FROM an exploding run which began in deep stretch, Mumbai Maestro closed rapidly under Shane Ellis, to win the $492,000 Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy claiming the feature by a neck at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Well prepared for the event by trainer Victor Williams for owner Gresford A Smith, Mumbai Maestro, a 7-2 betting option, turned for home some 10 lengths adrift. However, with much in hand, jockey Ellis unleashed the five-year-old grey gelding in deep stretch and he responded with a turn of foot that saw him close rapidly to run the long-time leader Lesterae out of it at the wire.

The time for 1,200 metres was 1:15.3 minutes, with early fractions of 23.3 seconds for the first quarter and 47.1 seconds for 800 metres dictated by 20-1 chance Lesterae, ridden by leading jockey Dane Nelson.

Run Charm Run, the 2-1 favourite ridden by champion jockey Dick Cardenas, and the 13-1 shot Miracle Recovery, ridden by Kerry-Gayl Robinson, dead-heated for third in the field of 11 from the claiming group $350,000 – $300,000, three-year-olds and upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW3).

Mumbai Maestro, by Burning Marque out of Miss Chacha Dancer (Imperial Falcon) bred by Rentals and Moore Ltd, was winning for the sixth time from 36 career starts and he earned $268,650 as the winner’s share for earnings of $2,418,550 lifetime.

Former four-time champion jockey Omar Walker came out of the doldrums with a two-timer to keep pace with the front runners in fourth with 38 wins for the season. He opened the programme on the 6-1 chance Ghost Rapper for trainer Ian Parsard and scored his other win aboard the 6-5 bet Shinning Gold for trainer Howard Jaghai in the third race.