Prasanna Kumar’s star pupil, Knotty Legend, returned from a 260-day hiatus and showed no signs of rust, delivering a stellar win in the 1600 meters General Rajendrasinhji Million. This feature race for three-year-olds, held at Pune on Saturday, saw the Gusto progeny live up to every bit of his pedigree, brushing aside competition that included none other than Field of Dreams, a conqueror of Pune Derby winner Redefined.

After claiming the crown as the best three-year-old in Bangalore’s last Winter Season, Knotty Legend went off the radar for a while, presumably nursing a minor niggle. Prasanna Kumar, with his trademark patience, had kept him under wraps, skipping the entire Bangalore Summer Season and only bringing him out on the penultimate day of Pune’s season. In fact, Knotty Legend was given such a leisurely mock race last month that any casual observer might have doubted his chances. But the trainer and connections were brimming with quiet confidence, assuring everyone the mock race was merely a warm-up, not a serious outing.

Jockey Trevor Patel kept his cool, positioning Knotty Legend at the back as Expedite took up pace duties, closely followed by Thalassa and Field of Dreams, who’d edged out Knotty Legend as the punters’ favourite. Calm as ever, Trevor didn’t flinch, making his move at the 800-meter mark. Knotty Legend was absolutely cruising, slicing through the field with such ease that it was clear he was just biding his time before taking command.

As they entered the final furlong, Knotty Legend glided past Expedite and powered ahead, sealing a comfortable victory. Expedite held on gamely for second, followed by Field of Dreams, with Thalassa dropping back after a gallant but tiring run near the pace.

Prasanna Kumar’s winning season couldn’t have been more satisfying. With a lean yet formidable string of horses he brought from Bangalore, he has racked up 10 wins, including the illustrious Pune Derby, solidifying his status as a top conditioner of champions. His impeccable placement of horses in specific races speaks volumes about his strategic prowess. As for Knotty Legend, he’s primed to make his mark in the winter classics, with the Guineas firmly in his sights.

The lowest-category horse races are a minefield, tempting, treacherous, and full of blind corners. Trying to pick a winner here? It’s about as easy as finding a tuxedo-wearing needle in a mile-long haystack. This time, it was the A J Wadla Plate over 1400 meters, with two hot tips, Red Dust and Northbound, apparently convincing every one of their prowess. Either of them had any intention of making an appearance at the finish, they certainly didn’t show it on the track. In fact, neither displayed the slightest hint of speed or ambition, dashing punters’ hopes well before the final furlong.

Meanwhile, Nirad Karanjawalla’s Anaira, a long shot who looked like she’d been waiting for this moment since the dawn of time, seized the lead from the start and decided she rather enjoyed having the track all to herself. Even with a few wobbles away from the rail, she was untouchable, leaving the rest in the dust in the hands of jockey A Prakash. Marlboro Man managed a late rally to nab second, while Dagger’s Strike, who must have thought he was in a casual trot-along, settled for third. Toofan rounded out the frame without much to add.

In the 2000 meters Bateleur Plate, it seemed Pesi Shroff-trained Zuccaro stood so high above the rest that it practically scared off any serious competition, leaving a field of “friendly” horses to keep him company. Jockey Vivek G seemed almost amused by the leisurely challenge, settling Zuccaro in a cozy rear spot as El Greco ambled along at a pace that could only be called “gentle.”

But as they approached the final bend, Vivek decided it was time to get serious. With one swift move, Zuccaro erased the leeway like it was child’s play, gliding into the straight with the kind of ease that made the rest look like they were running in slow motion. By the time they hit the post, Zuccaro had left them all floundering in his wake, striding home by a jaw-dropping eight lengths. El Greco managed to hold onto second, while Vincent Van Gogh—who had been optimistically tailing the early leader—stayed on for a third-place finish. The only thing that actually moved in this race was Zuccaro; the rest of the field might as well have been in a tableau, finishing exactly where they started, in exactly the same order. Zuccaro? He could probably win on cruise control until he finally ascends to graded races, where he might just encounter a rival who remembers how to challenge him.

Imtiaz Sait-trained Pride’s Prince capped off a hat-trick of wins in the 1600 meters To The Manor Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, leaving the favourite, Celestial, from Pesi Shroff’s elite stable, eating his dust. Sait, the seasoned maestro, has proven once again that he knows how to turn his horses into consistent performers, thriving in this cutthroat game.

Despite Celestial’s pedigree, weight advantage and the betting crowd’s confidence, Pride’s Prince found himself overlooked as his odds drifted. Winter Agenda took the early lead, with Divine Hope and Celestial trailing close behind, while Pride’s Prince leisurely settled in fifth, content to bide his time. As they hit the final turn, Vivek pushed Celestial forward to test the pace-setter, while Anthony Raj, razor-sharp on Pride’s Prince, swiftly bridged the gap.

Celestial made the first move, but when Pride’s Prince bore down on him, it was game over. Celestial, despite all his fanfare, barely put up a fight as Pride’s Prince cruised past him for an easy win. Lord And Master trotted up to take third, leaving Divine Hope, who’d shown some spark early on, to fade into the background.

M K Jadhav-trained Midnight Express rolled into the Supreme Start Plate (Div I) with the kind of fanfare that only comes when the insiders know a horse is primed for action. The betting crowd had clearly placed their faith in him, with the rest of the field languishing at long odds, serving as nothing more than an audience for Midnight Express’s show.

Jockey N S Parmar wasted no time, sending Midnight Express surging to the front, and from that moment on, it was a one-horse affair. The Western Aristocrat filly zipped ahead, leaving the others in her rearview as she coasted home in glorious isolation, well clear of a hopeful but overmatched Ashwa Kangto. Celestina and Yukikaze trailed in, battling only for the minor placings, as Midnight Express stole the spotlight with a performance that was less a race and more a procession.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Fable was the overwhelming favourite in the 1200 meters Supreme Star Plate (Div II), a race for maiden three-year-olds, leaving the rest of the field in the dust. Jockey Trevor Patel kept Fable tucked in behind pace-setter Aafreen until they hit the straight, where he unleashed the horse’s full potential.

As the progeny of Dreamfield charged forward, Fable looked set for a comfortable victory, but the late challenge from Cinderella’s Dream was nothing short of electrifying. Just as Fable was crossing the line, Cindrella’s Dream surged with remarkable momentum, falling just short by a whisker. Meanwhile, Knight Crusader came alive on the wide outside, rallying late to secure third place.

Suraj Narredu delivered a masterclass of a ride aboard Imtiaz Sait's Regina Memorabilis, the three-year-old filly who swiftly silenced any doubts about her favouritism in the 2000 metres Shamu Chavan Trophy, a contest for horses rated between 20 and 46. Suraj had the filly settled comfortably around seventh position, unfazed by the chaotic scramble unfolding in front of him and the relentless pace set by Serengeti and Thrill of Brazil. It wasn't until the 800-metre mark that Suraj made his strategic move, setting his sights on the highly regarded Saifa, who was gaining ground ahead after overtaking the early leaders. A thrilling tussle ensued, but Regina Memorabilis ultimately established her dominance, cruising to a confident victory over Saifa. Meanwhile, La Dolce Vita edged out Black Thunder in a nail-biting finish for third place.

Pesi Shroff's Jade, who had previously shown promise against top-tier competitors, put the doubts to rest by delivering a powerhouse performance down the final furlong, clinching victory in the 1200 metres P Hadow Trophy—a race for horses rated between 40 and 66. From the outset, Fast Approach set a blistering pace but soon faltered in the homestretch. In hot pursuit, Aperol was urged forward by Trevor, who surged ahead with determination. However, Jade was biding her time, and as the finish line approached, she unleashed a ferocious late charge that overwhelmed the front-running Aperol in the dying moments, securing a confident victory by a shade less than a length. Lord Vader made a strong run to claim the third position, but it was Jade who stole the show in this thrilling contest.