Adhiraj Jodha trained Dangerous exploited the handicap advantage and handed Northern Lights a drubbing after the latter had won seven races in a row in the Gr 2 2000 metres Teena Katrak Memorial RWITC Ltd Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of the concluding day`s races of the Pune Season on Sunday. Northern Lights who was running over the extended trip of 10 furlongs did not look the part and his defeat looked inevitable.

Northern Lights was running after a gap of 50 days and he commanded the respect of the punters as the got-abroad had made a clean sweep of the graded races up to a mile. In the past, Northern Lights had won over a trip of 2000 metres and he was running over this distance after a long time. He had the weights going against him as the well-performed Dangerous was well placed in scales as per the terms of the race. Wall Street set the pace followed by Dangerous, Mojito, Northern Lights and Rasputin. Dangerous was pushed to take over the running from the long-time front-runner by jockey Neeraj Rawal at the top of the straight. The progeny of Speaking of Which stormed clear and had enough cushion to stave off the charge from Rasputin who moved from the last position to neck out Mojito for the runner-up berth. Mojito was third while Northern Lights did not show any spark during the entire race and looked a pale shadow of himself. Notwithstanding the extra distance he was traveling, he did not look his usual self which was highlighted by his lackluster performance.

Pesi Shroff`s big classic hopeful Jendayi made a reappearance on the track after 224 days and made it a winning one, claiming the 1600 metres General Rajendrasinhji Million, a terms race for three-year-olds in tremendous fashion. The daughter of Gleneagles had created an excellent impression in her debut run, outclassing the field like a horse of immense classic potential. The long absence from the track had no bearing on her performance as she was confidently backed to make a winning return. Hall of Grace who had won two races in a row earlier in the season before finding Enabler too good for comfort over a mile, led in front, taking a runaway lead followed by Waikiki, Jendayi and Alexandros. Pradeep Chouhan sat behind not perturbed by the long lead taken by the front-runner. Rounding the final turn, Hall of Grace showed signs of distress and Waikiki then surged ahead midway in the straight. After these two led like relay runners, the daughter of Gleneagles, Jendayi covered the leeway with hardly any effort on the part of Chouhan. Jendayi went away for an easy win by three lengths. Waikiki held off Hall of Grace to take the second position. Jendayi should have a big say in the Indian Classics at Mumbai.

M K Jadhav trained Serrano had been an expensive failure on two occasions when the three-year-old son of Twilight Son had faltered as a strongly backed horse. On the last occasion, the jockey`s attempt to restrain had disappointed the horse and the favourite could only show some spark towards the close which was frustrating. Now taken to the front within the first furlong, Serrano dictated the proceedings and won the 1200-metre Betbricks7 Cup, a race for maiden three-year-olds with a great deal of ease from Bubbly Boy. The heavily backed favourite Littorio from the stables of trainer Pesi Shroff took a fly jump and thereafter raced in about the third position but made very little headway and eventually finished fourth. Roll of Dive edged out the favourite to save place money.

Anybody putting his hand in a race meant for the lowest-class horses runs the risk of burning their hand. And especially if Narendra Lagad has more than one horse running in the race. The form of the races as shown in the previous runs isn`t a consideration. The market trend is not a reliable guide to follow. The best option for a punter is to avoid these races. The 1200 metres Irish Boss Plate (Division II) was one such race where Rehanullah Khan trained Arbitrage who hadn`t won a race in 13 outings was the favourite ahead of Dowsabel who has this habit of being lethargic from the gates. Lagad`s Zip Along was one of the fancied runners. In the event, a shock was in store when the hitherto unheralded House of Lords slipped into a winning lead down the final furlong to open his account from 16 outings. There was no indication of the possibility of the horse winning as more than five horses other than House of Lords were in active betting. Prince O War ran on late to end up second best once again while Dowsabel improved from last position at the final bend to take the third spot. Arbitrage was positioned to strike but went wide under pressure and disappeared from sight. Jockey M S Deora on Victory Chant had a fall during the race and has since been shifted to the hospital, suffering a few injuries.

To the credit of trainer Antia, he has been racing Maysara to win every time that he has entered the filly in a race so much so that the three-year-old completed a hat-trick with a gusty performance in the Dopahar Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Maysara had the form to go to the post as a favourite as her performance thus far was such that the filly deserved continued support. Though the filly was carrying the top weight, the presence of Haridas Gore who claimed an allowance of 3.5 kgs in the saddle helped. Narendra Lagad trained Fidato led aggressively in front and did not allow Maysara to dictate he terms from the start like she had done in both her wins. Haridas kept Maysara a handy second behind Fidato and then drove out the fancied runner with all the resources at his command. Maysara got the better of Fidato in the shadow of the post and then held off the late challenge of Into The Storm. A long neck and a short neck separated the first three placed horses.

Saqlain guided Zukor to a narrow win over fast-finishing Nelson River and Liam in the lower Dopahar Trophy (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 46 which also saw a three-horse tight finish. Zukor had been pretty consistent this season and was due for his second win of the season judging by his previous effort. However, Art Collector without any great performance to back his credentials was backed strongly ahead of Zukor and Liam. The speedy Mirae led the field into the straight with Saqlain who had positioned Zukor behind the pacesetter quickly pushing his mount to take over. Zukor briskly established a few lengths lead over the rest which proved to be a winning one. Nelson River and Liam came home with menacing strides only to find Zukor escape to victory by a short margin. Mirae weakened to finish fourth. Art Collector was never in the hunt.

Imtiaz Sait trained Pyrrhus has been on the upgrade though as in his formative year, he invariably found one better. The last win of Pyrrhus was suggestive of the possibility of another win especially since the trainer had wisely taken five kgs claimer in Bhosale which made a critical difference to the outcome of the 1200 metres Betbricks7 Sprint, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. After Majestic Warrior led the field into the straight, Bhosale brought Pyrrhus into the reckoning. The progeny of Planetaire showed speed to take charge in the final 100 metres and held on grimly to thwart the late onslaught of Ataash who charged home with a menacing run only to be frustrated by the winning post coming a stride earlier. Dali Swirl too ran on strongly to be a close third ahead of stablemate Fortune Teller. Ataash who was a failed favourite over a mile-long trip was being raced over a sprint and the talented runner took a while to warm up in the stretch and ran out of ground in the end. Portofino Bay who was an impressive performer in her maiden season at Mumbai is yet to find her old rhythm.

Shazaan Shah trained Lion King bolted to the front, established a runaway lead and lasted out to win by more than five lengths in the 1600 metres Assessed Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Idealista who had flopped as a fancied runner last time out was backed strongly to win the race ahead of Lion King who was also in good betting having run a fair second over a longer trip of 2000 metres. In the hands of jockey Bhosale, Lion King enjoyed the uncontested lead and was hailed a winner a long way from home. Toofan ran on to finish second ahead of Goldiva while the favourite Idealista flopped miserably. By coincidence or otherwise, one rarely finds the horses sporting these colours obliging as a favourite.

Despite coming wide into the straight and going further wide, favourite Flashing Famous from the stables of trainer H J Antia managed to neck out C`est L`Amour in the 1200 metres Irish boss Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 4 to 30, the concluding race of the season. Flashing Famous had been running consistently and looked to have the best chance and accordingly, the Antia trainee went to the post at short odds. C`est L`Amour very nearly spoiled the party with a big rally along the rails but apprentice jockey Haridas Gore stuck to his task and Flashing Famous with all her problems was ahead at the finish. Sussing was third.