Pesi Shroff trained Chef D`Oeuvre won the Gr 3 Threptin Fillies & Mares Stakes, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Pune races with a comprehensive start to finish victory. Myrtlewood who was expected to bounce back after a disastrous performance in her previous run, ran a pathetic race, this run rather conclusively proving that something is amiss with the filly who once had the tag of being invincible after back-to-back classic success at Mumbai.

Myrtlewood had a satisfactory mock race and it was the belief that her previous run where she had lost miserably was only an aberration. This was the reason why she went to the post as a cramped on-money favourite. One is not privy to what is wrong with the filly but the trainer`s choice of the jockey N S Parmar for an important race on a valuable filly perhaps suggested that he was not too enthusiastic about the filly bouncing back. Those who failed to read the signal ended up paying a hefty price.

Jockey Neeraj Rawal had no hesitation in taking Chef D`Oeuvre on a start to finish mission and the daughter of Ifraaj enjoyed her foray in front. Myrtlewood, after taking a hesitant start, moved up to be in second position ahead of Heather, Cameroon and Melinda. The last three horses were off their bridle approaching the final bend and it looked as though Myrtlewood who was travelling well within herself into the straight behind the pace-setter, would be able to transform expectation into performance. However, when the race came on the boil, she began to plod and fell behind rapidly. Chef D`Oeuvre kicked on merrily and won untroubled from Cameroon and Melinda who under a vigorous riding by Zervan managed to get the third place ahead of a badly beaten Myrtlewood. One is not sure what is wrong with Myrtlewood, whether she does not like the Pune track and if she can still bounce back on the Mumbai race track on which she had performed so magnificently. It is in the realm of possibility because Myrtlewood was a transformed horse at Mumbai after poor outings during the Summer Season at Bangalore. The fall of the champion, all said and done, has been rather disappointing.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Serenita who looked far from ready when she suffered an unexpected loss last time out, looked fitter as evidenced by the body weight itself. Her track workouts too were impressive and accordingly she was once again accorded of being a favourite to win the 1000 metres Kejriwal Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Jockey Trevor Patel had Serenita lead from the start and the daughter of Whatthescript had no problem in staving off a spirited challenge of Abbey. Rock In Rio was third.

Arlene looked a cut above the rest in the 2000 metres Yana Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Arlene was quoted at unbackable odds. Trevor had no hesitation in taking her to the front after traversing some distance. The daughter of Multidimensional out of Bangalore Derby winning mare Allaire enjoyed her foray in front and kept on expanding her supremacy which stretched to more than six lengths at the finish. Samba Warrior finished second ahead of Jordana. Sandesh who rode the fourth placed Arak put an objection against Suraj who rode Jordana for interference. There was some merit in the objection as Jordana had caused a check to Arak but it was not serious enough for the Stewards to reverse the placings. Suraj may get a caution for what was termed by the Stewards as careless riding.

Pesi Shroff-trained Mathias was considered one of the good three-year-olds of the yard. The progeny of Multidimensional out of Yana had the benefit of a race run and he was running in a race meant for horses in the lowest category, Mathias was expected to have a bold show since he had the benefit of a race run, was going over a more suitable trip of a mile and had also been subjected to extensive workouts. Jockey N S Parmar hurried his way on Mathias who took over the running at the top of the straight, giving hopes of a comfortable win. However, Godsent who made significant progress approaching the final bend went in earnest chase of the favourite and was quite successful in collaring the front-runner with a measure of comfort in the final 100 metres. Godsent who was at long odds is another progeny of Multidimensional. The stallion has been in the news for the string of classic success achieved by his progeny all over India. Rapid Girl ran on from behind to take the third place.

Noshir Cama trained Charming was strongly backed to win the 1000 metres Sushilkumar R Ruia Trophy (Div I), a terms race for three-year-olds. The progeny of Stern Opinion proved too speedy for the rest, winning start to finish, without any of the contestants troubling her supremacy. Jolfa stayed on to finish second ahead of late rallying Snowy Peaks. The same trainer had the winner of the lower division as well. Double Nine who had run some suggestive races, fulfilled the promises of those efforts by easily collaring the front-running Flight of Phoenix to land the spoils with a great deal of ease. Slam Dunk was third.

Apprentice jockey S S Amit rode a waiting race on favourite Royal Classic in the 1400 metres Glasnost Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 1 to 26 and produced the favourite in time for the final assault in the final furlong. Samurai had dashed into the lead by that time but after a brief duel with the front-runner, Royal Classic asserted his supremacy. Matrioshka ran on from behind to save place money. Amit was also astride the winner of the lower division of the race when a fine effort astride Super Ikon produced the desired results. Amit brought Super Ikon with a flourishing run along the rails and managed to push the fancied runner to take over the running on the inside of front-running Tennessee and march towards the winning post. Wildhorn weakened after giving a chase to the front-runner when the race came on the boil.

Altaf Hussain trained Scarlet of Hope recorded an encore in the 1000 metres Janardhan Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Apprentice jockey Akshay Gaikwad took the speedy customer on a start to finish mission and the fancied runner, despite drifting out under pressure in the closing stages of the race, was good enough to win from fast-finishing Spear of Trium. Bullion Express too showed some spark with a late dash to occupy the third place ahead of War Craft.