The chestnut horse Chagall gave a dazzling performance after receiving confident support in the saddle from apprentice S. Siddharth, which enabled the Pesi Shroff trainee to annex the Dr SR Captain Trophy on Sunday. Chagall was ridden off the pace in the initial stages of the mile trip as Emperor Roderic burst into the lead with Alpine Star, Christoffle and rest of the six runners following him closely. Shortly after the field entered the home stretch, Alpine Star took over the running from Emperor Roderic and, in the meantime, Chagall manoeuvred his way through to join the issue with the new leader. Whipless Siddharth scrubbed his mount fervently following which Chagall (Cougar Mountain – Heather) overwhelmed Alpine, who was ridden by novice Avinash Paswan, close home. Singer Sargent warmed up late as usual and came through the rails but had to settle for the third place ahead of Ultimo, who was too keen in the initial stages of the race. Favourite Pride’s Prince raced alongside Chagall till the bend but failed to find the acceleration like the winner and came fifth in the end.
 
Like Siddharth, apprentice Aditya Waydande too received appreciation from the racegoers as the young lad succeeded in steering a well-fancied back-to-back double with Bohemian Rhapsody and Western Star at the start of the day. Hosidar Daji trained filly Bohemian Rhapsody, who was outpaced by Yuletide during her failed attempt to register an encore, went on to make amends and made her five rivals look quite ordinary in the day’s curtain raiser. Golden Rule showed the way to the six-horse field and surrendered the lead to Crystal Clear soon after turning for home. Having held her on a tight leash till the bend, Waydande decided to let Bohemian Rhapsody loose and challenged Crystal Clear near the two-furlong marker. Bohemian Rhapsody (Tenth Star – Outrageous) was full of running as she wore down Crystal Clear in the last furlong and sailed away for an authoritative win. Treat came second ahead of Golden Rule and Madison. Second-in-demand Baleno ran hopelessly throughout before ending fifth.
 
Three-year old Western Star from Narendra Lagad’s yard failed to take a smooth jump from the stalls as the five-horse field took off for the Act In Time Plate, a five furlong sprint for horses in Class III but recovered well to be in the reckoning when the field straightened for home. Earlier, MK Jadhav-schooled Midnight Express, who was ridden by the 5kg-claimer Ramswarup, seized the initiative and, with a furlong still to go for the wire, it appeared she would hold on to her lead. However, Western Star (Dali – Lucky) moved resolutely under Waydande’s whip to snatch a head verdict over Midnight Express in his last stride. Lord Eric ran thereabouts to finish third with Goddes of Dawn a shorthead behind.
 
Earlier in the day, Shroff led his first winner Superstar in the Capitulate Plate run over a mile and quarter. Superstar found himself in the front of the three contestants (Eaton Square refused to jump out of the gates) following which jockey G. Vivek decided to set his own pace. Treat, Doctor Dolly and Kimiko decided to play the waiting game and raced behind in a single file. Superstar was the first to enter the straight and as the horses went off their bridle, Treat tried to make headway but could not catch the leader. Meanwhile, A. Sandesh atop Doctor Dolly switched lanes after racing alongside Treat but probably found the filly hanging in. Meanwhile, Vivek urged Superstar to maintain his lead while Sandesh tried hard to get Doctor Dolly into her stride. By the time Sandesh got the desired response from Doctor Dolly, Superstar (Leitir Mor – Shane) had hit the wire first to secure a half-length victory over his rival. Treat ended third while Kimiko trailed behind.
 
The supporting event of the day, the Pune Times Mirror Trophy for maiden juveniles, was claimed by even-money favourite Wings of Fury in a close three-way finish. Making her first appearance at Pune, Wings of Fury was settled in a striking position behind All For Love, who took over the running when the gates flew open, and American Dream whilst The Conjurer raced abreast. Yash Narredu-partnered All For Love’s lead was first cut down by The Conjurer as she ranged alongside in the last furlong. Before Antony Raaj-ridden could gain the upper hand, Trevor Patel brought Wings of Fury (Top Class – Dangal) with a strong run and the Nirad Karanjawala-saddled filly wore down both The Conjurer and All For Love to clinch her maiden victory. The first three runners were separated by three-parts of a length each with Lucio finishing on to be a distant fourth.
 
Immediately in the next event, Yash tasted success aboard Gunsmoke, who came with a spirited run to tackle rank-outsider Star Romance nearer home. Favourite Kings Gambit made a start-to-finish bid for the Nana Raghunath Salver run over a mile but faded out when the race came to a boil. Sandesh-piloted Don Julio overtook Kings Gambit inside the last two furlongs and was in command till the final furlong where he was challenged by Giant Gold and Star Romance with Gunsmoke coming tantalisingly close with each stride. Star Romance wrest the lead in the last hundred metres but she was nailed by the fast-finishing Gunsmoke in the shadow of the winning post. Top-weighted Gunsmoke (Havana Gold – Belliflore) from Malesh Narredu’s string won by just under a length from Star Romance with Giant Gold staying in the money, a length and half away. Looking Like A Wow showed zest for racing on this occasion and caught the eye with his late run which fetched him the fourth spot, just over two lengths behind the winner.
 
Sandesh finally had his say in the concluding event when Zendaya got the measure of her rival Azure in the dying moments of the six-furlong sprint. Azure hit the front soon after the big field of fourteen had sorted itself out and the Imtiaz Sait-nursed filly had the winning post within kissing distance when Sandesh’s power-packed finishing effort aboard Zendaya put paid to her hopes. Sanjay Kolse-trained Zendaya (Excellent Art – Flaming Glory) lunged at Azure in her last stride to beat the latter by a neck. Surrealist failed to quicken and ended third ahead of Mila.