L.V.R. Deshmukh-trained Vijay Dhanush (Royal Kingdom – Sartorial) lifted The Indian Navy Rolling Challenge Trophy in a smashing manner, beating a dozen others in the race, run over a metric mile, for horses in the highest category. Ave Maria, who was running for a hat-trick, and El Paso on sheer class, were widely expected to pull it off and thus were in the forefront in the betting. Going into the race, Caligatae cut the wind from the start and was not showing signs of tiring even 100 metres from home.

Mission Chief was trying his best to carry the top weight past the leader while El Paso was looking to shoot through the rails. Inside the last 100 metres, Vijay Dhanush, who was in about fifth position was pulled out by apprentice P. Venkat and when shown the daylights, the three-year-old gelding came up with a terrific turn of foot to sizzle past the four in front. Mission Chief just managed to pip Caligatae for the second place, while El Paso ended up a close fourth. Ave Maria was a bit lethargic at the start and ran listlessly.

Deshmukh was the only professional to lead in a double, from a small card of six races, on Sunday. The two-year-old Zamorin (Rebuttal – Rythm ‘N’ Blues) looked to be a very promising type en route to victory in The Soviet Star Plate. Ache For Love and Cherry Hill braced the front with Zamorin settled well in third in the early part of the race. As they approached the home straight, Zamorin was guided by P.S. Chouhan in-between the two in front and there was no race for him. Zamorin, who was not urged at any part of the race won very impressively and should definitely go a long way in his career.

Leo D’Silva’s Arcturus (Don Micheletto – Swiss Maid) made every post a winning one in The Bhagmati Cup, run over 1,600 metres. Jumping out from the outermost draw, Arcturus got to the lead quickly and kicked on in the straight with S. John on the saddle, to score easily. Brianna improved late to push Eloquence to the third place while Victory Sky looked in all sorts of trouble to finish fourth. Irish jockey, Beggy, rode another superb race to emerge victorious on the public choice, Flashy Conquest (Duja – Quiet Fancy), in The Trade Fair Plate, the concluding race of the day.

Part Time Lover was speedy, taking the running from the start and continued to lead on the straight. Beggy brought Flashy Conquest with a challenge inside the final furlong and got the better by over a length at the finish. Ziglar just managed to snatch the second place from Part Time Lover at the wire. K. Satheesh’s Ice Mountain (Juniper – Adam’s Delight) galloped resolutely to lift The Red Orchid Plate. Racing in the rear, in a field of nine, after Royal Tune was withdrawn, crept up gradually, positioned in about fifth entering the straight and came with a rattle in the last 400 metres, leaving the field cold.

Strategic Command took the second spot while the judge not being able to separate Arya and Da Xia in the photo, declared a dead-heat for the third place. The top-weighted Auburn Star (Inner City – Star Of Century) from S.A. Shehzad Abbas’s yard shot through to take charge, entering the straight and with jockey Daniel Grant just niggling her, stretched out well to emerge clear by six lengths. Grey Shot, Welcome Baby and Ice Candy filled the frame.