Malesh Narredu trained Quasar confirmed his status as Horse of the Year with an emphatic win in the Gr 1 FCA-Jay Vijay Fiat Indian St Leger, the highlight of races held at Pune on Sunday. Quasar who has the unique record of having won three Derbys, Indian Turf Invitation Cup and a host of other graded races provided young Yash Narredu with the opportunity of possibly being the youngest to win an Indian Classic at 18, perhaps a few months earlier that the great Karl Umirgar. This piece of statistic is hardly of any relevance because what Yash does now onwards is what counts. The four year old colt, bred by Hazara Stud Farm, is owned by Jaydev M Mody, Tanmay A Agashe and Madhav G Patankar.

There was no threat to Quasar`s supremacy as the progeny of Striking The Dia had advertised his fitness and readiness for this race with an emphatic win at Hyderabad in the President of India Gold Cup earlier this month. He was the only one in the fray who had consistently proved his worth over longer trips barring an odd hiccup. Shivalik Showers who had progressed well, after striking late in his career and Tiger Tops were the ones expected to stretch the favourite to the hilt especially the latter as she had beaten Quasar in the past. But then Quasar had come so far away from the rest that such a possibility would have been only a shock occurrence under the circumstances.

Attraction set a fast pace followed a distance behind by Tiger Tops, Shivalik Showers, Quasar and Tatiana. Attraction enjoyed a big lead only on sufferance and the moment Quasar began to close up the gap approaching the final bend, the race ceased to be a contest. Quasar covered all the threats who were in threat with hardly any effort and cruised away for an emphatic win by a widening margin of four lengths over Tiger Tops and Shivalik Showers who was more than seven lengths behind the runner up in third place. Jockey Yash could ease up the horse long way for home and celebrate his first success in Indian classics extravagantly and this is sure to bring him a reprimand from the authorities.

Dashrath Singh has bounced back to limelight even as Trevor Patel`s run of luck is tapering. The jockey had a treble for the day after his five wins on Saturday. Bezan Chenoy trained Josuha cruised into the lead and shaped like a winner in the 1200 metres Jay-Vijay Fiat Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 but the four year old gelding reportedly bled which perhaps was the reason why the front runner slowed down completely in sight of the winning post. Dashrath drove out Providence to overhaul the front runner close home. Egyptiana too benefitted under the circumstances and managed to pip Joshua for the runner up berth. Trevor`s Classic Moment who was the designated favourite, was not spotted at the busy end like so many of the jockey`s mounts these days. Since the jockey commands so much following, the onus is also on the jockey to choose such moments which have a good chance rather than accept all rides and get the negative impact of the same.

Dashrath was also successful on favourite Multiglory in the 1800 metres Sweet Memories Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Multiglory produced a late dash in the run in for home to collar fancied Jager Bomb and long-time leader Savage Garden to land the spoils.

Tevor was on two well backed flop horses of the day. Palace Girl who was backed spiritedly to win the lower division of the Punto Abarth Trophy (Div II) especially after her eye-catching runner up effort last week struggled to get past Grand Gibraltar who was running after one year and eventually finished a poor third as Rock The Turf made a late rally and got the runner up berth. Indian Serenade who raced up with the pace setters, easily collarred the battling duo of Grand Gibraltar and Palace Girl and recorded an easy win at nourishing odds. The upper division of the race was won by Narendra Lagad trained Spear of Trium at fancy odds by jockey J Chinoy who seems to be enjoying a good run this season. Abbey and Clouds of Glory who were strongly fancied to win, put up pathetic performances. Rider On The Storm who also came in for significant betting, was withdrawn from the fray on veterinary grounds.

After a series of consistent efforts, Imtiaz Sait trained Samba Warrior was made the favourite especially since Trevor was astride the five year old. These days the veteran trainer`s horses have proved a nightmare for the punters as nobody has a clue when his horses run true to form. The odds drift on Samba Warrior and significant support for Star of Babylon perhaps was indicator of the shape of things to come. Samba Warrior was never placed in a striking position by Trevor and his strange sort of a ride ensured that money was down the drain even before the race evolved. Star of Babylon who raced up with the front group, asserted his supremacy inside the final furlong and won pulling up from Domingo and Affirmation.

As contrasted with the ride on Samba Warrior, the ride by Trevor on B Fifty Two in the 1400 metres Linea T-Jet Trophy, a race for three year olds, showed total commitment to the cause. Despite having to cover lot of ground as Holy Smoke had assumed command down the final furlong, Trevor drove out like one possessed to get B Fifty Two to get the nod in the closing strides of the race. Pearl Secret was a well beaten third.
Trevor`s willingness to win was also evident in his ride of favourite Mardcus Aurelius in the 1000 metres Avventura Powered By Abarth Trophy, a race three year olds. Marcus Aurelius had to battle hard with Another Ace to retain his supremacy and in the final moments of the race, survived a scare from Naumee who closed home with a big effort.

Dashrath Singh drove out favourite Reality to contain the challenge of strongly finishing Siddhi, Morocan and late flashing Sanam to land the spoils in the 1200 metres Rais-Ud-Daula Trophy, a race for horses in the lowest category.