Independence Day racing may celebrate freedom, but punters were given little independence from disappointment. Held amid intermittent spells of rain, the nine-race card produced the usual assortment of upsets, stable doosra, hidden gambles and fancied runners discovering that reputation alone does not win races. Apprentice jockey Ramswarup, however, had plenty to celebrate, booting home a treble and showing that he is steadily coming of age.

The traditional attraction of the day, albeit a lower-class affair, the 2000 metres Teena Katrak Memorial Independence Million for horses rated 20 to 46, turned into a disguised gamble beautifully executed by veteran trainer Narendra Lagad. Allez L`Etoile, who had previously been tried over longer trips, was first given a forward run over a sprint and then produced over the mile-and-a-quarter with Trevor Patel taking over in the saddle.

The homework clearly paid dividends. Allez L`Etoile raced in a handy third position in the crowded field, took command early in the straight and simply disappeared from the opposition, romping home by seven lengths. In effect, the Independence Million became a one-horse race. Ten-to-one shot Caradoc was second, ahead of favourite Savage Peacock, who showed precious little savagery and was the first to cry enough at the top of the straight. Ekatarina, another horse attracting betting support in an open affair, also failed to deliver. The Independence Cup may have a long association with the nation`s favourite holiday, but its results are often decidedly independent of public expectations, generally favouring the horse that has been kept under wraps while possessing a little more class than the handicapper suspects.

In a three-horse thriller, long shot Challenge Accepted lived up to his name by accepting the challenge and getting the better of the opposition in the 1200 metres Moosa M Hoosein Trophy for horses rated 40 to 66. On-money favourite Zayyan from the Pesi Shroff yard appeared to have the race in the bag after getting the better of front-running Blue Jet in the straight. But Challenge Accepted and Wind Dancer had other ideas. The former produced the stronger finish under Ramswarup to snatch victory by a whisker, with Wind Dancer a short neck ahead of Zayyan. Ramswarup was clearly having a day when the answers were coming faster than the questions.

Jockey Sandesh had been declared to ride Antino, while Old Fashioned, the strong favourite, had Trevor Patel in the saddle. Hermanus was the other horse attracting betting support. Antino took charge from the start of the 2000 metres Albertini Plate for maiden three-year-olds and never allowed the favourite a serious chance, comfortably holding off Old Fashioned. The latter raced greenly in the straight, prompting Trevor to drop his hands in the final furlong. Hermanus was third. It is increasingly becoming a familiar script: the longer-priced horse walks away with the prize while the better-fancied stablemate is left explaining what went wrong.

Behram Cama-trained Foxy has been a prolific performer and clearly enjoys the Pune race track. The filly readily justified expectations in the 1000 metres Eau De Vie Plate for horses rated 60 to 86. Ramswarup forced his way through a tight opening on the inside of Midnight Express in the homestretch and once in the clear, sped away for an easy victory. Your Unforgettable came from well back to take third, while Azure, who had attracted betting support, was unable to live up to the confidence reposed in her.

The 1400 metres Magansingh P Jodha Trophy for maiden three-year-olds produced what looked like a quiet touch in the form of Real Gold, who struck gold at the very first attempt in Division I. Favourite Alpha Strike led into the straight but was the first to call it a day. Naledi shaped to win, but Real Gold from the stables of Pradeep Chouhan, produced a powerful finishing burst under Dashrath Singh to nail the front-runner right on the post. David was third. One of the few favourites to oblige was Altamaash Ahmed-trained Remarkable in Division II. The favourite fought a stiff battle for supremacy with Chilton Lodge and managed to prevail by a whisker, with Wise Approach third. Favourite Sanctified was conspicuous by his absence from the business end.

Aman Altaf Hussain-trained Storm Majesty provided some relief to favourite backers by obliging in the 1200 metres Lucky Lucciano Trophy for horses rated 20 to 46. The favourite easily overhauled fancied rival Dreams Come True in the straight and went on to score comfortably. Paloma finished strongly but just missed the runner-up berth by a whisker.

Adhirajsingh Jodha-trained Gold Bar had been withdrawn at the gates last time out, but punters were prepared to forgive and forget and came strongly in support again in the 1200 metres Just By Chance Plate (Div I) for horses in the basement class. Gold Bar repaid the faith with a powerful run down the final furlong, giving Ramswarup his third winner of the day. Bravo Zulu was second ahead of Touch of Mystic.

Trail Blazer and Fay were well supported in Division II, and the money nearly had the desired destination. Strong riding by T S Jodha enabled Fay to prevail by a head over Trail Blazer. Apprentice Ramswarup gave his all but, on this occasion, found himself sitting on the wrong side of the result. Balenlo, sluggish at the start, finished with a late burst to end up just a neck behind the battling pair. Independence Day, it seemed, was determined to keep punters guessing right to the final furlong.