The Gitanjali Group, new Sponsor at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, is a major player in the gem and precious stones industry. However, jockey C. Rajendra and trainer P. Shroff showed no less sparkle while compiling a lucrative treble on Sunday. Starting with Chardin, the duo came victorious on Buenos Aires and Livorno as well. Nevertheless, the owner and trainer duo of Vijay Shirke and MK Jadhav, who scored twice, dished out the surprise package as both their horses were rank outsiders in their respective races. Jockey YS Srinath was the other professional to score a double.
Punters and pundits were confounded in the very first race of the day. While last start winner Very Bonafide (Daniel Grant) cornered major support, Walking Tall (M. Narredu) was next in demand. Solid Black had his share of supporters and a few opted for Adallia. Little did anyone suspect a shock result as Walking Tall in his customary fashion led the field home with a 2 L lead. At the 400 metres, Very Bonafide started to bridge the gap, and soon joined the leader at which point Da Vinci (Neeraj Rawal) was second last, a good 7-8 L behind the front-runners. Meanwhile, Infinite Power (Dashrath Singh), who was making progress towards the rails, moved out to stake his claim. Da Vinci had warmed up nicely and was covering ground briskly. In the last 100 metres, Da Vinci quickened and though it was a close finish, a Vinci was clearly the fastest towards the finish.
In a six furlong sprint, Da Vinci did well to spring a surprise after racing in the rear for the most part of the race and being a fair distance behind some speedy customers. This was a tremendous effort. Infinite Power has shown enough in this run to suggest that it will not be long before he strikes. Walking tall buckled under the top weight but only in the last few strides. Very Bonafide ran strongly and went down fighting. Solid Black was poor and did not quicken when he was prominent. Keep an eye on Adallia too, who covered a lot of ground from a long way back.
Chardin set the ball rolling for the Rajendra and Shroff combine. Settling in third behind Acceptance and Eagle Mountain (Appu), Chardin took charge early in the straight and looked good all the way home. Eagle Mountain nearly had an accident as he moved in and hit the railing pretty badly about the 300 metres mark, thus ending his challenge. Chardin proved too good for the rest and Tigresse Noire, Ka Ching only managed the minor placing .While Flashing Flame ran from the rear to figure in the frame, Chardin was most impressive.
Buenos Aires and Premier Diva (YS Srinath) were the best supported in the ring. Sparrow Hawk had a good front run and led the field home. At 300 metres, Buenos Aires came to the fore and sped ahead leaving little doubt about his stranglehold of the race. Hisham galloped on and Binee (PS Chouhan) came on to the scene too late to make any impact on the winner but ended a good second. Premier Diva (YS Srinath) failed to make an impression.
Surmount (Shailesh Shinde) made it a start to finish affair and pulled it off quite convincingly. Leading all the way, Surmount established a good 5-6 length lead as the heads turned for home and kicked on gamely to remain elusive all the way. Passion in The Park was expected to do better than he did, but can blame it on a traffic jam at a crucial juncture. Jazzego (YS Srinath) is the one who caught the eye for her good finishing effort that saw her clinch the second spot. Quest for Justice held on to place money warding off Passion in the Park.
Livorno (Rajendra), who raced in the rear till well into the home stretch, produced a brilliant turn of foot and caught up with the hot favourite Red Indian (YS Srinath) and Fantastic Fury (Grant) just as the latter was getting the measure of the favourite. Livorno did briefly struggle to get an opening between horses, but Rajendra quickly switched her on to the outside. Once he had steered Livorno towards a clear run, the filly responded immediately and in a trice Livorno breezed past them all to register a convincing victory. Fantastic Fury was a good second. Red Indian disappointed a large following and could only finish third. Livorno's victory was impressive and she can repeat. Fantastic Fury too will do well. Red Indian will have to improve a lot.
Star Gesture (O'Donnoghue) won without a fuss and easily accounted for Sudarshan Chakram (Rajendra). Star Gesture went past Lightening Bolt near 300 metres and had the race well sewn up. Sudarshan Chakram tried hard to catch up in vain. Arabian Speed ran a decent third ahead of Lightening Bolt who had a good forward race and would merit attention over a five-furlong sprint.
MK Jadhav dropped his second bombshell for the day in the Governor's Cup. Daffodils (Neeraj Rawal) literally cantered to victory over a lot more fancied runners. Daffodils accelerated so well in the straight that Neeraj used the whip just once and even that did not seem necessary. Secret Affair (Appu) hit the front closely followed by Daffodils. Insite Soul (Grant), Top Romance and Palme Dor (Sunny Chinoy) were next as the heads turned for home. In the straight, Daffodils loomed large and soon took over and established an unassailable lead. Top Romance was ridden vigorously and Insite Soul was being urged. Palme Dor, who received a check for which jockey Chinoy also raised an unsuccessful objection against Grant, showed good finishing effort to join Top Romance and Insite Soul for a place in the frame. Beside the three who followed Daffodils, Sentinel did well to cover a lot of ground to finish fifth.
The Ranjit V. Bhat Memorial Gold Trophy saw an interesting finish between Pampered Princess (Dashrath Singh), Enceladus (M. Poirier) and Dancing Diva (Narredu). The first-named led the field home and Enceladus found it difficult to find a clear run and only got to go all out in the last furlong. Major Roberts challenged Pampered Princess but soon weakened. Agha was with them but not making much impression. Dancing Diva started to respond but could not sustain. Pampered Princess kept on and in the closing stages had that extra bit to ward off a stiff challenge from Enceladus who can count herself unlucky. This was a fast run race and the winner clocked just split seconds shy of the course record. Enceladus should make amends soon.
The Gitanjali Lifestyle Salver was also a fast run race stopping the clock split seconds short of the course record. Beyond Belief (YS Srinath) hit the front and set a scorching pace. Desert Conqueror and Ruben Star (O'Donnoghue) followed closely as they turned for home. Into the straight, Beyond Belief increased his lead and none behind him could get any closer. In the end, Beyond Belief had a good 2 ¾ length to spare over Ruben Star, Star Conquest and Oyster Cove. Ruben Star looked good in patches and Oyster Cove covered ground to figure in the frame.
The last race of the day saw a lot of smart money coming on Rising Emperor (Riyaz Shaikh). Kiss Away (YS Srinath) was next in demand. The pair hit the front soon on start and carried their battle until the final furlong. In the straight, Rising Emperor started to drift out taking Kiss Away along but Kiss Away simply drew ahead in the last 200 metres to register a comfortable victory on debut. Modesty (Appu) could not make most of the clear rail run and only managed to get ahead of Rising Emperor to finish second.
