Fresh from his twin success during the recently concluded Bangalore summer season, the bay colt Positano completed his hat-trick of wins at Pune when he claimed the Idar Gold Trophy on Sunday. Lying last till taking the turn towards the final bend where leader Tiepolo threw in his towel and Golden Thunder assumed command, Positano joined the pack ahead. Golden Thunder led the field into the home stretch but found his five rivals headed by Pyrite trying to chase him down. As they fought for supremacy, A. Sandesh manoeuvred his way through the middle with Positano and barged through the opening between Pyrite and Dream Alliance at the last furlong post. SS Attaollahi-schooled Positano (Arod – Satinette) then picked up speed to achieve only the fourth success of his career. Dream Alliance claimed the runner-up berth ahead of Arkadian, who was interfered by the winner before surging ahead, and Pyrite. Positano is the joint property of Messrs Dilip R. Thakkar, Mukul Sonawala, Surendra R. Sanas and Rama Seshu Ayunni. The winner was bred at Sans Craintes Stud Farm.
 
Pesi Shroff-mentored Jade made her mark in the highest class when winning the Jaidev Trophy with a good measure of comfort. Jockey G. Vivek had Jade settled behind owner-mate El Greco, who streaked into the lead when the four-horse field set sail over the mile trip. Jade (Multitude – Majestic Opinion) ranged alongside El Greco after Golden Kingdom shifted out slightly at the turn to swoop down the leader inside the last furlong and cantered home for an easy victory.
 
Sandesh partnered two other winners during the day – Giacomo and The Milenium Force. Giacomo from Dallas Todywalla’s barns followed leader Allez L’etoile soon after the start for the Col. Kaikushroo Maneckji Bharucha Memorial Trophy, an event for maiden juveniles run over seven furlongs. Giacomo made his move just as the heads turned for home and got the better of Allez L’etoile in no time. Giacomo (Leitier Mor – River Dance) drew away from the field for a comfortable win whilst Ember Touch ran second ahead of Allez L’etoile. Favourite Neutralist improved to be third behind Giacomo in the straight but failed to quicken thereafter and eventually finished a tame fourth.
 
The Milenium Force defied the harsh penalty received for his success yet again and went on to record his third successive victory under trainer Pradeep Chouhan’s care, though against an ordinary set on this occasion. The Milenium Force lay unconcerned in the mid-bunch as Wind Dancer called a merry tune to the small field of six contesting for the Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw Memorial Trophy. Sandesh brought The Milenium Force (Air Support – Sovetskaya) with a steady run down the straight and faced no resistance from Wind Dancer before storming ahead to win untroubled thereafter. Finch finished third behind runner-up Wind Dancer while Treasure Gold took the fourth place.
 
Chouhan’s strategy to claim allowance on Fontana, who was running on promotion, paid off as the mare went on to oblige her supporters in the concluding event of the day. Entrusted to the upcoming young apprentice Aditya Waydande, Fontana lacked initial speed but stayed in the reckoning close behind as top-weighted Fighton hit the front whilst Timeless Vision and Cellini raced on his tail. Waydande brought Fontana into contention though moving wide into the home stretch and tackled Fighton about a furlong away from home. Fontana (Multidimensional – Botswana) made her handicap count as she scooted home under the whip enroute her second success over a six-furlong sprint. Timeless Vision, Fighton and Azrinaz finished in a huddle in that order behind the winner. Sir Baffert, the winner’s stablemate and recent migrant from Kolkata, ran well to be a close fourth suggesting that he could do well in his own age group.
 
Jockey Prashant Dhebe had a good day in the saddle as he won astride both his assignments – Between Friends and Money Fair, who claimed the Southern Command Gold Trophy. Lesser fancied than only Charlie Brown, Money Fair was tuned to the moment by trainer B. Prithviraj for this outing and the colt was spot on in the seven-furlong event. Dhebe quickly had Money Fair racing behind no-hoper Beat The Street, who sped into the lead when the gates opened. As Beat The Street called it a day at the turn, Money Fair (Total Gallery – Sairani) shot ahead and won well though coming under pressure from favourite Charlie Brown, the runner-up who failed to produce a fluent run when asked for an effort by Trevor Patel. Miracle of Hanukah ended far away to be third ahead of Jackson, who ran disappointingly.
 
Dhebe gave Between Friends, who had few supporters in the betting ring, a resolute ride in the day’s curtain raiser, which saw him earn his second bracket of the season. Sanjay Kolse-saddled Purple Martini, who is still a maiden, had Trevor in the saddle and backed down to on-money favouritism. Purple Martini, however, let down the punters once again as he was nowhere in the fighting line as Untitled made the entire running from the gates and almost made it before the MK Jadhav-nursed nine-year old gelding Between Friends (Western Aristocrat – Ivana) came with a strong run in the last furlong to gain the upper hand in the last fifty metres. We Still Believe ran thereabouts to be third ahead of Continental Drift. Purple Martini dropped back and managed to beat only one home, Exhalt.