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Shiraz Sunderji trained Traherne beat back the challenge of strongly fancied Germanicus to win the 1400 metres Fair Haven Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of opening day’s races of the Pune Racing Season held on Thursday. Favourite London ran a timid race, the spark missing from his lackadaisical effort.
London was favoured by the scales and though he was coming back in distance, he was strongly backed ahead of Germanicus to win the race. Holy Smoke, as is his wont, went on a start to finish mission and led into the final furlong. It was clear that he would need an extra gear to keep the lead when the others charged at him. Traherne quickened faster than the rest and broke into a lead which held the progeny of Phoenix Tower in good stead. Traherne had enough legs to win from late rallying Germanicus who was warming up to the task rather late to have an impact on the result. Palatial ran on from behind to be suggestive third. Germanicus should be better off for this effort.
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Neeraj Rawal who rode Traherne had a rewarding day, booting home three winners. He could have had the fourth one but missed it by a whisker on 1000 metres Arts Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Juggernaut who was also strongly fancied along with Elysee, went on a start to finish mission and jockey Dashrath could keep the fancied runner going in front with a vigorous effort. Though Elysee came up with an all-out effort, she fell short by the proverbial whisker. The upper division of the race saw another Dashrath Singh ridden God’s Own sweep into the lead from the wide outside draw and had so much ammunition that the filly finished well clear of Princess P. Crystal Ball was third. The winners of both the divisions were saddled by Narendra Lagad for whom Pune has traditionally been a happy hunting ground.
Sunderji trained Ascension was strongly fancied to win the 1000 metres Carbon Star Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds but the favourite was not capable of delivering the goods. Ascension led on sufferance but once the lesser fancied Shamwari began to essay her challenge, there was no stopping the progeny of Excellent Art who won in style. Tower Bridge finished on well to take the second place ahead of Ascension.
Adhiraj Jodha who had a double for the day, led in a long-priced winner through Makino who came up with a late charge in the hands of jockey Neeraj Rawal to measure the front-running longshot Flamboyant Flame in the final strides of the race to win the1200 metres P Hadow Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Maduro headed Free Speed to grab the third place.
Judicious led from the start with an aggressive effort in the 1400 metres A J Wadia Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46 but closer home failed to sustain the effort. Furious N Fast finished with a powerful effort with Domination also putting a determined effort but the former who quickened faster held on to win. Judicious weakened and was in danger of being relegated to the fourth sport but managed to get the third position by a neck from Elsa. Adhiraj Jodha trained Comic Timing responded gamely to the challenge to win the lower division of the race, staving off the strong bid of Auroden in front. Timeless Deeds was hemmed up for a clear run which put paid to her hopes and she had to settle for the fourth place.
The strongly fancied Adam’s Beginning got strong in the final furlong and overhauled the front-running Arc of Passion and marched towards the winning post in the 1200 metres Bud Royale Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Bay of Love charged home late to occupy the second slot, returning rich dividends on place investment. Arc of Passion was third.
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Traherne (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Fair Haven Trophy
Comic Timing (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the A J Wadia Plate (Div-II)
Juggernaut (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Arts Plate (Div-II)
Furious N' Fast (A Imran Khan up) winner of the A J Wadia Plate (Div-I)
God's Own (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Arts Plate (Div-I)
Shamwari (N S Parmar up) winner of the Carbon Star Plate
Makino (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the P Hadow Trophy
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