Trevor Patel`s winning reign continued as Snowing responded well to edge past Fortune Favours close home to win the 1800 metres Rajaram Chhatrapati Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the feature event of Saturday`s Pune races. Though the day started off very well for punters with the first three races of the day going the way of strong favourites, things changed dramatically later in the day which resulted in punters losing the gains they had made in the beginning.

Trevor rode a tactical but intimidating race on Snowing and the victim was apprentice jockey S J Sunil on favourite Fortune Favours. Manakel set a fast clip by opening up a big lead from the start with Zazou in second position ahead of Simply Sweet, Fortune Favours and Snowing. The last named was slightly hesitant at the start. Approaching the final bend, Sunil tried to take the gap on the inside of Snowing but Trevor quickly closed the gap. Once again Sunil made a similar attempt but once again he found himself in tricky weather. Fortune Favours did manage to break the shackles and got the better of Simply Sweet who had taken charge. With Snowing too joining issue, it looked like it would be a close call but it turned out to be anti-climax. Once Snowing warmed up and got into her stride, she simply swept past Fortune Favours for a convincing win.

The Unicorn was lucky to keep the race after taking Square Moon almost to the edge of the outer track in the 2400 metres Golden Edition Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. The Unicorn was taken on a start to finish mission by jockey N S Parmar who failed to keep the favourite on a straight course as the horse began to drift out and took Square Moon along as the latter could not change course as the horse was on the outside of the favourite and in no position to manoeuvre in. The Unicorn headed Square Moon at the finish but the resultant objection was surprisingly overruled by the Stewards.

Imtiaz Sait trained Airco who was making his debut in the Waves of Glory Plate (Div I), a race for three year olds, was backed to the exclusion of the rest on the basis of the gelding`s systematic preparation as also the benefit of the mock race. Airco travelled well within himself into the straight and when Suraj asked the favourite to quicken, he did so with remarkable alacrity to keep Warpath stranded. The latter who looked far from ready, showed up prominently at one stage and looked like threatening the favourite but faded out for want of higher fitness. Trevor had to ride out Governor General with free use of the whip to get the desired response to win the lower division of the race. Turning for home, Governor General showed up prominently and shot ahead inside the final 300 metres. Judicious put immense pressure which caused jockey Trevor to whip continuously to keep Governor General out of reach of his pursuer. Koal finished a close third.

Trevor`s another winner of the day came through favourite Annie who just about stayed in front to win the 1600 metres Nana Raghunath Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Annie took over the running on top of the straight but began to drift out alarmingly and lost momentum as a result. Atomic who was at the wrong end of the field till turning for home, began to move up with menacing strides but the favourite just about held on to win on the wide outside. Shivalik Skies ran on to finish third.

Dallas Todywalla trained Shivalik Story was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the 1000 metres Evatina Plate (Div I), a race for three year olds. The three year old filly had the requisite pedigree as well as the benefit of a good effort at Mumbai. However, Shivalik Story disappointed and could not overhaul the front running Nescar who was being ridden by the unknown Raghuveer Singh. The front runner stayed resolutely and came out a winner despite bursting her blood vessels. Shivalik Story was in striking position but did not quicken in the manner required under the circumstances. Daytona was faraway third. However, another Todywalla trainee, Abbey did not disappoint in the lower division of the race, winning start to finish in the hands of jockey Suraj Narredu. Abbey hit the front from the word `go` and was never in danger of being overtaken by favourite Magnum Opus who found one better for the third time running.

The 1000 metres Aurora Aurealis Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, had a tricky look about it as none of the contestants appeared to have clear credentials to win. The betting ring too indicated this confusion though towards close, top weighted Pepe Senior ended up garnering more support than the rest as jockey Pradeep Chouhan had come down to Pune for just one ride. In the event, Umarkot who was well placed in scales, put up a speedy display in the hands of five kg claimer Amit to floor the opposition. Last start winner Wish Upon A Star edged out Basic Life for the runner up berth. Pepe Senior was not sighted. Habibians dropped his jockey Srikant Kamble in the final furlong.

The very next race also saw another upset with Juliana winning at fancy odds in the hands of Amit again who thus had his career`s first double. The Sea Ruler Plate, a six furlong race for horses in the lowest category, threw a confusing picture though the betting was concentrated on Light The Sky. Juliana who held a forward position from the inner draw, had the first run on others in the straight and quickly established a winning lead. Light The Sky struggled hard to pose a serious threat to the front runner but failed miserably. There was a mishap in the race which saw three jockeys, T S Jodha, Neeraj Rawal and Kishore Kadam being unseated from their respective mounts. The jockeys, reportedly, escaped unhurt.