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Arjun Mangalorkar trained Aster Rose prevailed in a tight finish in the 2000 metres Aquaguard Championship RWITC Ltd Gold Cup, a Gr 2 race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of the concluding day’s races of the Pune Racing Season held on Sunday. The daughter of Multidimensional had lost a few races in close finishes but this time out, the dice fell in her favour as she held off a strong challenge from the late-finishing Colombiana.
Dallas Todywalla trained Phoenix Tiger who is a dual Group I winner, was picked ahead of Aster Rose to land the spoils as the former had shown the spark of old in his previous effort, going down in a close finish. Colombiana who is a versatile performer over varying trips, was also in serious betting. Jockey Suraj Narredu was unable to control Phoenix Tiger who raced to keen in front, eventually taking over the running by the end of the first furlong itself. Phoenix Tiger had to be held in tight leash to prevent him from expending his energy but nevertheless the task of doing all the running was bound to hurt his chances against a formidable lot of horses.
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Phoenix Tiger came into the straight a few lengths ahead of the rest with Aster Rose showing up on the wide outside with a big run from the rear of the field. Colombiana who relished the fast pace too made significant thrust, putting the front-runner under immense pressure. Phoenix Tiger fought resolutely before the front-running took its toll closer home. Aster Rose who came up with her patented short burst of speed went past Phoenix Tiger with less than 100 meters left in the race and had enough legs to reach the safety of the winning post as Colombiana came up with spirited effort but fell short in the end. A head and a length separated the first three runners. Phoenix Tiger was done in by the pace at which he had to travel in front which had a bearing on his reserves close home. Colombiana as is wont with him, produced a lion-hearted performance but fell short in the end.
Pesi Shroff trained Cambridge had been well prepared to have a bold show in his only run of the season. Accordingly, the progeny of Burden of Proof was well backed to win the 1400 metres Dakshin Maharashtra Sub-Area Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Neeraj Rawal very nearly lost the plot when he failed to position the fancied runner within the striking reach of the front-runner. Flag Flying opened a sizeable lead going into the final furlong and appeared to be heading for an upset win when Cambridge was set alight on the wide outside. Cambridge came home with big strides and got the nod in the closing stride of the reason by the proverbial whisker. Sparkling Eyes ran on from behind to take the third place ahead of Gazino.
Antia who had the mortification of seeing Flag Flying beaten in the closing stride of the race had a consolation winner through Slam Dunk who benefitted by four runner-up efforts by going one better in the 1200 metres Shamu Chavan Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Slam Dunk led from the start and despite veering out of a straight course in the closing stages of the race, had enough cushion to win comfortably from Knight’s Quest who nosed out Triple Threat for the runner-up berth. Apprentice jockey Ayyar rode the winner. Malesh Narredu trained Renato who was having the first run of his life, justified the one-sided support for him to win the lower division of the race. Suraj had Renato in front well before the final furlong and the progeny of Arazan overwhelmed the opposition for a comfortable win. El Tycoon held off Philadelphia to get the runner-up position. Lilibeth failed to build on the forward run of last time. Sanjay Kolse trained Juliano was the upset winner of the division III of the race. Furiosa nosed out Winds of Change for the second position.
Dallas Todywalla trained Stunner recorded an easy win in the 1000 meters Masoom Master Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Stunner led from the start and had an unassailable lead going into the final furlong. My Precious nosed out Malavika to get the runner-up position. Arc Shine who had been consistent was fancied to win but the progeny of Pinson failed to pick up any momentum and finished a tame fourth.
In a thrilling finish, Eiger’s Tiger who had let down expectations a few times, managed to pull it off in the 1600 metres Classic Rock Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Safdar led all the way and held on grimly but with a few metres left to reach the winning post, Eiger’s Tiger, ridden powerfully by jockey Dashrath Singh pounced on the front-runner and managed to win. Safdar and Samurai fought out a thrilling battle and were unseparated at the finish. The result was a dead-heat for the second position. Lagad also had the winner of the lower division of the race where Harmony proved very superior the opposition winning easily from Cristo Boss and Royal Éclair.
Aurelia justified the spirited betting that came in the 1200 metres Cielo Rey Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds by collaring the front-running Angel Harmony and staving off the late bid of Wabi Sabi to win what was the concluding race of the Pune racing season. The winner was trained by Nazak Chenoy.
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Juliano (S A Amit up) winner of the Shamu Chavan Trophy (Div-III)
Harmony (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Classic Rock Plate (Div-II)
Gdansk (A Imran Khan up) winner of the Democraticus Plate
Renato (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Shamu Chavan Trophy (Div-II)
Eiger's Tiger (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Classic Rock Plate (Div-I)
Aster Rose (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Aquaguard Championship R.W.I.T.C. Ltd Gold Cup (Gr.2)
Cambridge (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Dakshin Maharashtra Sub-Area Cup
Stunner (P S Chouhan up) winner of the Masoom Master Trophy
Slam Dunk (M Ayyar up) winner of the Shamu Chavan Trophy (Div-I)
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