The cruel and gruelling two-mile contest for the Suresh Mahindra Trophy was expected to be a close contest between Winfield, Golden Dancer, and Endurance. However, Dallas Todywalla-saddled Golden Dancer (Deauville – Xisca) hit the front in a slow-run race and jockey Akshay Kumar controlled the pace astutely to register a start-to-finish victory over Endurance and Winfield, who followed the winner home.

The stewards’ decision to award the race to Yinsiruk, who finished second behind Dreams Come True in the Rodeo Plate, became the talking point at the racecourse. Trevor Patel raised an objection, and so did Yinsiruk’s trainer Aman Hussain, against A. Sandesh who rode the winner, Dreams Come True. Trevor accused Sandesh of bumping him and crossing him soon after the start was given. Sandesh argued that it was Yinsiruk who bumped his mount initially which triggered the obstruction. After watching the replay of the start and following the deliberations, the four stewards were divided on the decision. It was chairman Ram Shroff’s casting vote which went in favour of Yinsiruk and, in a way, brought sanity to the decision-making process. Before the stewards’ deliberations, the three professional stipes opined that the objection should be overruled. On watching the replay carefully, it was evident that Sandesh’s mount had knocked Yinsiruk off balance, yet the chestnut gelding made timely progress to finish a close second, which eventually went in his favour. Once she recovered from the shaky start, Sanjay Kolse-trained Dreams Come True won start-to-finish, while Yinsiruk (Sanus Per Aquam – Songlark) improved well to run second. Heaven’s Rhythm and Menorca both finished with a late dash to figure on the judges’ board.

Aman had earlier saddled Coffee At Eleven, who registered an emphatic win in the Conrad Hotel Trophy to complete a hat-trick this season. Pure Soul and Emperor Roderic disputed the initial lead as the six-horse field took off for the mile trip with the former regaining the initiative just before the halfway mark. Sandesh-ridden Coffee At Eleven and favourite Nebula were both ridden off the pace and stayed in the rear until the field turned for home. Coffee At Eleven unleashed a splendid turn of foot in the straight to take over the running and drew away to win comfortably from TS Jodha-ridden Nebula, who came wide into the straight and failed to match strides with the winner. Matisse finished in the money ahead of Pure Soul.

Malesh Narredu-nursed Gunfire made ample amends for her previous failure over the five-furlong scurry to claim the Lemon Tree Hotels Trophy. After the withdrawal of Foxy at the gates, the field was reduced to six runners and it was Azure, who hit the front with Darcy and Gunfire in pursuit. Gunfire was brought into contention alongside Azure when the field straightened for home and the NS Parmar-driven filly went surging into the lead. Gunfire (Leitir Mor – Belliflore) kicked on gamely under the whip to win by a length over apprentice S. Siddharth-steered Darcy, who made a gallant effort towards the end but in vain. Wind Dancer rallied in the final stages of the race to take the third berth ahead of Azure.

Trainer Pradeep Chouhan led in two maiden winners, Touch of Mystic and Absolute Emperor. Touch of Mystic fought for her head with Antony Raj after the race was flagged off and showed the way to the field with Marlboro Man following her ahead of the closely bunched field. Neutron improved steadily to run second behind Touch of Mystic as the field entered the straight. Touch of Mystic (Leitir Mor – Markabah), however, lengthened her stride in the final run-in and drew away for a facile win over Baleno and Neutron. Madison finished a close fourth.

Entrusted to PS Kaviraj in the Raees Plate for maidens, favourite Absolute Emperor gave a speedy display when coming out well from the wide draw to take over the running from Lucky Diamond and Sabalenka. Absolute Emperor was ridden vigorously by Kaviraj in the final furlong as Sabalenka came with a flourishing run. However, Absolute Emperor (Profitable – Partitia) had wrapped up the race before any damage could be done. Queen’s Covenant ran well on debut to be third ahead of Powerofattitude. Lucky Diamond faded out to run sixth.

Narendra Lagad-trained favourite Moonlight Kiss went straight down to business when the eight-horse field took off from the barriers for the Truefitt & Hill Trophy and almost pulled it off before Silver Strike overwhelmed her at the post. Silver Strike (Total Gallery – Elysee) from Faisal Abbas’s string was settled in a striking position behind Moonlight Kiss and Believe by apprentice S. Siddharth and the bay rig moved resolutely in the final furlong to achieve a hard-earned victory over the favourite by a whisker. Believe retained the third slot, while Arbitrage ran fourth throughout while the rest trailed behind.