Young trainers dominate trainers' trophy

Two young trainers, one landing a nice coup by backing his debutant horse from 10-1 to 2-1 and the other opening his career account with a well-supported gamble, won the two divisions of the Trainers Trophy, the feature event of Saturday's eight-race card. In a last-moment deal worked out with the club, both divisions were sponsored by Zavaray Poonawalla who stepped in late on Friday night as a sponsor by donating Rs 10 lakh for the Saturday night racing program.

Trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha's four-year-old Make Way For Me made his debut at the age of four, but such was the confidence of the connections that the first-timer was spiritedly backed down from the long shot status to eventually start as a favourite for the race at post time. The smart money that came his way was rewarded handsomely as, in the hands of jockey Kavraj Singh, Make Way For Me came up with a flourish in the final furlong to sweep past the front-running horses with commendable ease. This was third victory in as many days of night racing for Kavarj Singh, who emerged as the most successful jockey under the floodlights.

Trainer Arif Khan, who emerged from under the wings of elder brother Altaf Hussain to take up independent training licence some months ago, tasted his first success in the other division of the same race when Rare And Gorgeous (R Ajinkya up), freely available at 15-2, asserted her superiority by taming hot favourite Eternal Royalty (TS Jodha up) near home.

The curtain will come down on the Mumbai season on Sunday, and nine races have been slated for the final day, the last four of them to be run under the floodlights. The Audi Million, feature event, has 14 runners in the fray, and whosoever wishes to win will have to beat Pepito trained by Narendra Lagad and to be ridden by Darren Williams.

First race at 4.30 pm.
Selections:

Alvida Plate - Div II (Class V; 1400m)
Nigella 1, Star Builder 2, Awesome Knight 3.

Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy (Class I; 1400m)
Maximus 1, Mykonos 2, Papakura 3.

Alvida Plate - Div I (Class V; 1400m)
Coley 1, Pure Bliss 2, True Heir 3.

Season Ending Juvenile Million (For 3y; 1400m)
Sweeping Star 1, Dancing Lord 2.

Racing Officials Cup (Class IV; 1800m)
Ad Astra 1, Magic In The Air 2, Danse Debonaire 3.

Goodbye Plate (Class V; 1200m)
Zafirah 1, Super Bolt 2, Mythical Sunrise 3.

Jockeys Trophy - Div I (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
Traherne 1, Miracle Of Love 2, Benezeer 3.

Jockeys Trophy - Div II (For 3y, maidens; 1200m)
Itscaro 1, Enthralling 2, Aliboxer 3.

AUDI Million (Class III; 1200m)
Pepito 1, Quest For Love 2, Top Trainer 3.

Recommendations
Best bet: None
Good bet: Maximus (2-1)
Chance bet: Ad Astra (5-3)
Upset: Star Benevolent (1-8) & Chlobud (6-1)

Today's pools:
Super jackpot poo: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Jackpot pool: I - 3,4,5,6,7; II - 5,6,7,8,9
Treble pool: I - 2,3,4; II - 6,7,8; III - 7,8,9
Tanala pool: All races.