Imtiaz Sait’s trainee Pride’s Prince has proved to be quite a money-spinner for his connections since his maiden victory on this track in September last year. Within a span of a year, the chestnut five-year-old gelding recorded his seventh career success, scaling new heights with a comprehensive win in the Enigma Trophy, a Class I race. The mile-long event was reduced to a relay race as Shubhankar showed the way to his three rivals – Madam Rich, Pride’s Prince and Mojito, who travelled in a single file behind. As the pace picked up while turning for home, G. Vivek pressed Madam Rich into service and easily tackled Shubhankar. Meanwhile, Pride’s Prince was also off the bridle with jockey A. Prakash throwing a gauntlet at Madam Rich. The latter fought hard to retain her supremacy but Pride’s Prince (Excellent Art – Polished Chrome) wore her down with a resolute run before surging ahead for an easy win. Madam Rich had to settle for the second place while Mojito and Shubhankar followed behind. No praise is too high for Sait for devising Pride’s Prince’s career path in a manner that ensured a certain consistency in his ward’s performance and which fetched accolades for his owners along the way.
 
Jockey A. Sandesh added another couple of winners to his tally when guiding both Moonlight Kiss and Neptune to victory in a workman-like fashion. Top-weighted Moonlight Kiss (Surfrider – Melinda) raced handily behind Mojo and She’s A Teaser till the field swung into the home stretch following which the Narendra Lagad trainee cruised into the lead after Sandesh let her loose. The even-money favourite then cantered home to register an encore. Runner-up Ariyana Star made a strong pitch in the straight but found the winner too good. Empower and Mila took the third and fourth place. 
 
The three-year old filly Neptune made her first appearance on the Pune track a winning one in the Royal Barbershop Trophy run over seven furlongs. Although Neptune was running after a long gap of three months, trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha’s recent addition to his string showed no signs of rustiness as she justified her favouritism with a fluent win over Ashwa Gypsy. Sandesh rode Neptune off the pace behind La Dolce Vita and Desert Classic, who decided to make the initial running but only till the field entered the home stretch. Neptune (Dali – Bravia) responded well to Sandesh’s call at this stage to assume command and skipped away under the whip and won sparing a length to Ashwa Gypsy. Believe improved to finish third after the leaders fell back. Desert Classic just about held on to finish fourth.
 
Kavya hailing from MK Jadhav’s stables made amends for her previous failure with an impressive victory in the DN Zodge Plate, a mile event for horses in Class III. Ridden well off the pace till the front-running pack headed by Substantial approached the final turn, NS Parmar-steered Kavya got a bit keen at this stage but was given her head only when the field entered the final stretch. Kavya (Win Legend – Maun Vrat) stepped up her pace at this juncture and sailed clear of her rivals. Shirsa took the second slot ahead of Black Thunder whilst Substantial faded out to be fourth.
 
Lagad also completed a double with Esteban, who improved on his previous effort when finishing third behind Darcy. Neeraj Rawal kept Esteban alongside leader Santana Row and launched his assault once the heads had turned for home. Esteban (Gusto – Sparkling Crystal) initially struggled to pass Santana Row as he hung in under pressure but once Neeraj got him back to race on an even keel, the bay gelding strode away for a convincing victory over Lucio, who finished second after Santana Row threw in her towel. Ministry of Time ran fourth. 
 
Floyd got to earn his corn bill immediately after opting to run in the lowest class and over a mile, a distance which suits him best. Floyd hit the front as is his wont and enjoyed a narrow lead in a slow run race with Speak The Breed and Ma Cherie in pursuit. TS Jodha released his grip on Behram Cama-schooled Floyd (Quasar – Artus) soon after passing the halfway mark and then enjoyed an uncontested lead till reaching the winning post. Baleno managed to finish second ahead of Alexandria whilst Ma Cherie retired to run fourth. Speak The Breed dropped back and was out of contention shortly after entering the straight. Jockey Antony Raj dismounted after she stopped galloping close home.
 
The recently licensed apprentice rider A. Omkar earned his maiden victory aboard Ataash in the Dakshin Maharashtra & Gujarat Sub-Area Trophy, a six-furlong sprint for horses in Class II. Cellini seized the initiative when the race was flagged off with favourite Fighton and Liban racing close on his haunches. Cellini brought the field into the straight where he was joined by Fighton with Ataash also making rapid progress to range alongside the pair. Parmar astride Fighton gained a slender lead by tackling Cellini in the last furlong only to find the serious threat posed by Ataash, who was breathing down his neck . Both Fighton and Ataash (Speaking of Which – Sacred Fire) went stride for stride inside the last furlong and despite Parmar’s strong finish atop Fighton, rookie Omkar rode the Nazzak Chenoy-trained mare confidently to secure a half-length verdict over the favourite. Bashir ran third and certainly found the trip a bit short to his liking. Emperor Roderic ran thereabout before ending fourth.