. Vivek, delighted at having got an armchair ride astride the dark bay colt. Golden Axl and Spectra were in a futile chase of the winner before Lion Heart was hard-ridden to finish second. Spectra ran third ahead of Golden Eye, who pegged back Golden Axl for the fourth spot.
 
Jockey Yash Narredu, who had an uneventful day in the saddle last evening, made it up to his fans by booting home a popular treble. His first winner came right at the start of the day astride Fourth Wing in the S. Padmanabhan Cup, hosted to honour the memory of the highly gifted Bangalore-based trainer, who made a name for himself by saddling multiple Indian classic winners. 

Despite suffering interference from Earth at a crucial stage, Fourth Wing managed to defeat both Bee Magical and Earth in a three-way finish, which reflects the composure Yash maintained when it mattered the most. Apprentice Aditya Waydande tried runaway tactics with Earth and entered the straight with Fourth Wing in tow. When the contest hotted up, Earth faltered by not keeping a straight course when Fourth Wing ranged alongside and drifted out badly under pressure. She went sideways, taking Fourth Wing along. But Aman Hussain-schooled Fourth Wing did not waver and overcame the trouble with Yash’s resilience and a late surge. Fourth Wing (Sanus Per Aquam – Centrestage) hit the wire first, escaping the clutches of Bee Magical, who rallied late before going down by a neck, with Earth finishing a further half-length away. Last-outing winner Bishop, who was second-in-demand, put up a disappointing show and ended fifth, about a length behind Ardakan. 

Malesh Narredu-groomed Golden Heart was the second winner steered by Yash, giving the filly her maiden win. Golden Heart stayed on the haunches of Beyond Stars, who managed to slip into the lead shortly after the start, and gained ground steadily to join the issue with the leader. In the final furlong, Yash spurred Golden Heart (Planetaire – She’s Zoff) to collar Beyond Stars and eventually gain the upper hand after a brief tussle. Favourite Golden Hammer raced thereabouts in the third spot but failed to quicken and finished thus. Cassat came with a late run to take the fourth berth.
 
Yash completed a treble in the concluding event with PS Chouhan-trained Interceptor. The odds against Interceptor climbed as the race time neared, sending jitters among his supporters. The favourite dropped back in the initial stages of the six-furlong sprint as Desert Classic took charge of the running and was followed by Silver Strike. Yash launched his bid shortly after the heads turned for home but, unable to pierce through Believe and Marcus, chose to take the inner rail route. Interceptor (Western Aristocrat – Mother’s Pride) improved rapidly thereafter and wore down stablemate Desert Classic close home. Believe ended in the money ahead of Marcus, who pegged back Silver Strike.     
 
Heaven’s Rhythm was another fancied runner ridden by Yash during the day, but he could not work the magic on Malesh’s ward and was simply outpaced by the winner Ensky. Faisal Abbas-saddled Ensky (Surfrider – Light) sprinted ahead as the thirteen-horse field took off for the five-furlong scurry and showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals. She won comfortably despite shifting out in the final stages. House of Lords was second ahead of Jaisalmer who edged out Chelsea for the third place. Heaven’s Rhythm was outpaced throughout and ran a tame fifth.
 
Don Julio from Rehanullah Khan’s yard had failed to topple Miracle of Hanukah by a neck in a tight finish last month. He almost suffered a similar fate when engaged in a tough battle with Tyrannus inside the last two furlongs of the mile journey for the JP Vazifdar Trophy. After going in pursuit of Emperor Roderic, Neeraj Rawal-partnered Tyrannus had almost tackled him before being joined by Prashant Dhebe-ridden Don Julio. The pair then went stride for stride, waging a stirring duel all the way till Don Julio (Moonlight Magic – Santa Lucia) held on gallantly to outwit Tyrannus by a short-head. Seneca ran a game third while Rambler took the fourth spot.
 
Before leading Interceptor in the last race, Chouhan had led in Staria, winner of the J. Rustomji Soparivala Trophy. Staria, who had a forward run over seven furlongs earlier, lived up to the hopes raised by that effort. Although beaten for pace early into the five-furlong trip by Queen Caroline, Staria (Win Legend – Sitara) gathered good momentum when scrubbed by Akshay Kumar and skipped clear in the last furlong to record her maiden success. Lucky Diamond was also outpaced in the early part of the race and improved only in the last lap to beat Queen Caroline, who veered out under pressure, for the runner-up slot. Sporting Alice finished fourth.