Shiraz Sunderji recorded an encore despite the disadvantage of a slow start as he edged out favourite Bullrun in the closing strides of the race to win the 1600 metres Desert Carnival Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the highest rated event of Sunday`s Pune races. Rehanullah Khan`s Safdar won the day`s other highlight, the Baburao Sanas Memorial Million, a sprint race for maiden three-year-olds.

Bullrun`s encouraging effort of last time ensured that the Cooji Katrak trained horse went to the post as a favourite. Magnificence had always been rated highly but his tendency to get a slow start, had resulted in him in not achieving more wins. Once again, Magnificence lost some ground at the start but he made up the leeway steadily and challenged the front running Bullrun in the final furlong and got the desired result thanks to the tremendous response given by the second favourite to the urgings of jockey Neeraj Rawal. After Vixen led the field into the straight, Bullrun shot ahead and shaped to win as Magnificence still had several lengths to cover but the better class of the latter helped him to prevail in the end. Vixen stayed on to neck out Fortune Favours to get the third place.

Safdar should have been the strong favourite in the Baburao Million on the basis of his effort behind Shivalik Shine at Mumbai but the strong money attracted by debutant Thor of Asgard, based on hype, and the fact that Cyclone too was fancied to pull it off by the connections saw the odds on the Rehanullah Khan trainee shoot up. In the event, Safdar who led from the start, staved off a strong challenge from Cyclone to win with a measure of comfort in the hands of jockey N S Parmar who recorded a fine treble. Zinfandelle put up an improved effort while finishing third. Thor of Asgard was sluggish at the start and was never in the hunt.

The lead that Pabilito established on turning for home stood the Vishal Gaikwad trainee in good stood as the front-runner barely lasted out to win the 1200 metres Dr P K Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated20 to 46. Star One, in the hands of apprentice jockey Vishal Bunde responded well the urgings of the jockey and closed the gap menacingly only to find the front-runner escape to victory in the hands of Parmar by a whisker. Anvil Star was a well beaten third. There was big betting on Glorious Angel but this seemed to be a case of chasing the wrong horse as the favourite was never in the hunt at any stage of the race. Faisal Abbas trained Cracklin` Rosie did not show early speed and had considerable leeway to cover on the front running Asahi in the lower division of the race. However, Cracklin` Rosie responded well to the driving finish of Suraj Narredu, closed the gap swiftly and in the end, was drawing clear to record an impressive win. Speedo held off favourite Judicious to get the third slot.
S S Shah trained Flying Dragon brought off an upset in the 2000 metres Bountiful Treasure Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. After Joss led at the final turn, Mekong Delta overhauled the front-runner with ease and skipped clear. Mekong Delta appeared to have built a winning lead but her hopes were put paid by the finishing burst of Flying Dragon who in the end won by a widening margin of four lengths. Samba Warrior finished third ahead of Merabella while Joss disappeared from the fray without a trace.

The withdrawal of Flight of Phoenix on veterinary grounds in the first race of the day, the 1000 metres Ishpingo Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds, resulted in just six runners being in the fray and three of them belonged to the same winner. When Pollyana began to attract betting in the ring, it was only to be expected that the filly will receive one-sided support. Pollyana, in the hands of Merchant, had no problem in winning the race, the jockey having the luxury of repeatedly looking back in the final furlong to see if there was any possible threat. There was none. Pretty Angel and Galtero occupied the next two slots some distance behind the winner.

Lesser fancied Midnight Run from the stables of A M Jadhav came into strong contention in the final furlong and then stormed away from the rest to win the 1400 metres Nana Raghunath Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46 to provide jockey Parmar with his third win of the day. Centaurus who attracted significant betting, flashed on the scene late to occupy the second slot ahead of Quatro. My Freedom who was well supported on the basis of the fluent win recorded by the six-year-old last time out, disappeared without a trace after being in touch with the front running Bullion Express till the final bend.