Trainer Prasanna Kumar has certainly upheld Bangalore`s rich tradition of producing champion trainers who venture out and conquer marquee events with enviable consistency. His latest foray at the Pune City Gold Cup, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s races saw him unleashing two of his equine stars—and both delivered like clockwork. Royal Mysore, after a sparkling five-race winning streak that was interrupted only by stablemate Siege Courageous, returned with a vengeance, toppling a strong local line-up and, in a fitting twist, the very horse that had bested him last time out. It was speed and tenacity that left the competition gasping in the final furlong.

Adding to the drama was jockey Trevor Patel, fresh off a not-so-stellar stint in Korea. If there were any doubts about his form, he dispelled them in style, guiding Royal Mysore with the kind of unruffled confidence that only a seasoned pro can muster. Positioned coolly at the back of the pack, Patel bided his time, cutting through the field with precision, seizing every gap that opened.. In a breathtaking turn of foot, Royal Mysore stormed ahead of Chopin, who had been locked in battle with Rasputin until that point. Rasputin, defying expectations, surged to claim second place ahead of Siege Courageous, who also ran a solid race, showing his usual zest over a mile long trip which is not his forte. Chopin, after briefly flirting with the lead in the straight, faded to finish a disappointing fourth. As for Mojito, he continues to be a riddle; impossible to predict when, or if, he`ll fire on all cylinders.

The runners were no strangers to each other, having clashed multiple times, so it wasn`t difficult to separate the serious contenders from the hopefuls. Royal Mysore, who had once missed significant time during his formative years, has been nothing short of a revelation since his comeback last winter in Bangalore. He`s been picking up victories like souvenirs, at different tracks no less, and today he marched to the post as the heavy favorite. Golden Neil, who seems to be more focused on a slimming regimen than winning races these days, set the pace early, followed by Chopin, Rasputin, Siege Courageous, and the rest. Royal Mysore hung back in the rear, with Mojito bringing up the tail possibly catching the frenetic action in front.

As they swung around the final turn, Neeraj Rawal pushed Chopin into the lead, wresting control from Golden Neil. But that was short-lived. Trevor Patel had timed his run to perfection. With an almost effortless surge, Royal Mysore glided past the front-runners, settling the outcome well before the final 100 metres. The real action was behind him, as Siege Courageous rallied late to snatch second place from a game Rasputin.

Just one race prior, trainer Prasanna Kumar`s other star, In Thy Light, delivered a dazzling encore in the 1400-metre Acclaimed Plate for horses rated 60 to 86. The victory was effortless. Jockey Sandesh, exuding supreme confidence, let In Thy Light relax at the rear of the pack before unleashing a thunderous run on the wide outside. No risks were taken—Sandesh kept his mount well off the rail at the final bend, trusting fully in In Thy Light`s class to dismantle the field. He wasn`t wrong.

After Fighton burned out from his early efforts to lead, it was Golden Glow that briefly raised hopes, with It`s My Time mounting a strong challenge. But as soon as In Thy Light appeared on the scene, those dreams were swiftly dashed. In mere strides, the favourite stormed clear, securing a win so commanding it seemed almost effortless. The performance left little doubt that In Thy Light is in a rich vein of form, and he`s likely to continue his winning ways. It`s My Time managed to hold off Golden Glow to secure second place, while Charlie, after a sluggish start that saw him trailing the field, rallied impressively to take fourth.

As the season unfolds, it`s worth noting that champion trainer Pesi Shroff has been somewhat subdued. Normally a dominant force, he`s been only occasionally leading in winners. It`s no secret that Shroff often saves his best for the Mumbai season, which might explain why his stable hasn`t quite hit top gear yet.

In the 2000-metre Fourth Estate Trophy for maiden three-year-olds, two of Shroff`s wards lined up, with Doron drawing the bulk of attention in the betting ring. The favourite, however, was Divine Hope, while Doron`s stablemate Seeking Alpha was sent off at long odds. Applause set the pace early, with Seeking Alpha never far behind. As they approached the final turn, jockey Vivek G made his move, and the less-fancied Seeking Alpha shot ahead with authority, leaving the favourite floundering in his wake. In a surprise turn of events, Seeking Alpha proved far superior, while Divine Hope couldn`t catch the winner, settling for second. Doron, six lengths adrift, ran on for third, a distant shadow of the winner`s brilliance.

Trevor Patel guided Aman Altaf Hussain-trained Goddess of Dawn to a determined win in the 1000-metre Gentlemen`s Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Right from the get-go, Goddess of Dawn surged to the front, setting a strong pace with Wanderlust hot on her heels. As they hit the final furlong, Wanderlust`s jockey, Nazil, threw everything at his mount in a spirited attempt to overtake, but Goddess of Dawn dug deep, showing immense grit to hold off the challenge. It was a nail-biting finish, with Decacorn also closing fast, and Eloquent making a late dash out of nowhere to snatch fourth place from House of Lords, completing the frame in a thrilling, clustered finale.

The lower division of the Gentlemen`s Trophy served up its own share of drama. Toscana and Superimpose battled fiercely for the lead from the outset, matching strides all the way into the homestretch. Just when it seemed Superimpose would take control in the final stages, the race took a dramatic twist. Apprentice jockey Haridas Gore, riding the fancied Arbitrage, launched a bold late bid. In a heart-pounding finish, Arbitrage surged ahead by the narrowest of margins, pulling off a thrilling victory by a whisker. Toscana, having given it her all, faded to third in the closing strides.

Winter Agenda, trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, made every post a winning one in the 1400-metre Colombiana Plate (Div I) for horses rated 20 to 46, surviving a dramatic late charge from Star Gallery to clinch victory. Jockey Sandesh sent Winter Agenda straight to the front, dictating the pace and looking well in control as the race approached its final stages. Inside the last 100 metres, Winter Agenda appeared poised for a comfortable win after keeping Rush at bay. But the plot thickened as Star Gallery, under a relentless ride from Prasad, began to close in with a flourish, rattling home in the dying strides. It wasn`t enough, however, as Winter Agenda held on grimly, clinging to the lead and securing a hard-fought victory.

In the lower division of the Colombiana Plate, Etoile, trained by Bezan Chenoy, showcased her form with a well-timed run to seize control by the final furlong. Ashwa Kutang briefly put up a fight, only to fade in the closing stages, leaving the door open for late challenges. Kaya Rashi and India Strong both made eye-catching moves as the race neared its conclusion, but Etoile had already reached the safety of the winning post, frustrating their attempts to snatch victory in the final moments.

In a move that caught many eyes in the betting ring, Behrama Cama-trained Uzi went from underdog to favourite in the 2000-metre Star of Gibraltar Plate, a race reserved for horses in the lowest category. With little form to suggest a standout performance, Uzi`s sudden rise in betting popularity felt like a tip-off—and the smart money was right. Under the steady guidance of jockey T S Jodha, Uzi bided her time at the back of the field before making smooth, calculated progress. By the time they rounded the final bend, she was primed to pounce on the tiring Marlboro Man, who had led for most of the way.

With a burst of speed that left no doubt, Uzi cruised past the front-runner and stretched her lead to an impressive five lengths over Spiritual Rock, crossing the finish line in a dominant display. The weight of the betting support seemed to have brought out the best in Uzi, who finally showcased her true potential. As for Marlboro Man, he was left in Uzi`s wake, finishing a well-beaten second, while Spiritual Rock followed a distant third in what turned into a procession down the straight.