The October Handicap, in the pre-race assumptions looked a tight fight between two last start winners - El Tropico and Tequila. Both had shown immense speed and talent in their respective victories hence were considered a safe ‘jodi’. Tequila showed out soon on start to dart into the lead, Attila was quick to follow. El Tropico was a handy third while the consistent Dear Liza not too far behind, none from the rear bothered this quartet.

Tequila brought them into the straight but could not sustain half as well he had in his previous run. Attila, on the other hand, quickened nicely and shot ahead. El Tropico too did not have much to offer and both carrying the top weight could only watch the new leader speed further away. Only Dear Liza came up with a decent charge and managed to cut off the margin a shade. She was as deserving the runner up as was the Attila (China Visit – Al Dente) the winner.

Blazing Spectacle (Rosini – Bongusto) posted an impressive victory and justified the heavy money that came on him at race time. Making full use of the inner draw, Blazing Spectacle ambled alongside Fantastic and his main rival Torrential in the early part. At the turn, jockey Prakash got him in front and once into the straight, Blazing Spectacle got faster and better adding turf between himself and his rivals at a fast clip. Torrential finished a tame second while Demonstrator came from the dead to claim place money.

Go Guzzi Go (Senure – Ghazwat) had been knocking on the doors and finally delivered in style. Rommel and Highland Crown shared a major share of the betting trends between them if not all, with Rommel installed the firm favourite.

Cavaradosi tried his start-to-finish tactics yet again and led them at setting about a leisurely pace. While Rommel chose to run up front, Go Guzzi Go sat back off the pace and Highland Crown was even more at ease, languishing detached from the bunch for a good measure. At the turn, Rommel was ready to take charge early and no sooner he did that he found Go Guzzi Go too strongly poised on his haunches. Highland Crown had made progress by then and was not too far from the pair. In the final furlong, Go Guzzi Go had a lot left and easily thwarted a strong final bid coming from Rommel. Highland Crown seemed content to watch the two fight while ending close behind them.

Hoshidar Daji trained Empress of India (Puerto Madero – Maya) made steady progress from the mid-bunch and was in striking position at the turn. Black Falcon and Tommy Carmichael led the filed for the most part. Empress of India shot ahead early in the straight and never looked back once into the lead. Black Falcon was all out but had to be content going down to the superior display of Empress of India.

Blade Runner (Alnasr Alwasheek – Name of Love) found his best form under the guidance of M Narredu to score his first victory in Pune. Yourthetouch was in front with Shodaan as they hit the turn, Blade Runner who was in the mid-group improved as they straightened up. Into the straight, Shodaan took over briefly from Yourthetouch who was dropping out of contention in ah hurry. Blade Runner warmed up nicely to pounce on Shodaan and accelerated further ahead to post a fluent victory. Hammerhead could do little better and ended up in third.

Trainer Magan Singh Jodha seems to have got into the good habit of winning the first race of the day. He has been winning the first race for most of this season and Classic Spirit (Hymn – Spirit of Patxi) helped him keep up that spirit!

War Major hit the front soon on start and led the field into the straight. On-money favourite Any Time Money could not set his own pace and did nothing of consequence to justify the heavy support he garnered and finished a tame fifth without bothering anyone. In the straight, it was a hot battle as at the distance post, Classic Spirit was not alone. He had War Major from one side and Refuse To Bend from the other constantly breathing down his neck. Arabian Power too joined the fight for a brief while but could not sustain. They hit the wire together – Classic Spirit, War Major and Refuse To Bend and finished in that order.