Having been upstaged last month by Baychimo in the SA Poonawalla Million, Zacharias appeared raring to go and determined to assert his superiority, which he established  in the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby (Gr.1) on Sunday. Prasanna Kumar-schooled Prokofiev, who went down narrowly to Red Bishop at Hyderabad last month, was the prime favourite to win in the nine-horse field competing over the mile and quarter event but found a Pesi Shroff trainee as his nemesis for the third time in a row. Zacharias raced in the mid-bunch as stablemate Solidarity set a cracking pace and was followed by Miracle of Hanukah, Prokofiev and Superstar. Solidarity retired at the bend, making way for Miracle of Hanukah even as Suraj Narredu astride Prokofiev looked poised to launch his assault. However, jockey G. Vivek made a daring bid to spur Zacharias through the gap between Miracle of Hanukah and Prokofiev and got the dark bay colt charge ahead. Zacharias (Western Aristocrat – Watchmyscript), who was tuned to the moment by Shroff, then produced a mesmerising gallop to romp home in style, over five lengths clear of his nearest rival Gunsmoke, who improved well after a lethargic start to finish runner-up. Superstar ended third behind Gunsmoke whilst Baychimo, who lost considerable ground at the start, finished fourth. Prokofiev threw in the towel and ended sixth after Zacharias lengthened his strides. Zacharias was bred at the Broadacres Stud Farm and is co-owned by Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke, Mr Marthand Singh Mahindra, Mrs Rina Mahindra and Mr Neville H. Bilpodiwala.
 
Nazzak Chenoy-nursed colt Shambala claimed the Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million (Gr.3) after toppling Magileto close home. Dream Seller slipped into the lead shortly after the start with Market King, Magileto and Constable close on heels whilst Shambala stayed in close touch ahead of Dubai Princess. Trevor Patel-driven Magileto collared Dream Seller and surged ahead a hundred metres from home but Antony Raj-ridden Shambala (Planetaire – Ice Cube Baby) had made steady progress in the meanwhile to make his presence felt the last furlong and the chestnut colt put in a terrific burst to stun Magileto in the shadow of the winning post. A neck separated the first two runners with Christophany and Dubai Princess rallying on to take the third and fourth place.

Trainer Imtiaz Sait led in a good double at the start of the day with Opus Dei and Endurance. Liam showed the way to the field on sufferance and was followed by Ghirardelli, Scaramouche, Eagle Day and Opus Dei whilst Amadeo was left standing in the gates. The TS Jodha ridden on-money favourite Scaramouche overhauled Liam when the heads turned for home but was nailed by C. Umesh-piloted Opus Dei (Planetaire – Surprise Party) in the final stages of the seven-furlong trip and entered the winner’s enclosure after nearly two years. Liam stayed on in the third spot with Eagle Day completing the judges’ frame.
 
Top-weighted Endurance lay unconcerned in the fourth spot as Viking was taken on a pillar-to-post mission over the mile and half journey for the Jayant M. Shah & Champak M. Shah Gold Trophy with Looking Like A Wow in hot pursuit. Viking’s dominance lasted till the final furlong where he encountered the onslaught of both Looking Like A Wow and Endurance. CS Jodha-partnered Endurance (Speaking of Which – Supreme Princess), however, proved far too superior for his rivals as he went on to record a comfortable win over Land of Plenty, who improved late to deny stablemate Looking Like A Wow the second berth with Viking ending fourth, a neck away.
 
The two divisions of the Jimmy Umrigar Trophy, reserved for maiden juveniles, were claimed by Alfonsine and Conjurer, both hailing from the stables of Bangalore-based professionals Prasanna Kumar and B. Prithviraj respectively. Interestingly both the winners were backed to the exclusion of their rivals and ran true to the market’s expectations. K. Sai Kiran settled Alfonsine behind Exciting and Amaze And Inspire before making his move as the field approached the final turn. Alfonsine (Dreamfield – Aika Aika Aika) made rapid progress to range alongside Exciting and soon went streaking clear of his rivals in the straight. Exciting retained the second spot ahead of Caradoc whilst Skandha ended fourth in the field, which was reduced to five after the withdrawal of three runners.
 
Prithviraj’s ward Conjurer seized the initiative soon after the start and made every post of the seven-furlong journey a winning one, giving Antony his second winner of the day. A. Sandesh-ridden Claude, who was in pursuit all the way, looked menacing in the last furlong but Antony confidently steered Conjurer (Leitir Mor – Hudson) and kept his rival at bay. Her Charge ran on to be third ahead of debutant Namiri as Ekatarina and American Eagle faded away after a forward run.
 
Trainer James Mckeown finally led in his first winner this season when the 15 to 1 long shot Joondalup registered an upset win in the Pune Police Commissioner’s Trophy. Ridden by C. Umesh, Joondalup (Dreamfield – Kirkwood) was smartly off from the blocks and gave a speedy display to catch the fancied local contestants – Escape Velocity, Eastern Monarch, El Moran and Cinderella’s Dream on the wrong foot. Cinderella’s Dream eventually came through the shortest way home to take the runner-up berth ahead of Starseed, who ran a game third, whilst Majestic Warrior finished fourth. Escape Velocity and Eastern Monarch chased the winner in the early stages but packed up in the last furlong. El Moran never seemed to be in the hunt and could only beat the three no-hopers – Ekla Cholo, Eleven Eleven and Mirae, in the field of eleven.   
 
Antony completed his treble aboard Bezan Chenoy-saddled Flashman in the concluding event of the day. Menjou’s Moustache, whose odds drifted alarmingly from 2 to 1 and ended at 11 to 2 by the time the horses were being loaded into the gates, showed the way to the field before being overtaken by We Still Believe in the home stretch. However, Flashman (Dali – Hallelujah) was driven strongly by Antony to overwhelm We Still Believe inside the last hundred metres and then warded off the threat posed by runner-up Samson. We Still Believe finished in the money ahead of Arbitrage.