Chagall, from Pesi Shroff`s yard, strutted into the 1600 metres Dr S R Captain Salver, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Sunday`s Pune races, with a résumé that screamed ‘winner`—the only hitch being that he hadn`t raced since April. Pesi, true to habit, rarely rushes his string in the opening weeks of Pune; his horses usually hit their stride once the season gathers steam. Chagall`s last outing was in April, when he pulled a double shift—winning on one day and then running a gallant third behind Siege Courageous the very next. And, because no Pesi runner comes without a subplot, he also saddled Christofle—once touted as a classic prospect, but since then tie backed, and had undergone a series of treatments.

Still, betting trends left no doubt—Chagall, entrusted to apprentice Siddharth, was the chosen one. Imtiaz Sait`s Pride`s Prince, who once had beaten Chagall, was backed with the kind of confidence that punters get when they see a strong favourite in the ring. Alas, the Prince decided Sunday wasn`t his working day, ambling at the rear and folding long before the action even heated up.

Instead, a lively Alpine Star sparked interest for a while running aggressively in front, with Ultimo looming, but Chagall shook off the cobwebs, found his rhythm, and burst clear late to settle matters. Alpine Star took second, Singer Sargent orchestrated a late move for third along the rails, while Ultimo`s spirited effort faded.

Sunday`s card otherwise behaved as if scripted by the punters` union: favourites mostly obliged, but not without making them sweat. At least the contests were close, a welcome relief from the dreary one-horse parades that have crept in lately.

In the Gunsmoke chapter, Malesh Narredu`s ward returned to the handicap ranks after a graded-race adventure that failed. Punters kept faith, though the market`s loudest drumbeat was for Pesi`s Kings Gambit. Money also chased Don Julio, proving tequila isn`t the only Julio in demand. Kings Gambit and Don Julio led with early bravado, but both fizzled faster than soda in the sun. Outsider Star Romance threatened to write a fairytale, only for Gunsmoke to appear from the clouds, galloping wide and late to snatch victory in the nick of time to win the 1600 metres Nana Raghunath Salver, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Giant Gold, after a wayward start, salvaged third.

Trevor Patel, aboard Wings of Fury, had to earn every inch in the 1200 metres Pune Times Mirror Trophy. The filly, backed as if defeat wasn`t an option, was made to dig deep after All For Love showed a clean pair of heels upfront. Conjurer briefly looked like pulling off the trick, but Wings of Fury lived up to her name—swooping late with a furious burst to nose out victory in the 1200 metres Pune Times Mirror Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The favourite had her followers clutching their betting slips a little too tightly, but she delivered—eventually.

In the Spark of Gold Plate, Zendaya did her best impression of the actress she`s named after—taking her time to warm up but ultimately stealing the spotlight. The speedy Azure led from the outset, refusing to yield until the dying stride, where Sandesh coaxed Zendaya past by the narrowest of margins. Surrealist hung around for third, though there was nothing surreal about the result.

Shroff struck again with Superstar in the Capitulate Plate. Jockey Vivek G sent him out like a horse with a mission—and the mission nearly collapsed in the final furlong as Doctor Dolly launched a dramatic late bid. But Superstar clung on.

The Act In Time Plate lived up to its name when apprentice Ramswarup shot Midnight Express to the front and kept rolling, threatening to steal it gate to wire. But favourite Western Star, under apprentice Aditya Waydande, belatedly found the gears and caught her just in time. Lord Eric, meanwhile, strolled in for third, apparently more for the exercise than competition.

The day began with Bohemian Rhapsody, trained by Hosidar Daji, delivering exactly what punters wanted—no drama, no suspense, just a straightforward demolition job in the So Perfect Plate. The lowest-rated lot had no answer as he coasted home, leaving Crystal Clear second and Golden Rule third.