Sulaiman Attaollahi trained Forest Flame upstaged Juliette in the Gr 3 1800 metres Threptin Fillies` & Mares Stakes, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Pune races. Jockey Sandesh rode a tactical race, slowing down the pace in front which suited Forest Flame fine as the five-year-old mare could sprint for home and stave off the late challenge of Juliette.

Forest Flame is a prolific performer though she had limitations when it came to tackling longer trips. Her last run in the Maharaja`s Cup at Bangalore was a disaster, the mare failing to handle the underfoot conditions and the opposition and finished more than 30 lengths behind the winner. The only reason she received support in the betting ring against the more accomplished Juliette was because of the nine-furlong trip and the fact that Juliette hadn`t run for 217 days due to a setback in training. Juliette had the benefit of a mock race but her chances were dependent on the pace of the race. Juliette has always been ridden way off the pace irrespective of the situation and such a tactic was bound to backfire when the pace of the race is such that it puts a sprinting horse at a big advantage.

Sandesh had no hesitation in taking Forest Flame to the front and cleverly dictated the pace. Juliette was squeezed out by Kamilah and the mare fell back a few lengths further. Jockey C S Jodha compounded his problem by sticking to the rear instead of making his move earlier than he did. When the race quickened at around the final turn, Juliette found herself unable to quicken. Forest Flame had a sizeable lead going into the final furlong and though Juliette covered the ground with big strides, she was expected to run out of ground under the circumstances. Forest Flame held on to win by a long neck. Kamilah was third some distance away. Lack of better tactical acumen on the part of the connections of Juliette in assessing their strategy undid their chances.

Pesi Shroff trained Alicia was widely expected to make amends after a forward run of last time and was made a strong favourite to win in a small field of five runners contesting the 2000 metres Yana Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Teresita set the pace followed by In Contention, Alicia, Grand Accord and Multistarrer. In Contention took over the running on turning for home and was always in control of the race as Alicia failed to make progress from behind. It was left to Multistarrer to give some semblance of a challenge with a late rally which fetched the Imtiaz Sait trainee the runner-up berth ahead of the well-beaten favourite Alicia.

These days it has become difficult for punters to spot the genuine favourites. The punters who chase the favourites are losing day after day but still, the majority believe in the virtues of these horses. Barring the last race where favourite Tristar made it, the rest of the races saw favourites bite the dust much to the chagrin of the punters. Malesh Narredu trained The Awakening who had gone down narrowly last time out, was the obvious horse to back in the 1400 metres Chef D`Oeuvre Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. In keeping with the trend and also the fact that the stable had been firing blanks, The Awakening too disappointed failed to quicken from a handy position and finished a tame third. Long shot Arabian Phoenix held off Desert Fire to land the spoils in a tight finish.

Dallas Todywalla trained last start winner Its My Time was another strong favourite to let down expectations in the 2000 metres Late Jagannath B Shetty Memorial Million, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. After travelling well till the final turn, Its My Time sent distress signals and dropped back alarmingly. The race was won by Zarak in the hands of jockey Neeraj Rawal. Zarak had to survive a scare as Murwara Princess came up with a late rally only to find the front-runner escape to victory. Leto was third. Incidentally, those who went with the pace all finished poorly and it was left to those coming from way off the pace to dispute the issue.

Rhythm of Nature from the stables of veteran trainer S M Shah was the favourite to win the 1400 metres Rao Saheb Kedari Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46 but the favourite stayed glued to the rear from the beginning and finished in the ruck. Long shot Cipher was driven out by promising Bangalore-based apprentice Saqlain to stave off the challenge of other long shots Twelfth Earl and Campaign.

Nazak Chenoy trained Liam who had finished more than 17 lengths behind the winner on the last occasion, brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres October Handicap (Div I), a race for three-year-olds only. Apprentice jockey Praveen Shinde who had a double for the day had Liam chase Divine Thoughts into the straight before skipping ahead to win with a measure of comfort from late rallying Tyrone Black. Divine Thoughts was pushed to the third position. Lesser fancied Alpine Star from the stables of Narendra Lagad prevailed in a three-horse finish over the long-time leader Pyrrhus and Marine Girl in the lower division of the race. Favourite Hawk of the Wind from the stables of Malesh Narredu disappointed like most horses from this stable have done thus far.

Nosher Cama trained Tristar was the only favourite to win in the card of eight events. Competing in the 1200 metres Round The Clock Racing On Play.rwitc.com Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, Tristar was pushed to take the lead from the wide outside draw by apprentice jockey Praveen Shinde. The favourite stayed put in front to win from late finishing Ame and Tasman.