Imtiaz Sait-trained Geographique capped off her winning spree in style with a smooth, start-to-finish triumph in the 2000 metres Gr 2 Teena Katrak Memorial RWITC Ltd Trophy, wrapping up the Pune racing season on Sunday. The five-year-old mare, a proud progeny of Epsom Derby champ Golden Horn, made her third consecutive win look almost effortless, as her much-anticipated rival Evaldo seemed to forget the script entirely.

Jockey Suraj Narredu piloted Geographique straight to the front, setting a brisk pace with Mojito tagging along in second, while Evaldo and Ramiel followed in line. Coming into the final stretch, Geographique looked well within herself, barely needing to stretch as Mojito fizzled out of the contest. Evaldo, with back-to-back wins under his belt, was expected to mount a challenge but seemed to lose steam right when it mattered, offering only token resistance before fading into defeat.

Ultimately, Geographique cruised to an untroubled victory, leaving the rest of the field to sort out the minor placings. Ramiel managed to slip past a weary Mojito to grab third, but the day clearly belonged to Geographique, who made it clear she was in a purple patch — and in no hurry to leave it.

Imtiaz Sait-trained Opus Dei turned the B Prakash Trophy into a chaotic blend of drifting, interfering and official debating. Instead of keeping a nice straight line in the 1400-metre race, Opus Dei decided a little detour to the left would add to the drama, casually interfering with Singer Sergent, who was staging his own rally from the far outside. Despite Opus Dei crossing the line first, the resultant objection flew up faster than Singer Sergent could drift out. This time, the stewards decided they were in a generous mood to actually uphold it.

Now, let's talk about consistency — or the lack of it. The rules around objections seem to change faster than a jockey’s whip hand. Poor Opus Dei, chasing down Believe into the straight, started drifting even as Anthony Raj laid into the left-hand whip. Singer Sergent wasn't exactly steady either, and jockey Trevor Patel, not in the mood to try his luck on the inside, held his course on the outside. With both horses wandering like lost tourists, interference was inevitable as Opus Dei continued his wayward journey right into Singer Sergent’s path. But hey, no one told Opus Dei that a little course correction could save a victory.

Some of the stewards, perhaps still smarting from the decision on the objection at the Pune Derby, jumped at the chance to side with the objection this time. After all, it’s easy to show decisiveness when you've got a clear drift to blame. The Stipes (yes, all three of them) chimed in, although apparently, only the Chief’s opinion actually mattered. The others nodded along, adding as much value as a decorative potted plant.

Treasure Gold trotted in for third, probably grateful for the spectacle ahead, and Attained, in a bid for drama, didn’t even bother leaving the gates.

Pradeep Chouhan trained Dream Seller turned the Delhi Race Club Trophy into his own personal parade, completing a hat-trick of wins with an ease that left the rest of the field looking like they'd shown up to the wrong race. Carrying a feather-light 49 kgs, Dream Seller practically flew off the blocks under jockey Saqlain, cruising to the front as if he had an early dinner reservation to keep. The rest of the pack, lumbering under weights that might make a mule wince, could only watch as Dream Seller sailed ahead, showing none of his old quirks for wandering off course.

This time, he ran straighter than a ruler, leaving the field in his dust by a commanding five lengths. Magileto, lugging top weight, managed to muscle his way to second, fending off Dexa and Irish Gold in a fight for runner-up that was almost as intense as Dream Seller’s solo act. And as for Baby Bazooka, who seemed in no rush to exit the gates, she still managed to close in behind the minor placings crew. In the end, Dream Seller took the victory with flair, while everyone else just tried to keep up — and probably booked a chiropractor on the way out.

Adhirajsingh Jodha, crowned the Champion Trainer of the season for the first time in his career, and his trusty jockey Sandesh, who snagged the Champion Jockey title, wrapped up the day with a winning performance in the 1200 metres Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46.

Timeless Vision entered as the firm favourite, but as race time approached, a sudden surge of cash flowed onto Axlord, trained by Nosher Cama, making them joint favourites. But in classic racing fashion, drama unfolded when Axlord decided to throw a fit at the gates and was withdrawn, leaving Timeless Vision to take the reins without a hitch.

Once the gates opened, Sandesh shot to the front on Timeless Vision, who didn’t look back, leaving the competition in the dust. My Princess gave it a good chase but was no match for the runaway favourite, finishing a distant second, followed by Mojo. It seems like Jodha and Sandesh signed off on a fitting note, leaving their rivals wondering what went wrong — perhaps next time they should take a cue from Timeless Vision and learn how to finish strong!

In the 1200 metres Rao Saheb Kedari Gold Trophy (Div II), a race where it seemed like everyone who'd once trailed Aperol had decided to relive old times, Maysara, Dulari, and Quicker found themselves duking it out for the top spot. Antia’s Maysara, a veteran at crushing expectations on three prior occasions, hadn’t tasted victory in a year, but bettors backed her like she was the second coming of Pegasus. Meanwhile, Dulari was flying under the radar with long odds, no doubt because Amyn Merchant was in the saddle, bringing his own brand of charm (and skepticism) to the ride.

Jockey A Prakash launched Maysara to the front, but the filly was feeling a bit whimsical, drifting out like she was sightseeing rather than racing. Just as she seemed ready to stamp her authority in the final furlong, the drifting show started up again, putting a serious dent in her win chances. And right when she needed control the most, in came Dulari, gliding up the rails with no traffic, no fuss — just a stealthy late run that saw her snatch victory right at the post.

Maysara did manage to hold off Toscana for second place, although by then it was more of a consolation prize than a grand statement. And Quicker, who was ideally placed, ironically found no quickness in reserve and settled for a respectable yet uninspiring fourth.

Pesi Shroff trained Psychic Star put on a show in the Dr P K Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds, blowing away the field by a jaw-dropping seven lengths and making the rest look like they were out for a Sunday stroll. After an encouraging third-place finish to the impressive Pride’s Prince, Psychic Star entered as the overwhelming favourite, and he lived up to the hype.

Jockey Saqlain kept Psychic Star comfortably in fourth, letting Star Impact lead the way like a pace-making volunteer, while the favourite casually closed the gap without Saqlain having to lift a finger. By the time the final furlong rolled around, Psychic Star had bolted clear, leaving stablemate Eagle Day to scramble for a distant second, just barely holding off Sands of Dubai.

There was a whisper of support for Bangalore hopeful Honest Desire, but any dreams of an upset were dashed from the word “Go,” as the colt never even got close to contention. In the end, Psychic Star delivered a dazzling, no-sweat performance.

Ah, the thrill of betting on the favourites in a low-category race — always a reliable way to watch your dreams go up in flames. But this time, Subhang Singh-trained Demetrius managed to sidestep that fate, clinging to victory in the 1200 metres Proletarian Plate by what can only be described as sheer luck and a few inches of racetrack.

Meanwhile, the true entertainment came from Between Friends, a rank outsider, who decided to spice things up by launching a surprise attack on the outside with Vishal Bunde in the saddle. Just when it seemed Demetrius might actually have a smooth finish, here came Between Friends, bringing enough drama to keep the punters biting their nails. Fortunately for Demetrius, his cozy rail-hugging strategy ended up saving the day.

Now, let’s add a touch of racing irony: Demetrius was originally declared a non-starter thanks to a delay with the blinds, practically throwing his chances in jeopardy before the race even began on the last occasion. But the favourite wasn't about to let a little thing like a late start ruin his day. With Trevor at the reins, Demetrius hustled up the rails from eighth position while Between Friends tried a more scenic, wide route. Just when things got interesting, Demetrius found every gap and charged ahead, with Between Friends throwing in one final Hail Mary only to miss by the famous “proverbial whisker.” Between Friends might have stolen the show, but Demetrius took the win — even if it was by the skin of his teeth. Sorrento Secret settled for third, while Fidato, after showing early promise, decided the lead was overrated and faded to fourth.

The concluding race of the Pune Racing Season, aptly named the Dangerous Plate, featured horses rated 20 to 46 over a mile. Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Amadeo and Pesi Shroff-schooled Mighty Sparrow went off as the top two favourites, while the rest of the field looked like they were there just for the exercise, lacking any real racing credentials or pedigree.

As the final furlong approached, Amadeo, ridden by Trevor Patel, surged ahead and looked set to win. However, Mighty Sparrow, under the determined hands of Saqlain, kicked into high gear at the last moment, pulling off an impressive upset. Odysseus, another of Shroff’s trainees, finished third. Despite the large field, most runners seemed more interested in a leisurely outing than actually competing. It was a race where the majority were clearly just there for a breath of fresh air!