The 16th day of horse racing in Mauritius witnessed a major upset as Air Raid, trained by Daby, defeated the favorite Crescent. The competition, which took place on September 19, 2026, was expected to be a straightforward win for Crescent, who was seeking their 10th consecutive victory. However, Air Raid had other plans, and with jockey Corrales in the saddle, the horse made a stunning comeback to take the lead in the final stretch.
Crescent, ridden by Danielson, had taken an early lead, with The Mauritian and Royal Wulff close behind. Air Raid, however, was biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike. As the horses entered the final stretch, Corrales made his move, and Air Raid surged forward to take the lead. Despite Danielson's efforts to hold on, Air Raid's momentum proved too much, and it crossed the finish line first.
This victory marks a significant breakthrough for the Daby stable, which has had a relatively quiet season so far. With only four wins to their name, this upset victory comes as a welcome boost to their campaign. The win also highlights the unpredictable nature of horse racing, where even the underdogs can cause a stir on the right day.
The Ruhee stable had a memorable day, securing a treble in the events. They started the day on a high note with Flag Champ, ridden by Rama, who showed remarkable tenacity to hold on to the lead. Kola Tonic, partnered with Denis Schwarz, also secured a win, making a strong comeback in the final stretch. Lomu completed the treble for Ruhee, surviving an objection and a close finish.
In another event, New World secured its fifth consecutive win, with Van Hunks pushing the favorite to its limits. Despite a strong challenge, New World accelerated in the final 400 meters to take the win, clocking the third-best time of the season over 1500 meters. However, the day was marred by the fatal fall of Opague, which forced Ryan Curatolo to scratch from the rest of the day's events.
The Duraco Ltée Trophy saw We Have Touchdown, ridden by Mukesh Kumar, pull off a surprise win. The horse led from start to finish, holding off Brave Bomber, the favorite, who was forced to settle for second. The win was not without controversy, however, as Brave Bomber's jockey, Juglall, lodged an objection for alleged interference in the final stretch, which was ultimately not upheld.
In other news, two horses, Menelaus and Zacatoo, have been withdrawn from competition after testing positive for caffeine, a prohibited substance. The incident has sparked an investigation, which will be conducted by the racing authorities at a later date. Meanwhile, Secret Passage made a successful return to competition, winning by a convincing margin and clocking the fastest time of the season over 1365 meters.
Key points
- Air Raid's upset victory over Crescent was a major highlight of the 16th day of horse racing in Mauritius.
- The Ruhee stable secured a treble in the events, with Lomu completing the wins.
- New World secured its fifth consecutive win, despite a strong challenge from Van Hunks.
