The Dr and Mrs Vijay Mallya owned two-year old filly Class Apart (Burden of Proof – Royal Deeds) won the 1000 metres Irish Thoroughbred Million, the feature event of Sunday’s races with an aggressive front running effort. Black Magic Woman held such a charm with punters that they refused to look beyond this Cooji Katrak trained filly. The filly went into the race as cramped on money favourite. Class Apart was allowed to run at lucrative odds. People forgot the fact that the progeny of Burden of Proof always come to hand early and they dominate the races meant for juveniles at Bangalore. It was understandable because Class Apart was the first horse of Burden of Proof to be racing at Pune so early in her career.

Jockey Christopher Alford took Class Apart on a start to finish mission, with the favourite racing in close attendance while the rest struggled for pace. Black Magic Woman almost drew level at one stage but Class Apart skipped away to win by a shade less than a length at the finish. Miss Starlight was a suggestive third.

The Pesi Shroff trained Sunset Boulevard had gone to Bangalore with classic aspiration. However, the got abroad filly suffered a setback after running third to Sun Kingdom in her only outing. She was relocated to Pune and rested for a few months. She was seen on track only a fortnight ago. The failure of Hillary who was running after a long layoff from the same stable only the previous day perhaps worked on the mind of punters as they allowed the Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, Mr K. N. Dhunjibhoy rep. Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd, Mr Berjis Minoo Desai owned filly to run at lucrative odds. Jockey Malcolm Kharadi had to just guide the filly to win with ease from Rajasthan Royals. The daughter of Bachelor Duke, Sunset Boulevard has plenty of class but whether she can extend her dominance to a mile remains to be seen.

The Suresh Mahindra Trophy which is the longest race in the country being run over a mile and seven furlongs trip was won with ease by Clarion Call who won the race in a very slow timing. Clarion Call should have gone into the race as a favourite but Black Knight which had the champion jockey Dashrath Singh in the saddle, was more fancied of the two stablemates. Maseeha set a slow pace, with Clarion Call in a striking second position followed by Highland Crown and White Knight. Approaching the final bend, it was clear that the front runner was not quickening and when apprentice jockey Sandesh asked for an effort from Clarion Call, the Mr Dinsha P. Shroff, Mrs Aban N. Chothia, Mr Dallas Todywalla & Mr Kersy Chindhy owned five year old gelding sped away to win as he pleased from Maseeha who just about managed to keep his head in front of Highland Crown.

The Messrs Laxmikumar Goculdas, Dilip Goculdas rep. B. S. & Services Pvt. Ltd owned Emerald Valley had somehow not run true to potential during the season. He came into his own in the Animal Welfare Board of India Trophy(Div I) as he easily sped away from favourite Maria Teresa to win with a great deal of ease. Cape Ferat brooked no opposition in the lower division of the race winning in the ownership of Mr & Mrs K. N. Dhunjibhoy rep. Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd & Mr A. K. S. Brar rep. Dashmesh & Hargobind Rac(P)Ltd. Marigold made a futile bid to overhaul the eventual winner.

In an eventful race, the least fancied of the runners sporting the colours of Mr Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan & Mr Prem Tharani rep. Wadhawan Livestock Pvt Ltd won the Classic Rock Plate. Favourite Crowned Princess ran into one interference or the other as her jockey Dashrath Singh elected to make a run along the rails and lost a winning opportunity. First he was boxed by River Gem and he later saw his path closed by Paper King. Sea Bucaner who shot through the middle held on to win from late rallying Star Glory.

C D Katrak trained Starry Ocean left the field stranded at the top of the straight to win the Road Runner Plate (Div I) by a widening margin of nine lengths. The Khushro K. Jalnawala owned Enchanted had no problem in winning the lower division of the race from Musical Rhapsody and Double Delite. The last named let down as a strong favourite.

Shiraz Sunderji’s Ocean Sonata was the overwhelming favourite to win the Kojagiri Plate , a six furlong race for maiden three year olds. The progeny of Warrshan checked in quite clear of the well fancied Swoosh.