Aman Altaf Hussain had every reason to pump his fist after Fourth Wing swooped on the 1400 metres Gr 3 F D Wadia Trophy, the feature event of Saturday’s Pune races. Fittingly, this victory arrived almost a month late—her earlier triumph was nullified after a false start. With two Mumbai wins already on her résumé and the experience of that “non-race” under her belt, Fourth Wing turned up unfazed, carrying zero baggage and plenty of intent.

Breaking smartly, Fourth Wing quickly assumed command, but not without company—favourite Money Bags shadowed her relentlessly. The moment of truth came when Money Bags loomed up menacingly, only to fluff his lines at a crucial juncture, missing a stride and surrendering vital momentum. By the time he regathered himself, the damage was done: Fourth Wing held on grimly to prevail by a neck. As for Encino—once hailed as the next big thing after a dazzling debut—he found the gulf in class far too real, trailing in a distant third.

Trainer Prasanna Kumar’s Money Bags, armed with a Bangalore Summer win and a mock race, had punters backing him with the sort of conviction that battle-hardened punters can, despite more bruises than a boxer after 12 rounds. Encino and Social Butterfly also attracted their fair share of misplaced optimism. Jockey Yash Narredu sent Fourth Wing to the front, with Social Butterfly, Money Bags, and the others queued up politely behind. Fourth Wing fought on bravely, Money Bags looked menacing enough for his supporters to start rehearsing their victory dances, but then promptly fluffed his lines and had to settle for runner-up despite Anthony Raj’s urgings. Encino plugged on for third, with Bishop next best. Social Butterfly, who had two Mumbai wins to her name, suddenly looked like she had forgotten how to fly. She landed not on the podium, but with all the fizz of yesterday’s soda.

The 1400 metres Magansingh P Jodha Trophy for maidens brought us Merlet, Waheed’s well-travelled filly who’d already placed in six of her seven starts. That kind of résumé screams “due a win,” and punters duly obliged. Meanwhile, debutant Enforcer was curiously hammered into favouritism, despite the fact that first-timers generally need a crash course in racing etiquette. As predicted, the poor fellow blew the race at the start with a hesitant leap, leaving his backers clutching their empty betting slips.

By post time, there was a flood of late money on Merlet, bringing her odds down to a respectable 2 to 1. On track, Fay set the early pace, with Jackson and Merlet in close company. Sporting blinkers for the first time and piloted by Mukesh Kumar, Merlet cruised past them after the turn and disappeared into the distance, winning with the kind of authority that made the rest look like extras. Jackson hung on to second, Tyrannus edged out Saseka for third, while Enforcer, still figuring out how this racing thing works, ended up looking more like a trainee than a trainee star.

Malesh Narredu’s Timeless Fortune (formerly Among The Stars) seemed to be living proof that a new name might just bring new luck — or at least that’s what her connections were hoping for after four straight second-place finishes. In truth, she was facing a bunch she should have bossed anyway, but not before giving her backers heartburn with a sluggish start. Still, class told, and she pulled through to claim the 1200 metres Su Chaliyo Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46.

More than a name change, it’s usually a will-to-win that separates the nearly-there from the actually-there. Timeless Fortune proved that point. El Moran had led the field gamely until disaster struck — jockey Yash Narredu gave Timeless Fortune a tap with the whip, the filly ducked in and bumped the front-runner, leaving El Moran compromised. Umesh, the rider of the runner-up, promptly lodged an objection, but the Stewards waved it away since the winner was simply too good and the bump didn’t change the outcome. Trail Blazer came in third.

If that wasn’t enough drama, veteran trainer Narendra Lagad provided his weekly entertainment in the 1100 metres Golden Guest Plate. Lagad is racing’s equivalent of a chess master who sometimes outsmarts himself. He sent out four of the seven runners, practically ensuring the race could have been renamed the Lagad Handicap. Mirae, armed with Sandesh and backed at cramped odds after a narrow defeat last time, was expected to make amends. Moment of Madness was the only other one to stir betting interest.

Mirae did what favourites do best — led confidently, raised hopes, and then promptly collapsed when it mattered. Stablemate New Yorker, at 10 to 1, stormed up the rails to overhaul the favourite, while another stablemate Samson (20 to 1) arrived late on the wide outside to snatch third. Mirae, it turned out, had bled in the race. Punters who backed her didn’t need to be told; their wallets were bleeding already.

Lagad, though, didn’t end the day empty-handed. He salvaged some pride in the last race, the 1200 metres Waves of Glory Plate for the lowest rung of horses. This time, Red Merlot was backed down enthusiastically, with Ariyana Star considered the main threat. Jockey A Prakash nursed Red Merlot to the front in the final furlong, but the favourite nearly choked on his wine as Ariyana Star flew late and missed by a whisker. Lion King prowled close enough to grab third.

Nazak B Chenoy’s Liam stepped up to deliver in style in the 1400 metres Janardhan Salver, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Jockey Trevor Patel kept him buried in mid-bunch as Come September cut out the early pace. But once they straightened for home, Liam found his rhythm, swept past the front-runners in the final furlong, and won with the kind of ease that suggested this was always the plan. Finch arrived late to deny Believe the minor placing, saving just enough blushes for those who backed him for place money.

Faisal Abbas-trained Thalassa swamped the field in the 2000 metres Mysore Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Last time out, over seven furlongs, she had surprised at longer odds with a late dash. This time, she was the banker of the day at miserly odds despite a penalty, and she justified every rupee. Coeur De Lion set the fractions, only to hand over to Golden Kingdom, but once Sandesh released the brakes, Thalassa simply glided away. The favourite was so superior she wasn’t even fully ridden out, checking in by an ever-widening eight lengths. Coeur De Lion held third, while Ruling Dynasty stayed nailed to the rear.