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With the feature event going to the MAM camp, the rest of the day belonged to young apprentice jockey NS Parmar. The lad scored a lucrative treble and all his winners were well supported. He started off with a victory astride Rave On in the very first race of the day. Parmar, soon on start, sent in the Antia-trained grey gelding to the lead. Parmar then had to dig deep into his riding skills to keep at bay a strong challenge from a pack of horses closing in. The strongest challenge came from The Rebel who all but got Rave On (Meritocrat – Let’s Twist Again) on the post. Kimaya too ended a good third just piping Ijlal for place money.
Frangipani (Concordial – Golden Furture) showed that he was bell-sound while tackling his rivals with contemptuous ease. Highland Vision was the heavily-backed favourite who just could not raise hopes at any given time. Highland Music was the one who set the tone, marching ahead to build a sizable lead entering the straight. Frangipani made rapid progress without raising sweat or burning a lot of energy in doing so. Parmar quickly got him to get past Maverick and Solid Rock before taking charge from Highland Music. Once in the lead, Frangipani capitalized without Parmar having to use the whip even once. Highland Vision was under duress and just could not match up to the fiery gallop raised by Frangipani. Solid Rock galloped on to save place money.
Kiss Away (Major Impact – Kisses Due) was perhaps the best ride of Parmar on the day. Sitting well up in third, Parmar had Kiss Away well in hand turning for home. Flames of Fire had galloped to a runaway lead and was still a good four length ahead into the straight. Parmar eased Kiss Away closing in on the leader and without exerting too much out of the Altaf Hussain trainee, Parmar sent Kiss Away to the front. Catalyst and Highland Glory were covering ground briskly but Parmar put in a strong finish and kept both at bay. Catalyst was easily the better-moving horse and just failed to collar Kiss Away, the winning post coming a split second too early for Catalyst.
Elosie (Glory of Dancer – Confiding), despite running green, put forth a blinding finish to snatch victory form the jaws of defeat. Sunlight had assumed command early into the straight and seemed to be going well. Favourite Eloise came with a spirited run which would have come to a naught had she continued to drift all the way. Credit must be given to jockey Paul Mulrennan to have switched the whip hand and turn a difficult mount to a winning one. Eloise covered rapid ground to nose out Sunlight who looked the winner until the last stride. Eloise won by the thinnest of margins as Sunlight did everything possible but didn’t have luck on her side.
Jockey Paul Mulrennan was involved with another close finish, perhaps the most fiercely fought race of the day. On a day of dramatic finishes, the Manitou Trophy was a handicapper’s dream. Five of the nine contenders finished together in an awesome blanket finish. For a mile race, this was a breathtaking finish!
Bolero led the bunch, closely followed by Barbara, Ibis and Deep Purple. White Knight was next, but never made any impression in the race. Track Thunder and Solor raced in the rear bunch.
Into the straight, Bolero showed no signs of fatigue and kept the momentum going. He was soon joined by Barbara, who was galloping with purpose. Soon Deep Purple began to flex his muscles and Track Thunder appeared to be gaining along the rails. Solor was still not in the spotlight. With a four-pronged finish on the card, necks were craning in the stands to pick the winner. With only 100 metres to go, it was still anybody’s race. Solor then stormed in to join the melee and all the five hit the wire abreast making it a race caller’s nightmare. Solor literally had got them all on the wire. Barbara and Deep Purple were deadlocked for the second. Track Thunder was a head away and Bolero a close fifth. For trainer Nina Lalvani, the photo finish result couldn’t have been better. It was poetic justice for her after the agonizing defeat of Catalyst by a whisker earlier in the day.
Jockey SA De Sousa, like Mulrennan scored a brace with Sol (Glory of Dancer – Dance In The Sun) and Breeze And I (Glory of Dancer – Double Wish).
Sol was sent on a successful start-to-finish mission and De Sousa played his part to keep Sol ahead with a little over a length to spare. Entering the straight, Sol easily shook off Premier Connection and accelerated further to be comfortably in front and keeping a good pace going. Tommy Carmichael started to bridge the gap and had Chopasni and Perfect Strength on either side. But none could catch up with Sol who won easing up.
Breeze And I, who is full sister to the great Dancing Dynamite, came into her own after her suggestive last start to earn her maiden victory in a well-fought race. De Sousa started off on a right note, positioning himself well in the big 16–horse field. He was in striking position at the turn which, looking back, held him in good stead. Guns N Roses never really settled down and was constantly under pressure. De Nada too was too far away from the scene and by the time De Nada could open up full throttle, the winning post arrived. Sousa rode with aplomb and that made the difference.
Breeze And I shot ahead and built a handy lead and left for the others to chase her down. Guns N Roses did cover ground but failed to maintain the momentum for too long. De Nada was the fastest moving in the final furlong, but had to make up a lot of ground in the straight and fell short by just a length.
Steely Dan (Ontario – Arctic Gale) showed he was fit and the lay off was not a bother by romping home to a decisive victory in his first appearance this season. Settling into the front group, Steely Dan caught up with leaders National Ikon and Orion Star passing the 400 and bludgeoned his way to the front. Once in the lead, Steely Dan stormed ahead and looked the winner long way from home. He was on his own in the final furlong and the rest were scampering for the minor placing. Billo Rani finished on well to end second ahead of Aaja Nachle, who may make amends the next time out. Aaja Nachle did not get a clear passage and that proved to be her undoing. She would have gone closer, if not win, had she not got blocked at a crucial juncture.
Trainers Altsaf Hussain and SS Shah saddled a double each, while jockeys SA De Sousa and Paul Mulrennan scored a brace each. However, it was apprentice jockey NS Parmar who stole the day’s honours with a fine treble.
