Imtiaz Sait trained Janis Jay proved overwhelmingly superior in the 1600 metres Saint Emilion Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Friday`s Pune races. Mint Approach who was once a rousing performer appeared a pale shadow of her former self and her timid performance indicated that something is amiss with her and it may take a while before she can resume her winning ways.

The one characteristic of the progeny of Ace is that they race keen and they love to make all the running which has helped them on some occasions and proved detrimental as well. That has been the trait with some of the best performed horses of Ace like Isn`t She Special, Equine Lover, War Command et al. The odds drift on Mint Approach indicated that the four year old filly was not going to bounce back to winning form in this race as the trend indicated a lack of confidence. Mint Approach raced keen in front and was a spent force by the time the small field of five runners took the final bend and straightened for the run in for home. Jainis Jay who was in a striking position then went storming clear and had no problem in staving off the late bid of Sailor whose winning streak was thus broken. Celtic King was third while Mint Approach finished last.

One distressing feature these days is the fact that three year olds get eligibility to run in the lowest class after three listless runs and the trainers don`t have any qualms about running these horses in the weakest possible opposition instead of trying to win with them in maidens` races or in the higher category. The progeny of Dancing Forever, The Myth was backed to the exclusion of the rest and the favourite proved that why she should have been campaigned in a more competitive environment where the odds on her too would have been more lucrative by sparing a distance to the opposition. The Myth went sailing clear and provided apprentice Yash Narredu with an arm chair ride to victory. Morals was third ahead of Plated while Copperglow who did the donkey`s job by leading till being overhauled by the favourite eventually finished fourth.

Faisal Abbas trained Dreamland completed a swift hat-trick during the season by winning the 1000 metres Star Millionaire Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. New apprentice Amit had Dreamland lead the field from the start and the five year old who was struck great form enjoyed his foray in front and lasted out to win from last outing winner Song of Africa and Alecto in a tight finish. Warrior Prince appeared to be in distress and did not complete the course.

Though the distance of five furlongs was sharp for Fortuna, the daughter of Multidimensional showed lot of class when coming from a long way back to down Elaheh with ease in the Zurbaran Trophy, a race for three year olds. Secret Oath was putting in good work when the race had been well settled in front.

English jockey Darren Williams got his second winner of the season when he drove out Flying Kiss to stave off the challenge of Glorious Crown in the 1200 metres Scarlet Emperor Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Glorious Crown put up a dogged resistance in the hands of apprentice jockey Ajinkya. Mighty Splendor showed lot of zest as she slipped through the rails and finished a suggestive third.

Darren Williams had a double for the day when he guided Al Shamsheer to a start to finish victory in the 1600 metres Severriano Plate, a race for three year olds. Zabisco was widely expected to have a bold show but the favourite found the front runner unrelenting in front and had to settle for the second slot. The progeny of Yeats definitely relished the mile long trip much better than the short sprints he was campaigned earlier. Trainer Pesi Shroff is busy expending his energy in fighting his battle but his horses don`t seem to be showing the same aggressive trait. Scent of a Woman was relaxed in the rear bunch and made some progress in the straight to finish a tame third.