Dallas Todywalla trained Phenomenal Memory trounced the opposition in the 2400 metres Her Majesty Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Pune races. The progeny of Glory of Dancer proved too superior to the field which included Heather who went to the post as an on-money favourite but performed too poorly for comfort.

After traversing two furlongs, The Ministerian took charge of the proceedings followed by Caesars Star, Heather, Phenomenal Memory and Rodeo. Even as the horses was beginning to take the final run, it was evident that the best travelling horse in the fray was Phenomenal Memory on whom Zervan was biding his time. Phenomenal Memory got a good opening as soon as the horses straightened for home and the race ceased to be a contest thereafter. Favourite Heather struggled and made no impression. Rodeo came from the rear to take the runner up berth ahead of the favourite.

Pesi Shroff trained The Champ made it five for five when the four-year-old gelding held off a determined challenge from Few Dollars More to win the 1400 metres Juventus Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. For those who expected the champion trainer to win many races during the course of nine-event card, they were disappointed as only San Martino who had disappointed with a tame performance last time out being the other winner for Shroff.

The Champ had won most of his outings by narrow margins and as such, he had always escaped with a lenient penalty which has helped him maintain the winning streak. The Champ was in danger of suffering his first defeat in five outings when Few Dollars More challenged him with a strong run in the final furlong but the filly began to hang and this affected the smooth acceleration of the horse. The Champ managed to dug into reserves and was able to thwart a threatening challenge from his adversary. Traherne was a well beaten third.

Shroff`s another ward San Martino had disappointed last time out as a strongly backed favourite. San Martino had finished more than eight lengths behind Traherne in his last outing. The jockey on board on that occasion Parmar had stated that he went to the front as instructed but in the straight, the horse gave no response. The handicapper who also doubles up as a stipendiary steward perhaps was in agreement with the jockey when he gave a marginal drop in the rating. This time out, Trevor who was astride the horse, had no problem in taking San Martino to the front and staying put there without coming under any pressure from the rest, to win as he pleased, the 1600 metres Dr K Vasudevan Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Highland Breeze was second while Jeannie who came in for spirited support, failed to find an extra gear when the pace picked up in the run in for home.

Mariska who had narrowly lost in her only outing in a terms race for three-year-olds over a sprint, was expected to make amends over the extended trip of seven furlongs in the Golden Edition Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, in a handicap race consisting mostly of older horses. However, Mariska who was at a short price, disappointed yet again, warming up too late which saw her lose by a whisker. Jockey Yash Narredu on Silky Baby broke into a useful lead right from the start which held the four-year-old filly in good stead as she just about held on to win from Mariska who produced a strong run against the weakening front-runner but found the winning post coming a fraction earlier. Rain Dance was third more than five lengths adrift. The upper division of the race was won by Imtiaz Sait trained Sky Mine who gave no opportunity for her rivals to come anywhere close to her. Sandesh was successful in embarking on a bold start to finish mission and the three-year-old filly distanced herself from the rest in the straight to record a big win. Fringe Benefit was second ahead of Rapid Girl who nosed out Pierce Arrow to get the third place. Nowadays horses ridden by Pradeep Chouhan tend to take a slow start and favourite Lord Grantham was yet another horse to miss the kick and a possible opportunity of being in the thick of things.

Dallas Todywalla trained Motherland was backed to the exclusion of the rest and the progeny of Arazan was successful in winning the Marinsky Plate (Div I), a race for three-year-old, with aggressive running in front. Firebolt closed with a rush but failed to overhaul the front-runner narrowly. Abu Al Bukhoosh who had edged out Firebolt when the two clashed last time out, was this time relegated to the third place. Faisal Abbas trained Captain managed to prevail over favourite Poets Song in the lower division of the race. Akshay who rode the runner-up put an objection against C S Jodha who was astride the winner for bumping him in the last 50 metres, resulting him in losing a certain race. The objection had no substance and accordingly was thrown out. Crystal Ball was third.

Mansoor Shah trained Cicitalia received solid support to win the 1200 metres Sea Ruler Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, which is what happens when the horses from the stable are backed with genuine intent after an eternal wait. Cicitalia was under pressure to pick up speed as jockey Trevor had to use the whip to goad the filly to pick up momentum well before the final turn. Miss Saigon who was in the rear group when the horses took the final turn, pounced on the field on the wide outside and stormed clear with a furlong left in the race to win by a widening margin of five lengths. Cicitalia managed to surge ahead of long-time leader Isinit to get the second spot.

However, Mansoor Shah was not to be denied as Jarama who had finished more than 18 lengths behind Jordana when last seen at Mumbai, was backed down strongly to win the 1200 metres War Command Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Jarama collared the front runners on turning for home without much ado and went away for an easy win. Synchronicity was second ahead of Fast Feature.