The Narendra Lagad-trained Coeur De Lion, ably ridden by apprentice rider Mustakim Alam, won the Serjeant At Arms Trophy, the feature event of Friday`s nine-race card slated at the Mahalaxmi racetrack.
Coeur De Lion, who received overwhelming public support to close at 14-to-10. hit the front from the word go, and was stalked by Dexa (CS Jodha up) until turning for home. However, with two furlongs to go, Mustakim urged Coeur De Lion with only hands and heels, and the Roderic O`Connor – Sweeping Star colt skipped away from Dexa to put the issue beyond doubt. At the wire, Coeur De Lion spared 1.75 lengths to Rambler (S Zervan up) who finished full of running to take the runner-up berth.
For rookie rider Mustakim, who was adjudged “champion apprentice jockey with allowance” at Pune last year, this was the tenth career win, making him eligible for use of the whip in his future riding engagements. Mustakim, however, celebrated his last no-whip day by riding another winner–driving Majestic Warrior to a thrilling “nose victory” over Dragoness (NS Parmar up) in the Dangerous Liason Trophy.
Majestic Warrior was also saddled by trainer Narendra Lagad for whom, earlier in the day, jockey A Sandesh had steered Golden Neil to a start-to-finish victory in the upper division of the Roberto Trophy. Trainer Lagad thus ended the day with a grand treble; jockey Sandesh matching his feat by riding two more winners besides Golden Neil–Dalasan for trainer S Waheed & Divine Thoughts for trainer Altaf Hussain.
