By Punters Mind
Favourites make it a super Saturday at the races
It was a day to remember for horse racing fans and punters alike. On the eve of the grand Maharaja’s Gold Cup, Saturday’s race card delivered plenty of cheer, especially for those who follow form religiously. Out of the day’s races, five solid favourites and one well-supported second favourite – Thundering Phoenix – romped home in style, sending happy punters rushing to the payout windows.
Thrill Of Brazil Kicks Off a Perfect Start
Race: 9 Furlongs | Trainer: Sajid Qureshi | Jockey: Jagadeesh
The action started with a bang as Thrill Of Brazil, the day’s first favourite, lived up to expectations. After a strong third-place finish last time, she was the top choice for many—and she didn’t disappoint.
In a nail-biting finish, she edged out Ksepiman right at the wire. It wasn’t an easy win though. Ksepiman came hard, even bumping her twice near the finish line. But jockey Jagadeesh held his nerve and got the best out of his mount. Most old-timers at the track agreed—if Thrill Of Brazil had lost, she still would’ve got the race in the stewards’ room thanks to the interference.
Wolf Creek, despite carrying top weight, couldn’t match the pace in the final stages and settled for a place.
Miracle Star Proves She’s a Cut Above
Race: Fire Haven Plate (1 Mile) | Trainer: Padmanabhan | Jockey: Trevor Patel
Many believed Miracle Star was a class apart from her seven rivals, but the odds didn’t reflect that confidence. Initially priced at (50/100), her odds surprisingly drifted, making some big players hold back.
But those who stayed loyal to her were rewarded. Trevor Patel rode with patience, keeping her relaxed in the early part of the race. When he asked her to move, she responded beautifully, accelerating past the field to win comfortably.
Machiavellian followed her home, and Star Studded rounded off the placings.
Smart Move Pays Off for Narayan Gowda with Stravinsky
Race: Basque Plate (Lower Division – 6 Furlongs) | Trainer: Narayan Gowda
The Narayan Gowda camp seemed confident about Stravinsky, and their big-money gamble paid off. Initially the second favourite, the odds soon shortened as money poured in—and rightly so.
Stravinsky made the race look easy. He grabbed the lead more than a furlong out and didn’t give anyone a chance to catch him. Super Kind ran on late to take second, while Mega Success and Resplendence completed the frame.
Eastern Gold Falters in the Upper Division
Race: Basque Plate (Upper Division – 6 Furlongs) | Trainer: Darius Byramji
In the upper division, punters backed Eastern Gold heavily. She tried to make all the running under Akshay Kumar, but couldn’t resist the powerful late charge of Felisa, who surprised everyone with a strong finish at 6/1 odds.
Apprentice rider Pavan gave a confident ride, notching up his second win of the season. Royal Deccan ran a solid race to grab third, while Master Way, who had won previously, failed to make much impact.
Star Serenade Wins the Expected Duel
Race: Skyline Plate | Trainer: Rajesh Narredu | Jockey: RN Darshan
The Skyline Plate was billed as a battle between Star Serenade and NRI Jetpower, and that’s exactly what unfolded. These two dominated the race from the start, with Star Serenade, guided by RN Darshan, just having the upper hand at the finish.
NRI Jetpower, partnered by Ryan Ahmed, gave it everything but had to settle for second. Chinky Pinky ran a respectable third, while Quevega never got into the mix.
Fortunate Son Delivers Like a True Favourite
Race: Veterinarian’s Trophy (7 Furlongs) | Trainer: MK Jadhav | Jockey: Prashanth Dhebe
Backed with full confidence, Fortunate Son gave his supporters exactly what they were hoping for. Prashanth Dhebe sent him to the front early and controlled the race from there.
He held off any late challengers to score comfortably. Crosswater ran well to finish second, while Armory came in third. A special mention must go to True Faith, who flew in late from the back to take fourth. He’s defin.itely one to keep an eye on
Thundering Phoenix Flashes Home Late
Race: DM Kumaraswamy Memorial Trophy (1 Mile) | Trainer: Adhirajsingh Jodha | Jockey: Antony Raj
The standout performance of the day came from Thundering Phoenix, who showed an explosive turn of foot in the final stages. Ridden patiently at the rear by Antony Raj, he was nowhere near the leaders until they entered the straight.
But when the button was pressed, he simply took off—surging past all six rivals to win with ease. Gordon stayed on for second, while Elfin Knight, the favourite, disappointed again.
Horses to Follow(For the Punter’s Notebook)
If you’re planning your next set of bets or keeping track of form, here are the horses from Saturday worth noting:
- ✅ Thrill Of Brazil – Tough and consistent; handled longer trip well.
- ✅ Miracle Star – A stylish maiden winner with more to come.
- ✅ Stravinsky – Dominated the sprint; clearly in top shape.
- ✅ Felisa – A surprise packet; watch for her next run, especially in similar company.
- ✅ Thundering Phoenix – Brilliant finish; will be hard to beat in his next mile race.
- 🔍 True Faith – Eye-catching late run for fourth; deserves tracking.
