Trainer Prasanna Kumar continued to remain in the spotlight at the Pune racecourse as he pulled out another ace, Knotty Legend, from his pack to claim the General Rajendrasinhji Million on Saturday. Despite his unbeaten stint at the start of his career at Bangalore last winter, Knotty Legend’s nearly nine-month break made race-goers wary of his ability to confront Field of Dreams, who had beaten both In Thy Light and Redefined, the Pune Derby winner. Nonetheless, both Knotty Legend and Field of Dreams were equally backed in the betting ring with Thalassa having his fair share of supporters. When the gates opened, it was Expedite who set the pace with Thalassa, Field of Dreams and Knotty Legend in close attendance. As the four horses turned for home, Trevor Patel put Knotty Legend to work and brought him wide into the straight to range alongside Thalassa, who was trying to stay in contention. Soon, Akshay Kumar decided to ease Field of Dreams through the shortest way home but her progress was stunted by Thalassa, who shifted on to the filly. Meanwhile, a couple of tender reminders from Trevor’s whip saw Knotty Legend cutting short Expedite’s front-running expedition. Knotty Legend (Gusto – Dovers Hill) then lengthened his strides to clinch the issue inside the last furlong. Field of Dreams found her rhythm close home but it was too late as she finished third, a length behind runner-up Expedite.
 
Trevor achieved a back-to-back double atop Adhirajsingh Jodha-saddled Fable but not before surviving a ferocious assault from Cinderella’s Dream close home. Fable was settled close on the heels of leader Aafreen till approaching the final turn and was given her head by Trevor as the field was homeward bound. The filly stepped up the pace to take over the running after tackling Aafreen a furlong and half away from home but found Cinderella’s Dream had warmed up enough to threaten her chances. However, Trevor went flat out on Fable (Dreamfield – Legendofthephoenix) and kept her going under the whip to secure a short-head victory over Cinderella’s Dream, who had the late-finishing Knight Crusader close behind. Wind Dancer ran prominently in the front with Aafreen till the bend and faded out to be fourth.
 
The cramped odds quoted against Pesi Shroff-groomed Zuccaro suggested that the Bateleur Plate would be a one-horse affair. Zuccaro ran true to the expectations and scored a facile victory to achieve a hat-trick this season. Zuccaro, with G. Vivek in the saddle, raced unconcerned at the wrong end of the five-horse field as stablemate El Greco hit the front and set a moderate pace over the mile and quarter trip. Vincent Van Gogh, Fortunate Son and Flaming Lamborgini followed El Greco and the order of running did not change till the leader increased the speed when the field started its climb uphill. Vivek relaxed his grip on Zuccaro at this stage following which the chestnut gelding galloped resolutely to range alongside El Greco. Zuccaro (Kingda Ka – Mahali) hardly faced any resistance from his barnmate as he slipped into the lead and was eased up a long way from home when motoring away for an authoritative win. El Greco, Vincent Van Gogh and Fortunate Son, who were outclassed, followed the winner home.
 
Immediately in the next race, Pride’s Prince from Imtiaz Sait’s yard also registered a hat-trick when he outsmarted his main adversary Celestial. Winter Agenda and Divine Hope led the field initially with Celestial in close attendance and Pride’s Prince biding his time behind. Vivek-piloted Celestial surged into the lead soon after the field straightened for home, however, Antony Raj brought Pride’s Prince (Excellent Art – Polished Chrome) with a powerful run to easily measure his rival and sailed away for a convincing win. Lord and Master ran on to be third ahead of Divine Hope.
 
Shroff saddled Jade towards the end of the day and achieved a double after the filly, who was making an appearance after summering at Bangalore, recorded an impressive win in the hands of S. Saqlain. Fast Approach showed plenty of early speed to grab the initiative soon after the start from second-in-demand Aperol only to surrender the lead back to the latter on entering the home stretch. With about a furlong to go for the wire, Trevor-partnered Aperol collared Fast Approach but his lead did not last long as Jade, who was racing in the mid-bunch till the bend, came with a spirited run to join the issue. After a brief tussle, Vivek-ridden Jade (Multitude – Majestic Opinion) went on to assert his superiority over Aperol, which the margin of victory fails to reflect adequately. Lord Vader managed to finish in the money ahead of Liam, Superlative and Arbitrage, who were in close tow.
 
Regina Memorabilis, who was involved in a three-way finish with Mysteriousstranger and Arkadian earlier, was turned out well by Sait and the filly ran true to form to record her second career win. No-hopers Serengiti, Thrill of Brazil and Kanya Rishi headed the field from the gates with Saifa tagging along. K. Nazil atop Saifa showed urgency in launching his bid before the final turn and was the first to show out in the home stretch. Meanwhile, Suraj Narredu aboard Regina Memorabilis gave a confident ride to the filly and timed his challenge to perfection as she charted his course from the rear. Saifa flattered briefly in the straight but proved no match for Regina Memorabilis (Ampere – Ibiza Empress), who overpowered her in the final furlong of the mile and quarter journey. La Dolce Vita edged out Black Thunder and Kanya Rashi for the third spot.
 
MK Jadhav-mentored juvenile filly Midnight Express found her mark in the third attempt as Nikhil Parmar brushed the filly to take charge of the running over the six-furlong sprint. Midnight Express (Western Aristocrat – Merlot) raced keen for a while before settling down to establish a comfortable lead and entered the straight well clear of her rivals. The dark bay filly drew away for an easy victory over Ashwa Kangto, who made a vain attempt to catch the winner in the home stretch. The rest including Celestina and Yukikaze, who ended third and fourth respectively, were all outpaced.
 
The five-year old mare Anaira (earlier named Lady Di) swept her rivals off their feet in the opening event to give trainer Nirad Karanjawala his first winner of his new innings. Ridden by A. Prakash, Anaira (Surfrider – Showstopper) dashed into the lead from the barriers and was never headed at any stage of the seven-furlong event. The 20 to 1 longshot graduated from the maiden ranks beating Marlboro Man, who warmed up l ate to his task, and Daggers Strike, who was always in pursuit of the winner. Toofan completed the judges’ frame. Red Dust ended up as the favourite, after the odds against Northbound spiked up, but ran disappointingly. Northbound was not given a punishing race on this occasion.