Karthik Ganapathy trained War Command retained his reputation as a top quality three year old when he won the Gr 3 F D Wadia Trophy over seven furlongs with a start to finish mission in grueling underfoot conditions on Sunday. The horses which chased the favourite were in distress disappearing from the scene well before the race came on the boil. It was left to Zodiac and Jack Frost to occupy the slots behind the winner as they picked up tired horses en route from the rear position.

The underfoot conditions were really testing and horses were struggling to pick up speed. The Pune track generally favours front runners who manage to pull out that bit extra in the closing moments of the race. The track is hard as rock but this time out, one is not sure whether it has something to do with the newly laid track which is yet to firm up or the rains that lashed the previous day and on the morning of the race day had anything to do with it. Almost all the horses which went on a start to finish mission were legless in the end and horses that had been relaxed in the end benefitted as a result. It is quite possible that form of these horses may get exaggerated as a result because some of the horses which failed to put up a good show like Solomon and Polydences are not as bad as their runs indicated. The timings in each were slower by several seconds.

	Presentation ceremony of the F D Wadia Trophy (Gr.2)

Polydences had gone level with War Command in a mock race and had subsequently worked brilliantly so much so that punters bestowed joint faovuritism on these horses. War Command was infinitely more experienced having run with some of the best contemporaries and in a race of this nature, such qualities always stand in good stead. Though Polydences had won in a smart timing over sprint, the lack of experience was always going to be his undoing. There was some discreet support for Solomon to upset.

Jockey Sandesh had War Command in front straightaway and he went at such a clip that well before the final bend, horses which were chasing him went off the bridle. War Command came home with a healthy lead but the effort of going at a fast pace under difficult condition was taking its toll as he was slackening towards the close. Zodiac came home with big a rush to finish half a length adrift of the winner while Jack Frost occupied the third place. War Command was much better than the verdict indicated and this progeny of Ace should be prominent in the other graded races that are to be run during the season.

Sandesh drove out anther Karthik trained Simply Divine to stave off the challenge of Satellite in the 1200 metres Crème Magazine Glamorous Gallop (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. Simply Divine went on a start to finish mission and escaped to victory as jockey Trevor Patel on Satellite messed up. The cardinal rule for a jockey is to position his horse in an advantageous position and steer clear of any problem but Trevor chose to work his way between two horses which were in front and going nowhere. As a result, he had to check his horse and circle round the field and this maneuver cost the favourite of a certain win. The jockey surely rode an ill-judged race and needs a reprimand from the Stewards. Alfredo was faraway third. Pesi Shroff trained Constantine went on a end to end mission in the lower division of the race and looked like a winner going into the final furlong. However, the front runner grinded to a halt as the well backed Shania closed in with a rush and won with a measure of comfort. Shivalik View was a suggestive third.

M K Jadhav trained Mountbatten came in for spirited support in the 2000 metres Her Majesty Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. After a sluggish start, Okavango quickly moved up to take over the running with Zoraavar racing keen in second position followed by Spirit of Mercy, Rodeo, The Ministerian and Mountbatten. Rounding the final turn, Spirit of Mercy showed great alacrity to go storming clear but could not sustain the lead for long as Rodeo moved up raking strides on the wide outside and went away for an easy win. Zoraavar, who lost touch with the front runner at the final bend, ran on get the third slot ahead of Okavango. Mountbatten who stayed glued to the last position made very little progress in the straight.

The well backed Mykonos made a rally along the rails to get the better of front running Rajsamman close home to win the 1000 metres Waves of Glory Plat4e, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Remember Be made a futile bid to catch up with the front runners but found the distance going against him. He should be better off for this run over a slightly longer trip.

Cactus Cash warmed up to the task inside the final 200 metres and worked his way to victory in the 1600 metres Dr K Vasudevan Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. There was an objection by Trevor who rode Romeo against apprentice jockey Santosh who was astride Achieve on multiple grounds. The Stewards needlessly took a long time to decide on their verdict which in any case would have been what they would have concluded after watching the first replay of the race.

Pesi Shroff trained Your Royal Majesty cantered home in the 1400 metres Dr P K Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, leaving the field stranded in the final furlong. Legend of the Seas held off Victorian for the second spot while Tap Dance who was in betting was in distress and disappeared without a trace after being in touch with the front runners till the final bend. Altaf Hussain trained Sansani had no problem in justifying the favouritism in the lower division of the race with ease. Rashun just about got the better of Phelps to claim the second place.