Saturday`s Pune racing had one main attraction—the grand reappearance of the formidable mare, Juliette, who hadn`t been seen since her dominating run in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Kolkata back in March. With her towering presence in the 1800-metre Gr 3 Threptin Fillies & Mares Stakes, it was less of a competition and more of a formality. In fact, her very presence seemed to have scared off any serious challengers, forcing trainer Karthik Ganapathy to humor the audience by throwing in Dianne—a 23-rated filly—as, well, extra decoration.

Sulaiman Attaollahi, ever the opportunist, figured his horse West Brook might as well show up to collect the guaranteed second-place purse. A nice consolation prize for trotting alongside greatness. Juliette, meanwhile, barely needed to break a sweat, cantering casually from last to first like she was out for an afternoon jog rather than a race. The pace set by West Brook was so leisurely, it looked like she might have been practicing for a Sunday parade rather than a serious challenge.

What`s next for the queen of the turf? The Poonawallas—Juliette`s owners—are yet to reveal if she`ll continue her reign in India, chasing a fourth Indian Turf Invitation Cup, or set her sights on Dubai. For now, the mare`s presence was enough to electrify the day`s events, reminding the crowd why she`s spent the last few years steamrolling her competition with barely a sideways glance.

Juliette hasn`t always been invincible, and her early career wasn`t without its ups and downs. But now, at eight years old, she`s practically untouchable in long-distance races. Frankly, unless Juliette decides to trip over her own hooves, there`s no horse in India—whether sprightly three-year-olds or seasoned veterans—that can give her a real challenge.

While many race mares are whisked away to the paddocks after a few big wins, Juliette`s owners have decided to keep her on the track a little longer, soaking in the admiration and applause. And why not? With every effortless victory, they`re not just extending her legacy—they`re basking in it. Let`s be honest: at this point, the only one capable of beating Juliette is Juliette herself.

The 1800-metre Gruezi Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, sparked some interest with Mysteriousstranger in the mix—a horse who had previously beaten Arkadian, subsequent winner of the Deccan Derby. Yet, despite that impressive form, many doubted if Mysteriousstranger could stand up to the more seasoned handicappers in this higher class. The odds reflected that skepticism, as most of the betting action centered on Constable and Booster Shot.

For those brave punters hoping to cash in, Constable once again left them needing a literal “Booster Shot” for the heartbreak that followed, as both favorites fell flat.

In a delightful twist, it was Waikiki, the long-shot from M K Jadhav`s stable, that seized the moment. Wearing the same silks as Constable (clearly doing a much better job of it), Waikiki stormed ahead at odds that could make your wallet weep with joy. Jockey Saqlain had positioned Constable well and even took the lead at the top of the straight, but apparently, the horse had other plans—like letting Waikiki sail past without so much as a second glance. Jockey N S Parmar guided Waikiki to a shock victory, leaving Constable humbled once again.

Zarak snatched third place, while Booster Shot, despite jockey Akshay Kumar`s efforts to close the gap, could only finish in a tight cluster for third. And as for Constable? Backed to win time and time again, it seems he`s more committed to playing truant than earning any stars on his record.

Karthik Ganapathy-trained Azrinaz had already shown her class with a smart win at Mumbai, even after a rough run. Despite that form, the punters overlooked her in the 1200 metres Truefitt & Hill Founder`s Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Instead, they threw their money at Decacorn and Art Collector, who dominated the betting boards.

In the race, Decacorn, ridden by Prashanth Dhebe, looked serious for a moment, taking the lead in the final furlong. But Azrinaz, with jockey Sandesh aboard, swept past with a powerful surge to win with ease. Decacorn settled for second, while Superlative finished third, and Art Collector was "collecting" somewhere else entirely!

Karthik Ganapathy had a treble on the day, and his final surprise came from Lord Vader, who pulled off a shocking victory in the 1000 metres Yogender Singh Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The betting favorite Superimpose seemed poised for success, cruising into a handy position at the final turn—until he promptly disappeared from the scene.

In the end, it was a battle of long shots, with Lord Vader defeating Jet Typhoon by a whisker in a thrilling finish. Redouble wasn`t far behind in third, and Northern Singer, Superimpose`s stablemate, managed to finish in the frame.

The lower division of the Yogender Singh Trophy went off in a more orderly fashion, with the well-fancied Gypsy Soul living up to her billing. Last start`s winner, she held off a late challenge from Mojo under the steady guidance of jockey Santosh G. As for Storm Cloud, who was expected to stir things up, he fizzled out and finished a distant third, clearly leaving his thunder at home.

Meanwhile, in the 1400 metres Nana Raghunath Trophy, trainer Pesi Shroff`s Celestial delivered a win that gave the punters something to cheer about. The three-year-old colt, ridden by jockey Vivek G, had to dig deep in a fierce battle with Earth. Earth looked all set to triumph but began to crumble just before the finish line, allowing Celestial to shine through. The General arrived on the scene late to claim third, but by then, the battle had been fought—and won.

Jockey Sandesh was at his best, guiding Zendaya to a well-fought victory over Mumtaz in the 1200 metres October Handicap, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Mumtaz looked poised for victory after getting the first run on her rivals, but Zendaya had other plans, finishing with a powerful late burst to snatch the win in the dying strides.

As for Thalassa, who had impressed over a mile in previous outings, the six-furlong dash proved too short. Despite jockey Saqlain`s best efforts, she was outpaced early on. Though Thalassa finished strongly, she simply ran out of ground, leaving her with a respectable but unfulfilled effort.

Jockey Sandesh had a roaring day with a treble, kicking things off aboard the favorite Leo The Lion in the 2000 metres Capriole Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category—a territory where trainer Narender Lagad reigns supreme.

After keeping Leo The Lion in a comfortable third or fourth position early on, Sandesh unleashed his mount in the homestretch, and the gelding pulled away with ease in the final furlong. Toofan and Yuletide trailed behind, but it was clear this lion wasn`t sharing his pride—Leo The Lion won convincingly, setting the stage for Sandesh`s stellar day ahead.