In a captivating turn of events, Booster Shot, trained by the experienced Imtiaz Sait, made a triumphant return to the winner's circle on Indian Independence Day at Pune. After a prolonged absence following his exhilarating victory in last year's Bangalore Summer Season, the four-year-old had only one run in December at Mumbai. However, on Friday, Booster Shot proved he's still a force to be reckoned with, securing an exciting win in the 2000-meter Pride Group Independence Million, the feature event of the day.

With jockey Akshay Kumar in the saddle—who had also guided Booster Shot to victory 396 days ago—there was an air of destiny surrounding their partnership. Kumar navigated Booster Shot into the lead as they entered the final furlong, successfully fending off a late, powerful charge from Phenom. Despite a sluggish start that cost him valuable ground, Phenom nearly pulled off an upset, but Booster Shot held firm, crossing the finish line by a narrow margin.

Meanwhile, leading trainer Pesi Shroff, who has been going through a lean spell, was left disappointed as his colt Chagall failed to meet expectations. Despite taking the lead as the field entered the straight, Chagall couldn't sustain his momentum. Booster Shot, who had been lurking in sixth position, made a smooth and decisive move, overtaking both Chagall and his stablemate Alexandros with ease. As Booster Shot skipped clear, Phenom launched a fierce late bid, but it went in vain. Multiverse, rallying well along the rails, secured third place, while Chagall had to settle for a disappointing fourth.

After a lackluster performance in his first run of the season, Irish Gold turned the tables and dazzled with a surprise victory at lucrative odds in the 1000-meter B K Lagad Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Last start’s winner, hailing from the Dallas Todywalla stable, was heavily backed as the favorite, with expectations high for an encore performance. But in a twist that left punters stunned, it was the stablemate, Irish Gold, who stepped up and stole the spotlight.

Displaying a bold turn of foot, Irish Gold effectively thwarted the challenge of the favored filly, bouncing clear in the final strides to claim victory. Dexa put up a valiant fight, rallying brilliantly in the closing stages but narrowly missing out on overhauling Irish Gold. Sovereign Master, sticking close to the rails, and New Dimension, who unleashed a powerful run from the rear, both finished strongly but left it too late to make a decisive impact on the outcome. Portofino Bay rounded out the top five, finishing in the thick of the action.

Interestingly, this race once again underscored a curious pattern that has emerged time and again, whether by coincidence or design: when two horses from the same stable are in contention, it's often the one with longer odds that triumphs. This time, it was Irish Gold who defied expectations, reminding us that in racing, the unexpected is always just around the corner.

Sanjay Kolse-trained Fast Response delivered a flawless performance in the 1000-meter Star of the Season Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, leaving his opponents trailing in his wake. Jockey Akshay Kumar, displaying tactical brilliance, set a pace that perfectly suited his mount, leading from the start and comfortably fending off challenges from Goddess of Dawn and Fiery Red, who both pushed aggressively in the final stages.

Meanwhile, Malesh Narredu, who enjoyed a stellar Mumbai season, has been struggling to find similar success. Those who pinned their hopes on Running Star to bounce back from a disappointing last run were left frustrated as the heavily backed favorite finished well down the field, much to the dismay of his supporters.

Faisal Abbas-trained Doctor Dolly lived up to the expectations, delivering a convincing win in the 2000-meter Mayor’s Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The filly's impressive previous performance instilled confidence in her connections, leading them to back the progeny of Kingda Ka with conviction. Jockey Sandesh enjoyed an effortless ride, positioning Doctor Dolly comfortably in the middle of the pack before making a decisive move at the top of the straight. She stormed clear of her rivals, securing an easy victory. Divine Hope and Highground followed in second and third, while Seeking Alpha, one of the fancied contenders, was conspicuously absent from the action at the finish.

Noshir Cama-trained Axlrod proved to be a class above the competition in the 1600-meter Just By Chance Plate, a race for horses rated 1 to 26. The betting ring reflected the confidence in Axlrod, with heavy support coming in despite Vinod being in the saddle. Axlrod surged to the front right from the start, maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the race. Although he began to tire towards the end, Axlrod had built up enough of an advantage to narrowly fend off a late challenge from Malakhi. Marlboro Man completed the placings in third. Despite the close finish, Axlrod's strong early run ensured he reached the winning post first, securing a well-earned victory.