Pesi Shroff trained Accolade cantered home in the Gr 1 Kingfisher Ultra Pune Derby, the star event of the Pune Racing Season on Sunday. The best three-year-old in Western India Accolade towered over the opposition. The others definitely did not have the class to take on a horse of the calibre of Accolade and it was evident in the ease which the favourite smashed the opposition notwithstanding the minor skirmish en route to his success.

The progeny of Burden of Proof had been withdrawn from the fray in the Deccan Derby by throwing tantrums at the gates and though this time he walked into the gates like a lamb, he did cause some consternation by crossing over to the rails while overtaking the front-running Vulcan, leaning on to him and causing the latter to clip the heels resulting in jockey Kavraj Singh being thrown off the saddle, causing a chain reaction which however did not cause any residual damage except Unforgettable You being completely thrown off gear. The experience of Srinath helped avert any other mishap. Accolade won pulling up and since this win was so comprehensive that the resultant Stewards enquiry did not result in any change in positions. The interference of Accolade bordered on the dangerous but luckily there were not many horses crowding the front-runners at that point of time which made the drift of Accolade not serious enough for Stewards to interfere with the verdict. Accolade won the race very impressively though his tendency to roll over to the rails at the time of passing the front-runners can have serious repercussions unless it is corrected.

Accolade found himself in front soon after the jump out but traversing some distance, got a cover in the form of Vulcan. The rest of the runners were spaced out behind. Accolade travelled well within himself and in the run in for home, took a while to overtake the front-runner but once he did so, he broke clear to win in tremendous fashion. Germanicus who was the next best horse in the fray ran on to finish second ahead of Bangalore challenger Namid and Silken Eyes. Accolade is head and shoulders above the local competition and the only realistic threat for his supremacy would be Serjeant At Arms as and when they clash. Whether Accolade can stay the extended trip of mile and half in winter is purely a matter of academic discussion as it this point of time, no horse of class with staying ability has emerged.

The slow pace of the race definitely went against Dancing Prances in the Gr 3 Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. Surprisingly Critics Choice was made the favourite. Though the three-year-old had won in good timing, the win had come against inferior opposition and against horses of higher cruising speed, the filly was bound to find herself out of depth. Adam was the second favourite ahead of Dancing Prances who had dead-heated with Sun Divine in this race last year. Gold Bag had notched off six wins in a row before going off the boil. His last win had come 358 days ago and he was also running after 245 days. Since he hadn`t made a mark in graded race company, it was hard to visualize him upsetting. However, for the first time one witnessed a sprint race in Pune where the runners were reluctant to hit the front like in long distance races. After initial hesitancy, Dashrath Singh took Gold Berg to the front and dictated a slow pace which was to turn into a big advantage. Dancing Prances was in second position ahead of Adam, Congressional and Critics Choice. Gold Berg did not slacken in the run in for home and he spurted ahead gallantly. Sandesh on Dancing Prances was hard-pressed to shake up the big made Dancing Prances to warm up but by the time he could get into a rhythm, the winning post had already been sighted. Gold Break escaped to victory by a long neck. Adam was a well-beaten third ahead of Critics Choice. If Sandesh had decided to take charge at the start instead of waiting for cover, Dancing Prances could have possibly won the race. Dancing Prances had always benefitted by a strong pace but in its absence, suffered a defeat.

Pesi Shroff-trained Yanna Rascala had shown good improvement after a run benefit and obliged in the 1200 metres Jimmy Umrigar Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Cyclone was heavily supported to win but the favourite who was engaged in a stiff battle for supremacy by Yanna Rascala in the final furlong weakened close home and the latter managed to get stronger at the finish to land the spoils. Domination who was running after a long layoff enjoyed a good outing and should be better for the third-placed effort. Jockey Y S Srinath brought Furious N Fast with a well-timed run on the inside and managed to drive out the fancied runner to contain the challenge of Thunder Down Under to win the lower division of the race. Firenze ran on to finish third.

Karthik Ganapathy trained Minstrel Heights won the 1000 metres Vinayak Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, in the final stride of the race. Quixotic shot into a useful lead passing the final furlong with Minstrel Heights in hot pursuit. Under a strong ride by Pradeep Chouhan, Minstrel Heights finished on powerfully to snatch the verdict in the closing stride of the race. Cracklin` Rosie occupied the third slot. In an absorbing finish, Dancing Prince overhauled Carralisa in the closing moments of the race to win the lower division of the race. Speedo who raced up with the field from the start was a close third.

Palatial from the yards of Cooji Katrak came in for big betting in the 2400 metres IGCC Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Jockey Neeraj Rawal waited with the favourite till the final turn even as last start winner Imitation Game expended his energy in front. Palatial was only waiting for a command from his pilot and the moment Neeraj asked the five-year-old gelding to quicken, the response was immediate. Palatial went storming clear to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Savage Beauty and June.

Pesi Shroff-trained Courtship was a big disappointment in the 1600 metres Pune Police Commissioner`s Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Merabella who had been fancied a couple of times but had performed poorly was able to pull it off this time in a close finish from Silver Beauty. Daishonin was third.

Shivalik Shine shaped like a winner after overtaking Don Corleone in the final furlong of the Sir Sultan Chinoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 but was beaten in the final moments of the race by Hidden Soul who was powerfully driven out by Sandesh to win by a whisker. Cezanne was third ahead of Don Corleone who was out of depth in this company.