Jockey Rajendra produced a power-packed finish astride Shroff-schooled, City Tamer (Royal Kingdom - Triple Time) to an impressive victory in the Chief Commissioner Of Income Tax Pune Trophy, the feature race of the day at the Pune Races. The 7/4 favourite never looked in trouble and raced well with the pace initiated by Antonello who had his own bunch of followers. Antonello, led the field all the way into the home stretch, but was not up to the challenge thrown in by the favourite. In the final two furlongs, City Tamer thrilled her followers to finish on strongly and land the spoils with any anxious moments. Whiskey Bandit needs a mention for his good effort in finishing second ahead of Antonello.
The day began well for followers of money with the strong favourite Arabian Hero settling to be a handy second all through till the straight. As they turned for home, Latest News, who was always in front, started to feel the heat as Joc Tograllu asked for a final effort from Arabian Hero. The gelding responded well and had the race well sewn up some distance from home as Tograllu cracked the whip maybe once too often.
Arabian Hero was a good 2 1/4 l in front as Latest News was a good second. Shaktiman beat a tiring lot to gain place money.
In the second race, the same connections of the 1st race winner didn’t find the going as lucky as Arabian Speed spoilt his chances by being slowly off and losing ground at the gates. This is not the first time he has missed the jump. One hopes that he doesn’t make it a "Habit" which happens to be the name of the winner in this race. Habit was urged to take up the running alongside Hisham who ended a good fourth. Summertime Promise accelerated well towards the end and ran a decent second, while Attia In Sunlight was beaten to the third slot. For jockey Vikram Jodha. it turned out to be a landmark race as he punched home his 40th winner thus shedding his allowance claiming status.
The Starsky Trophy saw two main contenders cornering the betting interests and that expectation proved spot on. While Blue Vision as in fourth spot all the way till home turn, the other fancied horse Mathematica was second last. Taanush went ahead at the turn and Blue Vision pounced alongside even as Mathematica started to warm up. It was the duo who fought hard in the final furlong, going stride for stride until Mathematica surged ahead close home. Blue Vision 'blurred' towards the final few strides while Mathematica appeared to have her 'calculations' precisely correct.
No clear favourite was installed in the fifth race, but the race provided a keen finish. Star O’war led till the bend but soon surrendered the lead to Hoofbeats who had to contend with Oyster Pearl. The Rising was sixth at this stage saw the urgency and started to force his way through taking the ever-so-slight gap alongside Quest For Cash, taking the later out while doing so. Both Dasarath Singh and C. Alford had to jostle and the duo was shifting out. This gave a good advantage to Hoofbeats who almost held on but The Rising pipped him to the post. Quest For Cash can consider herself unfortunate but it was a good effort to finish a close third.
Convenience made the sixth race his own, dictating terms from the word go and staying the "Boss" right through. This again was an open race with no clear favourite. Rock Salt did well to come into place money while Star Gesture did not exactly run fluently and despite this ran on to be the runner up.
The last race of the day saw the odds drifting in the betting ring on Strathendrick who was the clear favourite. Racing in the front bunch he measured up to the leader Flames Of Fire. In the final 200 metres Generalissimo caught the ride for a while and shaped like putting up a fight but K.P.G. Appu stayed out any semblance of doubt and powered his way to clinch the issue to the delight of his followers.
