Fast Rain triumphs in Sunday feature event

Representational Image. Courtesy/ iStock

The MK Jadhav-trained Fast Rain (Fast Company - Girl Of The Rain), carrying the silks of Prashant Nagar, displayed great energy despite running after a lay-off of nearly five months, to claim the Racing Officials Trophy, the feature event of the final day of the Mumbai racing season 2021-22.

Jockey NS Parmar settled Fast Rain in mid-bunch even as Hilma Klint (AK Aniket up) and Majestic Warrior (M Alam up) disputed the lead in early stages of the six-furlong contest. TS Jodha astride Majorella Blue created a flutter soon on turning for home, by grabbing the lead and opening what looked like a useful margin, as he raced towards the winning post. However, Fast Rain, set alight by NS Parmar by then, devoured ground with every stride and joined the issue with the leader in the final furlong. With 100m still to go, Fast Rain edged out Majorella Blue, and though Dali Swirl (A Prakash up) moved up well in the closing stages, he had to be content with only the runner-up berth.

Trainer Pesi Shroff once again bagged the season's championship honours with 38 wins. This was the 15th Mumbai title for the ace trainer, and 13th on the trot. Jockey PS Chouhan, who mainly rides for the Shroff yard, picked up the jockeys' championship title with 20 wins. However, it was a close call for this category as P Trevor, who was trailing by two points on the morning of the final day, caught up with Chouhan's tally with victories astride Empower and Tyrone Black, and went out with hot favourite Silver Steps in the penultimate race, hoping to return a winner. However, the horse was withdrawn at the last moment, and Chouhan was adjudged champion jockey on the basis of higher place points.

Apprentice jockey Kirtish Bhagat emerged on top both in the apprentice as well as jockey-with-allowance categories with 13 wins during the season. The leading owner prize went to Five Star Shipping Co Pvt Ltd which earned stakes money of nearly Rs one crore. Usha stud of Ms Ameeta Mehra claimed the honours for the leading breeders category with 156 points.