The Asian Racing Conference Mumbai week kicked off in spectacular fashion at the Maharashtra Race course in Mumbai on Sunday for the Villo Poonawalla Indian Oaks, a Grade 1 flagship spectacle for the fairer sex.

The race, this year, that the added incentive for connections, being on the same day as the city welcomed the racing world to its Turf for the much awaited Asian Racing Conference, their first hosting of the event for twenty years. India is a different place today and it was clearly seen by the world class hosting of the event on the day.

Indiarace.com described the race: The start was an impeccable one and after the early rush for the lead, Lavender Blue settled to set a steady pace past the Hornbe Villard corner. Shivalik Heroine bravely was up with the pace, while Myrtlewood stayed unperturbed way back in the field.

Hectic jockeying for positions began at the entrance of the homestretch and Lavender Blue was the first casualty fading out soon on turning for home. Shivalik Heroine surged into the lead, but soon had Chef D’Oeuvre challenging and going ahead with about 350 to go, which is when Myrtlewood opened throttle and swooped upon them.

Jockey PS Chouhan showed remarkable calmness and self assurance as he made no move to improve positions, confidently keeping Myrtlewood on ‘snooze’ mode – second last of seventeen runners, even as the final bend was fast approaching. Chouhan switched lanes to move out from the rails and didn’t mind taking the turn wider than ideal, just to ensure a clear passage. That calculated move proved spot on as Myrtlewood when asked to gallop, produced a sudden burst of speed and in split seconds had collared them all and shot into the lead. Her brilliant turn of foot saw her skipping away from the rest and she displayed her staying prowess to the hilt winning by four lengths!

“She is at the top of her game,” claimed PS Chouhan, delight obvious on his smiling face. The only worry was the wall of horses in front. She shifted out smoothly and once we turned for home, although I was way back in the field, I was confident she will gallop past them all and she did. She is incredible in her finish and she travelled very well all through. Once she gave that final dash it was all over,” Chouhan concluded.

For owners Mr & Mrs Mehernosh Deboo Myrtlewood has been a sensational filly. “Thrilled by her win, for me the suspense of her going over the distance was at the back of my mind. Once I saw her start to accelerate in the straight, anxiety turned to sheer delight and I loved the way she finished on. I thank Pesi Shroff and PS Chouhan and the stable hands for their efforts,” said Mr Deboo.

Pesi Shroff trained Myrtlewood is by Multidimensional out of Adamile and bred at the Usha Stud. She clocked 2:30:72, way off the best timing in current times for a classic, but then she also had a good bit in the reserve. Chouhan did strike her a couple of times even after she had sealed the race, perhaps more to correct her inner drift than to urge her on. She looks capable of striking off a couple of seconds at least and it won’t be a surprise if she has saved her best for the Indian Derby a fortnight from now.