Trainer Malesh Narredu enjoyed a lucrative day at office picking up the FD Wadia Trophy (Gr3) the feature event with Leopard Rock, the new star in his stables and also leading-in two other winners in two of the supporting events in the day.   Leopard Rock had scored a rollicking victory in his last start showcased that he was a special talent. Leopard Rock proved it right as he won well, without having to be fully pressed. Tigrio fought on all the way after leading from the start. Leopard Rock jumped out quickly and jockey Suraj Narredu had a tough time holding Leopard Rock in check in the initial stages. Hioctane went ahead of Leopard Rock and settled in second close behind Tigrio, while Miss Muffet was a couple of lengths adrift of Leopard Rock with Rubik Star racing in the rear all through the race.

Tigrio was a shade ahead of Hioctane, but the latter failed to sustain a steady gallop. Leopard Rock moved up nicely and Suraj brought him from the outside and soon they were catching up with Tigrio. Leopard Rock zipped ahead approaching the distance post; a couple of cracks from Suraj giving was all it took to get him going. However, Suraj put the whip away as Leopard Rock stretched ahead to notch up his second victory on the trot with Tigrio finishing a length behind. Miss Muffet made good progress in the straight, but had given too much leeway. She covered ground at a quick rate though to finish on the haunches of Tigrio.   

A race earlier Malesh Narredu’s ward Gallantry (Kingda Ka – Vittoria, Nanoli Stud) fought hard all the way with jockey CS Jodha getting the best out of the colt to snatch a last stride victory. Gallantry shot into the lead from the gates with Tudor Hall and Notoriety along the rails, a couple of lengths behind were Noble Heir and Guarnerius; Fanfare and Questionable were never in the hunt.

Gallantry was not allowed to skip away as both Notoriety and Tudor Hold started to put up a stiff challenge. Gallantry started to shift out under pressure but Jodha put in an all-out effort to keep him from going out any further and pushed ahead vigorously. Notoriety almost drew level with Tudor Hall also posing a danger and Noble Heir too making his presence felt with just about 100m to go. It looked anybody’s race at that juncture; however, Gallantry fought it out a furious battle to negate the onslaught of Notoriety and held off the challenger by the narrowest of margins scoring a scintillating victory by a bob of the head. Noble Heir finished on fastest and did well to beat Tudor Hall for the third spot. Notoriety was unlucky to miss out winning after a good effort and is one to note.

Malesh Narredu had earlier struck with Priceless Silver (Night of Thunder – Jumeirah Park, Manjri Stud) pulled off a neat debut win in the hands of jockey Suraj Narredu. Priceless Silver was quick to start and lead for the first few strides before Blue Blood and Marvin got past her to dictate the early pace. Priceless Silver settled in fourth alongside Fassbinder who raced along the rails a shade ahead of her. Suraj got to work around the turn and once they straightened up for home, pressed the button on his uncle’s filly. Priceless Silver responded well to take charge with about 400 to go. Ciplad offered a challenge and tried hard to stick close along Priceless Silver. Arcadia came into the picture soon and at the distance post, it looked like they were heading for a showdown. Priceless Silver however, put paid to any such notion and skipped away from both the rivals to dominate the last few strides. She won easily by about two lengths without having to fire on all cylinders. Arcadia ran on to pip Ciplad for the runner up slot.

Pesi Shroff’s Bold Legend (Win Legend – Bold Reply, Dashmesh Stud) made ample amends having missed out a scoring opportunity in both his earlier starts. This time he raced with the pace over an extended trip making the right moves at the right time. Jockey PS Chouhan did well to wriggle out of trouble at a crucial stage, later in the straight.

One For The Glory led for a brief while and dropped out of contention well before the turn. Fire N Ice hit the front just before the turn with Gold Medalist alongside; Bold Legend moved up a couple of places while Luminous too made headway from the outside. Fire N Ice was joined by Luminous soon after the turn and Bold Legend was in danger of being pocketed between the two. Chouhan sure had to check his mount and wait a stride or so to pull him out for a clear run. The fact that Bold Legend rallied the way he did after breaking his rhythm and winning the way he did puts this effort right up there and I will be surprised if he does not add to his maiden win soon. He packed a punch in his finish and not only caught up with the fighting duo but zipped past Fire N Ice and Luminous in full flight to score by a healthy margin.

The timing though was not nippy, Bold Legend clocking well over the ideal timing on the Pune track. In fact the timing for all races was slower than what it ought to be. There have been several complaints that the Pune track, this season, is way below its best. With a few falls already and reports of injuries to several horses, the authorities better pull up their socks before any further tragic incident/s occur. A recent report in a leading print media had also pointed out that several horses had suffered eye injuries and this is a matter of grave concern. The safety and well-being of the professionals and the horses have to always remain primary.

Shroff got his second winner for the day with his debutante Rambunctious (Kingda Ka – Circle of Bliss, Nanoli Stud) living up to his name and scoring a lively, facile victory. Settling into the fifth spot, jockey Neeraj Rawal skirted around the front runners well before the turn anticipating traffic congestion well in advance. The move proved to be spot on as Rambunctious got a clear run on entering the straight and he raised a fluent gallop in the homestretch to collar them all soon on straightening up for home. He sped away from them and looked the winner long way from home. Magic In the Wind pegged back Iron Throne, the latter hitting the front despite veering out at the gates and losing some ground. Iron Throne held on to finish in the money though from the fast finishing Allied Attack.

Veteran SS Shah’s ward Between Friends (Western Aristocrat – Ivana, Manju Stud) opened his account with a powerful finish on his seventh start. Up in front close behind leader Pesula and Thea’s Pet, Between Friends made a go for it midway in the straight. Thea’s Pet had just gotten past Pesula approaching the distance post and was toiling hard to keep her lead.  Between Friends was looming large on the outside and duly surged ahead of Thea’s pet inside the final furlong. Once in the lead, Between Friends kept the momentum going and won with a fair measure of comfort. Divija was the one to finish fastest as she came from behind with a scorching finish to finish alongside Thea’s Pet to earn the place stakes.  

Red Carnation (Varenar – Charolette Point, Equus Stud) put in a determined performance to negate the strong challenge posted by Agrami to keep his nose ahead at the wire and score a thrilling win. Red Carnation stormed into the lead early in the straight and apprentice Aniket Karande rode the Narendra Lagad trainee hard all the way. Epiphany looked good at this stage, but was found wanting in aggression when it mattered. Agrami was the one to put in a strong run and was closing in on Red Carnation with every stride. Agrami covered a couple of lengths but fell shy by the narrowest of margins as Red Carnation held on by a thin line to win in a thrilling finish. Epiphany ended a tame third ahead of Safdar.

Trainer Narendra Lagad too reaped a double on the day with C’est L’Amour (Varenar – Edith Piaf, Equus Stud) scoring a gritty win notching up her maiden win on her 18th start, in the concluding race of the day.   C’est L’Amour swooped on the front running Abraxas, Tristar and Titanium and shot into the lead. Ame made a late dash for it and covered a lot of ground, but C’est L’Amour had a handy lead to hold on by just under a length. Ame yet again had to finish runner up after a similar finish in his first start this season. The eight year old still has it in him and he could go one better in a similar set and with a little more ground. Thunderclap improved in the straight to snatch the place money from Tristar.  

For the professionals, trainer Malesh Narredu was the star performer of the day returning a rich haul of three winners. Trainers Pesi Shroff & Narendra Lagad and jockey Suraj Narredu scored a double each.