The glittering Zavaray S. Poonawalla-sponsored Racing Carnival was advanced this year for Sunday from the originally planned programme in the first week of April after the RWITC authorities decided to curtail the current season due to administrative reasons. Yet the festive atmosphere at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse remained as buoyant as ever. The well-attended race day witnessed Western India’s ace trainer Pesi Shroff’s near clean sweep of the three graded events with D’Artagnan, Zuccaro, and Kings Gambit.
 
Well, nothing would make Shroff happier than the praise he received for the success of his three wards but, the indomitable display of Zuccaro in the Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy (Gr.3) brought a subtle smile on his face. And why not? A tendonitis problem which cropped up after his success last year forced Zuccaro into hiatus. Zuccaro, who is two years older than Fynbos, the filly who claimed this year’s Indian Derby, was returning to competitive racing after a year. It created doubts about his fitness level. Not surprisingly, stablemate Psychic Star was favoured in the betting ring. When Zuccaro strode sluggishly after the seven-horse field took off for the mile journey and lingered at the rear till they reached the two-furlong marker, few would have given him a winning chance. But Zuccaro revealed his talent the moment Yash Narredu tapped him with his whip. The chestnut son of Kingda Ka out of Mahali started to devour ground faster than rivals. At this juncture, G. Vivek-ridden Psychic Star had cut short The Milenium Force’s attempt to establish his supremacy after overtaking pace-maker Chagall. Psychic Star almost hit the wire, but Zuccaro caught up with her less than fifty metres left to go. Zuccaro’s flared nostrils in the final stride sealed a thrilling victory over Psychic Star, who unfortunately came across one better. Zuccaro was, however, walking tall whilst returning to the winner’s enclosure. He had justified the faith imposed in his ability by his master and made him proud. Zuccaro, who was bred at the Nanoli Stud Farms, is the joint property of Mr Khushroo N. Dhunjibhoy, Mr Zahir K. Dhunjibhoy, Ms Anousha Meyers, Messrs Vispi R. Patel, AS Narielwala, Eruch Adi Mody, Ms Anita J. Captain and Mr & Mrs DP Adenwalla.
 
Kings Gambit, who had finished runner-up in the Indian Oaks and third in the Indian Derby, returned with a bang to humble her rivals in the prestigious CN Wadia Gold Cup (Gr.3). Shroff entrusted Kings Gambit to jockey A. Prakash and the young lad cashed in on the opportunity to steer a graded-race winner. Azalea, who was exploited as a pacemaker yet again, set the pace over the Derby distance whilst King Ke and Sovereign King went in pursuit. Prakash settled Kings Gambit in the mid-bunch as the rest followed behind. Interestingly, Sovereign King’s saddle slipped about two furlongs into the race and Antony Raj could not offer him any assistance. At the half-way mark, Antony decided to play safe and allowed Sovereign King to hit the front and came a distance clear of his rivals into the home stretch. Meanwhile, Azalea threw in her towel as the field turned for home, allowing Golden Thunder to flatter briefly following which King Ke stormed ahead. Before King Ke could break free, Vivek found Kings Gambit creeping closer with every stride. Having timed his challenge to perfection, Prakash asked Kings Gambit the question, which was answered by the filly with a sparkling run. Vivek plied his whip freely to keep King Ke in the hunt, but Kings Gambit (Multitude – China Creek) was unstoppable, she surged ahead in the last hundred metres for a gratifying win. Red Bishop, also saddled by Shroff, divested favourite Thalassa of the third spot with a late finish.
 
An hour earlier, it was third-time lucky for Shroff’s three-year-old juvenile D’Artagnan, who graduated from the maiden ranks in the Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders’ Juvenile Colts’ Championship (Gr.3). Vivek settled D’Artagnan in a handy position behind leader Bravion, who was soon joined in the front by Alpha Strike. When Vivek shifted gears inside the final two furlongs of the mile trip, D’Artagnan (Deauville – Exception) uncoiled a brilliant run to steal a march over his rivals. The dark bay colt then cruised ahead for a convincing win over Enrich, who improved late to beat Alexios for the runner-up berth. Bravion faded out to be fourth while Puccini ran far below expectations and finished fifth.
 
Shroff had piping-hot favourite Angelisa competing in the Forbes Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies’ Championship (Gr.3). The filly, however, went down by a narrow margin to Vortex. Trevor Patel dictated the pace over the mile journey by easing Shazaan Shah-groomed Vortex into the lead in the four-horse field. Vivek rode Angelisa off the pace with Pinnacle tracking her closely. A. Sandesh, meanwhile, kept Menorca within striking distance of Vortex. Immediately on entering the straight, in an attempt to retain the advantage, Trevor went flat-out on Vortex, which eventually gave the filly a decisive edge in the finish. The other horses too went off the bridle and tried to tackle the leader. Vivek tried unsuccessfully to take the gap between Vortex and Menorca and was forced to come wide to launch his assault. Trevor was relentless with Vortex (Dreamfield – Legendofthephoenix) and the filly held on gallantly to repel Angelisa’s aggression by a neck. Pinnacle could not find the required acceleration when it mattered and finished half a length behind the runner-up, while Menorca ended fourth.