Saturday`s Pune races galloped along with all the suspense of a replay—until an 11-year-old veteran decided he`d had enough of the script. With favourites obligingly doing their job like obedient employees at appraisal time, the day was all set for a clean sweep—until The Flutist decided to rewrite the symphony. The old-timer romped home in the last race and reminding everyone that racing is not meant to be this predictable.

Barring that late twist, the afternoon unfolded in boringly efficient fashion, with most winners treating their rivals like cones on a practice track. If competition were oxygen, Saturday`s card was in a coma.

Pradeep Chouhan-trained The Millenium Force was out to prove that his previous win wasn`t a one-hit wonder. Competing in the JSK1 Play & Win August Trophy, the highest-rated event of the day, the gelding made a mockery of the opposition. Sandesh, barely needing to lift a finger, allowed The Millenium Force to loiter in fourth while Substantial huffed and puffed in front. At the top of the straight, Sandesh decided it was time for a jog and, with minimal persuasion, the race turned into a solo exhibition. Eaton Square ran like he`d just been told there was a medal for second, and Substantial, after leading the parade, grudgingly clung on for third.

In the Altaf Hussain Million, Neutralist gave his backers a mini heart attack before pulling off a rescue act worthy of a Bollywood climax. Squeezed out at the start, Trevor Patel found himself in the rear rather than the front-runners. But apparently, Neutralist decided to channel the fitness of his Bangalore sojourn. He gobbled up ground in the final furlong. Stablemates Silver Strike and Cindrella`s Dream followed in for the scraps, separated by a short head and a shared sense of futility. Zendaya was fourth, possibly more focused on future assingments.

Nirad Karanjawala`s Zafferano, meanwhile, dropped back from competitive racing to take on a modest lot of horses. Competing in a handicap for three-year-olds, Zafferano sauntered past the field like he was browsing a Sunday market. Merlet gave a valiant but futile chase, while Allez L`etoile and Solidarity filled out the rest of the frame, mainly to make up the numbers.

The Truefitt & Hill Trophy (Div I) saw Lord Eric prove that lightning can strike twice, especially when the competition is still warming up. Trevor Patel allowed Escape Velocity the illusion of leadership before zipping past for an easy win. Betsy settled for third.

The lower division offered a nostalgic treat as Storm Cloud decided to win a race after a year-long sabbatical. Leading from the front like a horse who finally read the rulebook, the Narendra Lagad trainee held off Arbitrage and Maratha Admiral who closed late—but not usefully.

Another Karanjawala trainee, Encino, treated the Sprungli Plate like a speed drill. The maiden three-year-old dashed away to win by five lengths, giving Trevor Patel a hat-trick without breaking a sweat—unless you count the mild effort he made earlier on Neutralist, which actually required him to ride. Foxy and Legacy completed the frame, but the winner had long since disappeared from view.

And just when it seemed the day would go down as a seminar in predictability, out came The Flutist. Aged 11, probably with arthritis and a pension plan, he defied time, form, and logic to win from start to finish under A Prakash. Ma Cherie and Continental Drift dutifully ran in behind, while favourite Oh Kay gave a masterclass in how not to justify support, finishing fourth with the enthusiasm of a snail on vacation.

So yes, punters were almost handed a dream afternoon… until The Flutist blew their tickets into the wind. As racing likes to remind us now and then—when things go too smoothly, there`s always an 11-year-old waiting to crash the party.