Prasanna Kumar`s purple patch on the Pune track continues to dazzle, with the Bangalore-based trainer seemingly unstoppable. In a season where Pesi Shroff`s usually dominant stable is strangely off its stride and other contenders lack the firepower to match up, Prasanna Kumar`s horses are capitalizing on every opportunity. Following a double on Saturday, the trainer extended his winning streak in style as Redefined delivered a knockout performance in the Gr. 3, 1600-metre S.A. Poonawalla Million—a key prep race for next month`s Pune Derby on Sunday.

Jockey Sandesh, back in action this season after a stewards-enforced holiday (perhaps a bit of overzealous action on the part of the powers that be), was in top form. He piloted Redefined to an effortless victory, leaving the opposition in the dust. Dash, ironically living up to his name only in the dying strides, settled for second, while Spanish Eyes—runner-up in the Deccan Fillies Championship—held onto third. As for Bashir, the runaway winner of his last race, he ran with the pace early on but wilted under pressure, finishing a distant fourth.

Redefined, a product of the esteemed Manjri Stud Farm, boasts a formidable ownership group that includes RWITC Chairman Surendra Sanas and Chairman of Stewards Ram Shroff, among others. Toasts were likely raised all around as the winning team, featuring owners Kamesh, Ashok Ranpise, D.R. Thacker, and trainer Prasanna Kumar, basked in their moment of triumph.

Coming into the race, Redefined had already signaled his readiness when he ran a close second to Field of Dreams. His progression in the subsequent workouts meant he went to post as the hot favourite, with punters backing him confidently. Behind him in the betting ring, Spanish Eyes held some appeal, while the rest of the field offered more enticing odds.

The race unfolded with Pyrite leading the charge, followed by Bashir and Spanish Eyes, while Sandesh kept Redefined settled in fourth. Dash, as per his usual script, lingered in the rear. As they rounded the final bend, Bhawani Singh pushed Bashir into the lead, but it was short-lived. In a flash, Redefined unleashed a breathtaking turn of foot, storming past his rivals to win with plenty in hand. Dash came rattling home too late to do anything but take second, while Spanish Eyes clung on for third, ahead of Bashir.

This victory, while impressive, was hardly unexpected for the son of Phoenix Tower. Now, all eyes are on next month`s Pune Derby, where Redefined may very well take centre stage once again. His prospects, as it stands, are gleaming.

Shezaan Shah-trained Credence delivered a shocking upset in the 1200-metre Villoo C Poonawalla Million, leaving punters in disbelief. After finishing a dismal 20 lengths behind in her previous outing, Credence showed no signs of a form turnaround, making her victory at 20-1 odds a bolt from the blue. Guided aggressively by lesser-known jockey Vinod, the Excellent Art filly shot to the front early and never looked back. Despite drifting off course in the closing stages, Credence maintained a comfortable lead to fend off a late surge by the well-supported Fable. Cache, who was in contention throughout, had to settle for third, while Knight Crusader failed to make any impact, finishing out of the frame.

Meanwhile, in the 1200-metre Suraiya & Massom Master Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, Villanelle, trained by Pesi Shroff, made a late but decisive move to snatch victory from Divine Thoughts. After a disappointing showing in Hyderabad`s Fillies Championship, Villanelle found her stride just in this handicap company, surging past the front-runner in the final strides. Divine Thoughts, who had taken over from the tiring Soup And Sandwich in the final furlong, looked set to win but couldn`t hold off Villanelle`s flying finish. Turn And Burn also finished strongly to claim third.

On a day that seemed primed for favourites to rule the roost, long shots stole the spotlight. Karthik Ganapathy-trained Regal Command, who hadn`t sniffed victory for 618 days, chose this moment to pull off a surprise in the capable hands of jockey Bhawani Singh. Lurking at the back of the pack until the final turn, Regal Command swung wide and powered ahead in the final furlong. Short-priced favourite Multiverse found his rhythm too late, despite a ground-saving run along the rails under Sandesh, finishing second. Chat, after spending most of the race in obscurity, rallied to grab third, while Zarak, prominent early on, faded as Regal Command asserted his authority.

In the 1200-metre Excellent Trophy, it was another story of redemption. Altamash Ahmed-trained Baby Bazooka, winless for 700 days, finally broke the drought. Unlike Regal Command, Baby Bazooka did so as a fancied runner, taking advantage of a floundering Irish Gold, the strong favourite. Cellini set a blistering pace early, with Irish Gold, Baby Bazooka, and Bubbly Boy in pursuit. As Cellini faded in the homestretch, Irish Gold briefly surged to the front but failed to maintain his advantage. Baby Bazooka, displaying long-missing sharpness, swooped past the favourite in the final 100 metres to secure a commanding win. Bubbly Boy made up significant ground late but couldn`t overhaul Irish Gold, who clung to second place by a whisker.

Another day, another upset for Pesi Shroff`s stable, as Psychic Star, the race favourite, failed to deliver in the 1600-metre Mauna Kea Plate for horses rated 20 to 46. The spotlight instead fell on Imtiaz Sait-trained Pride Prince, a horse known for his sluggish starts, who turned in a dramatically different performance. Despite trailing the field early, Pride Prince surged wide into the homestretch and cruised to victory under jockey Anthony Raj.

Psychic Star had led the field into the straight, but when Pride Prince swooped in with a dazzling late run, the favourite had no response. Meanwhile, Axlord, ridden by Vinod, recovered from an early drift and showed plenty of fight to claim second, edging out Psychic Star, who found nothing extra when the race entered its final gear.

When it comes to the lowest category races, Narender Lagad always commands attention, and he proved why with Prince Igor in the 1200-metre Mystic Touch Plate for horses rated 1 to 26. Though Antia-trained Otello was the hot favourite in the betting ring, it was Prince Igor who stole the show.

Otello led the field into the homestretch with Prince Igor, ridden by Sandesh, close behind. But the front-runner had no answer when Prince Igor surged ahead and stormed to an easy victory. Late rallies from Anoushka and Moment of Madness secured second and third, while a fading Otello had to settle for fourth. Prince Igor was the first of the three wins booted home by jockey Sandesh.