Northern Lights wins J P Vajifdar Trophy

Representational Image. Pic Courtesy/ iStock

The Pesi Shroff-trained Northern Lights, handled brilliantly by jockey P S Chouhan, inflicted a humiliating defeat on his two rivals in the JP Vajifdar Trophy, the feature event of a seven-race Thursday card at Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.

The trainer-jockey combination of Shroff and Chouhan went on to complete a quick double immediately in the next race when Presidential, the day's shortest-priced favourite, overpowered Multistarrer (C S Jodha up) after a brief tussle in the closing stages to win the T M Goculdas Plate for class III horses.

Jockey C S Jodha, who tried his best astride Multistarrer who was later reported to have bled, posted a sensational victory in the Byram N Jeejeebhoy Trophy, the supporting event of the card. Riding the Narendra Lagad-trained Son Of A Gun (Top Class - Indian Serenade), Jodha outclassed the field which included well-bred rivals like Mozelle (Roderic O'Connor - Equine Lover) and Distinction (Multidimensional - Daffodil) look ordinary.

Jockey S Zervan displayed exemplary control and skill when he adroitly cajoled Fairmont, trained by Nosher Cama, to gradually step up speed, managing to get first past the winning post in the S A Wahid Trophy, named after the jockey who had lost life in an air crash several years ago. Zervan also rode Superleggera (trainer: Shazaan Shah) to a facile victory in the Red Buttons Plate to score a brace.