Vishal Gaikwad trained Germanicus moved a step closer to becoming a top contestant for the next month`s Pune Derby when he won the Gr 2 S A Gool S Poonawalla Million, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Pun races. Germanicus has shown a big improvement this season and this gutsy win, despite conceding weight to his opponents, was surely indicative of the class and his ability to be a force to reckon with in the coveted event of the season.

Germanicus is the son of new stallion Whatthescript out of Pune Derby winning mare Phenomenale. Germanicus has been in prime form after being stepped up in distance for his campaign. Arak set a fast clip followed by Magical Memory, Germanicus, Silken Eyes, Cheerleader and Eternal Sunshine who was tailed off last. Approaching the final bend, Sandesh on Germanicus made his move and by the time the horses were inside the final two furlongs, the favourite was in a position to take charge. Germanicus smoothly cruised into the lead and opened up a good cushion which held him in good stead as Silken Eyes who had pull in weights, came home with an aggressive finish. However, Germanicus held on to win from Silken Eyes, the margin of victory not doing justice to the relative merit of the horses considering the weight difference that the horses had. Eternal Sunshine who was given too much to do in the straight, ran on to finish third.

Pesi Shroff-trained Captain Courage made it five for five when he swamped the opposition in the 1200 Mysore Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. The speedy son of Admiralofthefleet toyed with the opposition, expanding the winning lead in the straight with hardly any perceptible strain to eventually win as he pleased from Deep Diver, with the other finishers on the frame spaced out by several lengths. Captain Courage looks ready to graduate into graded race company.

Vishal Gaikwad trained Book Thief produced a strong effort in front and managed to stave off a spirited challenge from Ladislaus to win the Enaksi Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Book Thief slightly shifted out from a straight course and Trevor on Ladislaus had to change to course but the eventual winner proved too good in the end. Arakawah showed some zest while finishing third. Shiraz Sunderji trained Swaraj produced a strong burst of speed on the wide outside and just about managed to nose out Flashy Wings in the closing stride of the race to win the lower division of the Enaksi Plate. Inside the final furlong, Jarama failed to quicken and faded out of the scene even as Flashy Wings and Speedo came into strong reckoning. Flashy Wings got stronger close home but was stunned by the late rally of Swaraj who despite a poor saddle assistance of jockey Kuldeep, was good enough to win by the proverbial whisker.
Zadmal Singh trained Aspen recorded an encore in the 2400 metres Neona Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Travelling in the rear position till turning for home, Aspen gained places in the straight and came into strong contention in the final furlong and easily overhauled the front running Savage Beauty to assert his supremacy. Miracle of Love came up with a late bid and occupied the runner-up berth.

Imtiaz Sait trained Fast Lady had run a forward race last time out in Shivalik Shine`s victory and her chances to bounce back to win after 280 days looked excellent in the 1400 metres Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Jockey Trevor Patel kept Fast Lady in a handy second position till turning for home and had the fancied runner bounce clear in the straight. Fast Lady responded well and won quite easily from Cool Runnings and Daishonin.

Trainer Karthik Ganapathy saddled a winner after a longish break when Minstrel Heights proved overwhelmingly superior in the 1000 metres Villoo C Poonawalla Gold Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Chouhan had Minstrel Heights lead from the start and the gelding proved so good that the rest found it hard to match strides with him. Shogun tried to put up a semblance of a fight but in the straight, realised the futility of the same as he kept falling back. Country Music was third.

Rehanullah Khan trained Jabble got a gift race in the Stewards room. After favourite Synchronicity had won the Elise Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest class in a three-horse finish from Jabble and Shape the Scape, there was no objection forthcoming from apprentice jockey Shahrukh Khan or trainer Rehanullah Khan as Jabble suffered jostling by the winner. The Stewards ordered an enquiry into the running of the race and relegated the winner to the second position with Jabble getting the race by default despite the trainer and jockey asserting that notwithstanding the jostling, their horse would have only finished second. For the record, Jabble was at long odds. Ivor Fernandes trained Wonder Story looked ready to strike in the lower division of the race but the only question mark was the fact that the trainer hadn`t won for a very long time. Wonder Story, however, came in for spirited support and the fancied runners dispelled all the fears by bouncing clear in the final furlong and won as she pleased from Starry Image and Super Icon.