Faisal Abbas trained Mojo brought off a big upset in the 1000 metres Pride Group Multi-Million, a terms race for maiden three-year-olds, the feature event of races held on Saturday at Pune. The long shot led all the way and held on grimly to beat the challenge of favourite Queens pride by a whisker in the hands of jockey Sandesh. Sandesh had a big day booting home three winners on a day when punters struggled to get their selections right.

Queens Pride was backed to the exclusion of the rest on the basis of the excellent preparatory workouts. The three-year-old filly had earlier in the season been withdrawn on veterinary grounds but subsequent to that, she had been outstanding during the morning workouts. There was great deal of expectation on the Altaf Hussain trainee who was the betting rage so much so that the rest of the horses were available at long odds. Sandesh took Mojo to the front from the word `go` and the long shot had a useful lead going into the final furlong. Though Queens Pride finished with a rush and the front-runner looked vulnerable, the front-runner held on to win by the skin of his teeth. Queens Pride took a while to warm up to the task and that made a critical difference to the outcome of the horse. Golden Lioness who lacked early speed, ran on well towards the closing stages of the race to occupy the third slot.

Pesi Shroff trained The Bawaji who had the benefit of a race run came in for spirited support in a three-horse field that was in the fray for the longest race of the season, the 3200 metres Suresh Mahindra Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. The Bawaji had won been a prolific performer during the last Mumbai racing season but had performed poorly in the subsequent outings at Bangalore and the run during the current season on the Pune track. The Bawaji came in for good support by people who believed that the Pesi Shroff trainee was much younger than the rivals whom he was taking on who had logged many more miles in their racing career and looked a tire lot. The top-weighted Pissaro was a non starter for the race. The best performed horse in the fray undoubtedly was Imtiaz Sait trained Caprisca who was once a rousing performer but had been on the decline but collecting precious stake money as he has been running on a regular basis as there are very few long distance horses that are stationed at Pune.

Jockey Sandesh did a good job of setting a pace which was convenient for him with Neeraj Rawal settling The Bawaji in the second position with Truly Epic chasing these two horses. The order remained the same going into the final furlong but the only difference was that the front-runner was visibly tiring while The Bawaji was gaining ground. Neeral Rawal was able to drive out The Bawaji to measure the front-running in the waning yards of the race to land the spoils. Truly Epic earned some precious stake money by his mere participation in the race.

Hoshidar Daji trained Baby Bazooka had the best credentials to win the 1200 metres Luxury Groomers Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 66, having been a pretty consistent performer. Backed quite strongly to oblige, apprentice jockey Kritish Bagat kept Babay Bazooka relaxed in about the fourth or fifth position. The progeny of Kingda Ka picked up steam in the final furlong to storm past the battling duo of last start winner Soup And Sandwich and Rodrigo to win in a splendid fashion. Desire Fire ran way below expectations. Sandesh had no problem in steering the lesser fancied Superlative from the stables of Shiraz Sunderji to victory over favourite Magileto in the lower division of the race. Magileto hasn`t shown the spark of his Mumbai win and his last run too has been below expectations. There was a strong belief that he would make amends but he found it hard to overhaul the front-running Superlative who made a successful start to finish dash. Smithsonian ran on to finish third.

Sandesh rode a fine race on Imtiaz Sait trained Pride`s Angel who literally came from the last position at the final bend to snatch the race in a thrilling three horse finish in the 1400 metres Sir Sultan Chinoy Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. Count of Savoy was backed strongly to go one better this time out. Narendra Lagad trained Son Of a Gun not only spoiled his chances by running too freely in the front by going at a fast clip but also that of those who chased him. Count Of Savoy showed up briefly in front inside the final furlong but could not sustain the momentum to the post. Raffaello shaped like a winner after surging past Count of Savoy but Pride`s Angel who found the right spaces along the inside finished with a rattle to nail Raffaello on the post to land the spoils at big odds. Count of Savoy was third. Son of A Gun who went at pace that was suicidal finished dismally.

The series of runs that Subhag Singh trained Angels Trumpet had perhaps satisfied the trainer who was brave enough to put Trevor Patel to steer the horse despite the jockey having to carry three kgs overweight. Angels Trumpet proved so superior to the field in the 2000 metres Ashwamedha Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, that one was left wondering why the filly did not show any spark in her previous efforts. After Multiencrypted ran more than 10 lengths adrift in front and weakened at the final bend, Angels Trumpet easily overhauled the front-runner and was hailed a winner a long way from home. Verdandi was second more than six lengths behind the winner while Multiencrypted who was undone by the scorching pace at which he went in the front weakened to finish third.

The persevering efforts of the most improved apprentice Siddiquie Saqlain enabled long shot Love Warrior from the stables of trainer Dallas Todywalla to pull off a thrilling win in the 1600 metres N K Pudumjee Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Lovely Warrior finished with a rush to measure Lex Luthor and Thunbberg to land the spoils at fancy odds. Last start winner Wild Thing had to cover too much of leeway in the final furlong and could only occupy the fourth position. The heavily backed Vincent Van Gogh failed to show any spark and was a beaten cause well before the race came to a boil.