Cooji Katrak trained Shivalik Storm, the only Group I race winner in the fray, won the 1400 metres Nirmal Ruia Gold Trophy, a rich terms race for four year olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Pune races staving off the challenge of favourite Adam with consummate ease. After winning the Poonawalla Multi-Million 580 days ago, Shivalik Storm had found the winning post elusive but the terms of race went in his favour as he reproduced the spark of old to win with an aggressive start to finish mission.

Jockey Dashrath Singh had a big haul, booting home five winners. His winners came through Traherne, Simply Sweet, Sabiq, Magnum Opus and Sail Past.

Adam had been a prolific performer having lost just once in his last five outings. Though he was set to carry top weight, the fact that he was continuously on the upgrade and the others in the fray did not have winning form, ensured that he went to the post as a favourite. There were signs of a possible turnaround in the fortunes of Shivalik Storm as he had run a forward race over a mile last time out and looked capable of tackling the present company which had not seen class like him. In the event, jockey Neeraj Rawal who had Shivalik Storm dictate the pace from the start had a useful lead going into the final furlong as Adam who was kept in about the fourth position a few lengths adrift had to first cover the leeway and then overhaul the front runner. Adam did cover the leeway but then when he came within striking reach of the front runner, he appeared to run out of steam as Shivalik Storm skipped away to win with ease. Silver Streak was third while Knight of Ke and Trance ran way below expectations.

M K Jadhav trained Star One won against the run of expectations in the 1200 metres Dancing Glances Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. Miss USA was touted as a certainty based on her workouts but the filly was never in the hunt, being a lost cause well before the race came on the boil. Star One produced a powerful burst in the final furlong to collar the front running Frankest close home. Sensex was third. Incidentally the dam of Star One, Moselle was in bad shape and was almost given up for purpose of being used as a brood mare as she suffered from various problems that were considered insurmountable. However, trainer Padmanabhan who had kept this mare at Lumbini Stud Farm never lost hope and after due care, had the mare covered by Stern Opinion who was standing there as a stallion. His efforts paid off as Moselle not only saw through the pregnancy but also foaled a winner of a maidens` race. Pesi Shroff trained Sans Peur was another who was considered unbeatable in the lower division of the race but the filly was under pressure to keep pace by the final turn itself. The experienced Magnum Opus who had already run four times during the season and had placed on all the occasions, stormed clear of the pack in the final furlong to win with ease form Sans Peur who found foot when the cause had been lost.

Karthik Ganapathy trained Strategic Move had won twice during the season and had finished fourth in his third outing. Now backed confidently to win the 1200 metre In The Spotlight Double Stakes, Strategic Move raced up with the field and left the field stranded in the straight to win with great deal of ease from Desert Rage and Fast Lady. Valentino who had four runner up efforts to his credit, failed to keep pace and fell back to the penultimate position before making some progress in the straight.

Noshir Cama trained Hypothesis and last start winner Red Bug enjoyed support in equal measure to win the 1400 metres Atlantus Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Hypothesis looked the likely winner as the filly took control of the race inside the final 300 metres and bounced clear. However, Sail Past who was loitering in the rear, was brought on the wide outside by jockey of the day, Dashrath Singh, and the progeny of Tariq produced a strong run to neck out the front runner in the closing stride of the race. Red Bug was not spotted at the busy end. Favourite Traherne produced a winner effort inside the final 200 metres in the hands of Dashrath to win as a strong favourite in the lower division of the race. Charging Tigress held off Multinational for the second place.

Pesi Shroff trained Lord Jim recorded an encore when he had the measure of the opposition in the 1600 metres Aspiring Star Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 in taking style. Lord Jim came into strong contention in the run in for home and easily stormed ahead of the rest to win with ease from long-time leader Pappillon. Moussaeif held off Dramarama for the third place.

Lesser fancied runner from trainer Rajendra`s yard, Sabiq produced a big effort in the final furlong, moving with flourish from way off the pace to win the1800 metres Noble Prince Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class. In what was an open betting affair, Allegiance attempted aggressive front running effort but slackened in the final furlong and was even overhauled by Move In Time for the runner up berth.

In a keenly contested race in which all the four contestants almost finished in a line, lesser fancied Simply Sweet from the stables of Imtiaz Sait landed the spoils in the 1600 metres Beyond Belief Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Eduardo was disputing the lead with Rule Downunder throughout the straight and even as the latter got better of the front runner, Simply Sweet finished with a rush to snatch the verdict. Wentworth finished a close third ahead of Eduardo.