Kings Gambit from Pesi Shroff’s yard was presented with a golden opportunity to claim the Eve Champion Trophy on Sunday and the filly did not let it pass. The opposition wasn’t imposing since the event was contested by just four horses, which included two of Kings Gambit’s barn-mates. Yash Narredu settled the filly in the rear as Azalea set the pace for the field which raced in a single file. Timing his challenge to perfection, Yash brought Kings Gambit into contention as the four runners approached the final turn where Azalea made way for Dream Alliance, who flattered briefly. As the winning post came into sight, Kings Gambit (Deauville – China Creek) tackled Dream Alliance with a measure of comfort and she won more easily than the official verdict of a length. Red Bishop was third while Azalea trailed in fourth.     
 
Shroff led in four winners during the day, his first one coming through Matisse in the day’s curtain raiser. After Oliver showed out in the early part of the race, apprentice S. Siddharth hit the front with Matisse after travelling a couple of furlongs from the start. Top-weighted Dreamer, the prime favourite to score, stayed close behind alongside Oliver. In the final run-in, NS Parmar mounted a fierce challenge with Dreamer but Matisse (Kingda Ka – Darinza) refused to buckle as Siddharth encouraged her while the former found the weight a stopper and finished under a length short of the winner at the wire. Oliver improved well towards the end and was abreast of the first two in the three-way finish. Mansa Musa ran behind in fourth.
 
Having lost narrowly to Invisible Force on the opening day of the season, Yinsiruk from Aman Hussain’s string received overwhelming support in the betting ahead of Mahogany, who was making her debut in the second division of the Dr PK Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy. Shroff had Mahogany well primed for her first appearance and the filly made easy meat of Trevor Patel-piloted Yinsiruk, who sneaked into the lead shortly after the start. Mahogany (Phoenix Tower – Maisha), bred as full sister to the speedy mare Enigma, was unfavourably placed when Yinsiruk took charge, but Vivek G. spurred his mount to make steady progress with every stride and finished with a burst in the last hundred metres to put paid to the hopes of the favourite. Noraiah finished well under pressure to be third ahead of Fire Away, who just about made it to the fourth berth.     
 
Shroff had another juvenile Hermanus taking a shot at the August Handicap, a seven-furlong event reserved for maiden youngsters. Dallas Todywalla-schooled Golden Eye, with A. Sandesh in the saddle, was the piping hot favourite in the small field of seven. However, after racing in a striking position behind leader Alpha Strike till entering the straight, Golden Eye lost pace and dropped back gradually to finish dead last. Meanwhile, Avante, Adhirajsingh Jodha’s ward ridden by Vivek, produced a brilliant run towards the inner rails to dart ahead through the gap between Alpha Strike and Spectra. Avante (Dreamfield – Kirkwood) stretched out nicely to be home and dry before Hermanus, who came with a late charge, could dent her chances. Hermanus edged out Alpha Strike to be second while Snow Girl ran on to finish in the frame.
 
Lesser fancied Chagall was powered by Vivek to carve a narrow win by keeping late-finishing Opus Dei and Neutralist at bay in the Altaf Hussain Million. Bottom-weighted Neutralist embarked on pillar-to-post over the seven-furlong journey and appeared to have pulled it off till Shroff-nursed Chagall put in a strong run in the last furlong and half to join the issue with the leader. Akshay Kumar-ridden Neutralist put up a valiant fight but was overpowered by Chagall (Cougar Mountain – Heather) a couple of strides before hitting the wire. Opus Dei came with a big run to divest Neutralist the runner-up slot while favourite Thundering Phoenix was simply not up to the task and finished fourth.
 
Malesh Narredu-nursed filly Gunfire made short work of her nine rivals in the Golfing Plate, a six-furlong sprint for horses in Class III. Gunfire (Leitir Mor – Belliflore), with Yash aboard, sped to the front from the gates and was never in danger of being caught enroute her third career success. Wind Dancer was hard ridden to be second ahead of El Moran and Don Julio.
 
The Prasanna Kumar-groomed filly Pure Soul was the hot favourite to win the Dr PK Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy (Div-II), but she caught a tartar in Coffee At Eleven, saddled by Aman Hussain who had narrowly missed two winners earlier in the day. The 20 to 1 longshot Rinella dashed into the lead while Pure Soul raced behind the four-horse pack ahead and had Coffee At Eleven on his tail. Having made steady progress, Pure Soul unleashed a powerful run to range alongside Rinella and overtake her in the last furlong, though oblivious of the danger lurking behind. Coffee At Eleven (Planetaire – Madeleine) was full of running when Sandesh set him alight in the home stretch and in a matter of a few strides, the chestnut colt was seen trouncing his main adversary. Manuel from Shroff’s stables came with a late gallop to finish a neck behind Pure Soul while Sporting Alice ran fourth.
 
The four-year old filly Her Charge finally had her say in the lowest class after a lung-opener here a fortnight ago. Ridden by Bhawani Singh, the Karthik Ganapathy-trained favourite Her Charge (Kingda – Laserre) proved too good for her rivals and scored fluently after brushing aside Royal Champ, who had assumed command from Lightning Blaze, who was ridden into the ground by her rider. Ma Cherie warmed up late to finish third while Whisper was a close fourth.