James McKeown trained Adjudicate bounced back to score a spectacular win in the Gr 1 Indian Leger, the feature event of Sunday`s races at Pune on Sunday. Adjudicate who had twice tasted defeat when conceding chunks of weight to Bushtops finally asserted her supremacy over a gruelling trip of 2800 metres producing a vintage performance. Jockey Sandesh who rode a brilliant race judged the pace to a nicety and had the race sewn up a long way from home.

Roberta set a slow pace followed by Adjudicate, Golden Fortune and Bushtops. Approaching the 1000 metres marker, Sandesh pushed Adjudicate to take over the running from Roberta and the champion daughter of Multidimensional enjoyed her foray in front as she cantered into the straight and went storming clear with her jockey hardly having to move a muscle. Roberta tried hard to catch up with Adjudicate but it proved to be a herculean task. Golden Fortune was third while Bushtops who was bidding for his fourth straight win did not look the part and finished way down the field. Adjudicate who had failed to win a race at Pune even during her formative years thus broke the jinx. This was also the first winner ridden by Sandesh for trainer McKeown who was also winning his first Indian classic.


Narendra Lagad trained Majestic Warrior who had impressive credentials obliged expectations in the hands of apprentice jockey Kaviraj in the 1400 metres Animal Welfare Board of India Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Kaviraj showed remarkable maturity in relaxing the favourite in about the fifth position as Mount Olympus set the pace. Kaviraj made his move approaching the final turn and the favourite got the measure of Articulate after a brief battle for supremacy in the stretch and had the race sewn up a long way from home. Lambretta ran on late to take the third position.

The heavily supported Flying Visit from the stables of trainer Imtiaz Sait had no problem in beating the opposition with a fair degree of ease in the 1600 metres Magansingh P Jodha Trophy, a race for horses rated 60- to 86. Zervan settled Flying Visit in the third position after leading for the first-furlong allowing Magistero to take charge till turning for home. Inside the final two furlongs, Flying Visit surged ahead and won comfortably from last start winner Zenon who came from a long way back but found the favourite slipping beyond reach. Magistero was third while last start winner Questionable finished way down the field. Pure Zinc had been withdrawn on veterinary grounds.

Nazak Chenoy trained Dreams who had served notice of early success with a fine effort in Elusive Star`s win justified the one-sided support by getting the better of C`est L`Amour close home to win the 1200 metres Janardhan Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds rated 20 to 46. Cest L`Amour led from the start and had a good break going into the final furlong when Dreams began to make her bid. Under a strong ride by jockey Imran Khan, Dreams steadily gained ground and measured the front-runner in the shadow of the post. Sunset was a faraway third.

Dallas Todywalla trained Rainbow Trot readily obliged in the 1400 metres Nana Raghunath Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Sandesh settled favourite Rainbow Trot in the second position and let Tristar lead well into the straight. Sandesh got busy inside the final 300 metres and Rainbow Trout easily measured the front-runner and stretched away for a facile win. Walk The Talk ran on to take the third position.

Nazak Chenoy trained Adele recorded an encore getting the better of Gold Field in the closing stages of the race to win the 1000 metres C A Kuts Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Gold Field chased Wild Fire well into the straight followed by True Grit. Even as Gold Field was getting the better of both Wild Fire and True Grit, Adele showed up from way behind with a powerful effort. Adele managed to overwhelm Gold Field close home to win the race at nourishing odds. Gold Fields held off Harmony of the Sea to keep the runner-up berth.

Jockey Sandesh who came in place of the injured Trevor Patel steered Karthik Ganapathy trained Saddle The Wind to a narrow win over last start winner Eternal Dancer in the 2000 metres D D Pillai Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 30. Sandesh had Saddle The Wind behind Dazzle N Daze while Eternal Dancer was in about the fourth position. Sandesh quickly pushed Saddle The Wind to tackle the front-runner at the final turn and had the lead going into the final furlong. Parmar brought Eternal Dancer with a good dash but found the winning post coming too soon. Saddle The Wind held on to win by a neck. Dazzle N Daze weakened to finish third ahead of late rallying favourite Mr Honey who failed to bring off an inspired touch.

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Majestic Warrior (P S Kaviraj up) winner of the Animal Welfare Board Of India Trophy

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Flying Visit (S Zervan up) winner of the Magansingh P Jodha Trophy

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Dreams (A Imran Khan up) winner of the Janardhan Trophy

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Rainbow Trout (A Sandesh up) winner of the Nana Raghunath Trophy

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Adele (N S Parmar up) winner of the C A Kuts Trophy

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Adjudicate (A Sandesh up) winner of the Indian St Leger (Gr.1)

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Saddle The Wind (A Sandesh up) winner of the D D Pillai Trophy

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