A M Jadhav-trained Mojito made a winning comeback on the concluding day`s races of the Pune racing season on Sunday. The Gr 1 Colts Championship Stakes winner at Bangalore during the summer season, Mojito had also been an unlucky third in the Derby. But he was not seen in action for a long time despite having a noteworthy mock race midway through the season due to a setback. Facing a modest opposition, Mojito was not hard-pressed to win the final day`s feature, the 1600 metres General Rajendrasinhji Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, on his return to the track.

Though Mojito was running after 112 days, punters had no hesitation in making him the firm favourite as the others who were opposing him did not have much merit, being non-graded race performers. Jockey N S Parmar took Mojito on a start-to-finish mission and the progeny of Speaking of Which did not face any problem in staying put there to win by a margin of over two lengths from Kalamitsi and Vincent Van Gogh. One cannot really judge whether the setback had any bearing on his performance or whether he has bounced back to his old level of performance in the absence of suitable opposition. Mojito had raced under M K Jadhav and now the horse has been transferred to his son, possibly hoping for better luck!

There was a major scare in the 1600 metres Fourth Estate Cup, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 as up-and-coming jockey Saqlain Siddique had a fall on Multistarrer early in the race. He was motionless on the track. Fortunately, he is reported to have escaped with a tear in the fibre tear on the right side of his back and will be charged from the hospital in the next two days. Soon after jumping out, Arabian Phoenix shifted out and with Flying Scotsman moving inwards, Multistarrer was squeezed out and the horse possibly clipped Arabian Phoenix causing the jockey to be unseated. Malesh Narredu trained Count of Savoy who had failed to oblige expectations last time out as a strongly fancied runner, was this time assigned to apprentice jockey Kritish Bhagat who had the Malesh Narredu trainee dictate the pace. Rounding the final turn, Pride`s Angel got a good opening along the rails and joined the issue with Count of Savoy who however fought on resolutely to eventually win by a head. Favourite Flying Scotsman who was bidding for a hat-trick was handily placed but did not quicken perceptibly when the race came to a boil and could only finish third while Presidential who was running after a longish break, ran on purposefully towards the close to occupy the fourth position.

Karthik Ganapathy trained Kariena was one of the well-backed horses to oblige during the course of the day`s proceedings which saw nine races being gone through. Kariena`s forward run of last time was certainly an asset and the three-year-oldy filly assumed command from a handy position at the final bend, to go storming clear by the final furlong. Inamorta who had run poorly in her debut run still ran green but finished strongly to take the second position, suggesting that her turn could come very soon at the Mumbai racing Season. Adamas was third. Malesh Narredu trained Lord Fencia won the lower division of the race at nourishing odds, getting the better of favourite Kirkines in the dying moments of the race. Liberation ran on to take the third spot.

There were many horses in the fray which had a noteworthy effort to back their claims in the 1200 metres B Prakash Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Of them, Mozelle who was bidding for a hat-trick and last start winner Agostino Carracci were the more preferred ones. In fact, the second named came in for bigger betting to end up as a strong favourite. Apprentice jockey Mustakim Alam took Majestic Warrior to the front from the word `go` with Mozelle in the chase. Majestic Warrior was not inclined to give up easily and shook off his rival at the top of the straight and stormed ahead and held off the late bid of Queen O War. Buckley was third while the horses who had performed very well in their previous runs were not sighted at the busy end. Narendra Lagad trained Majestic Warrior was at odds of 20 to 1.

Arcana from the stables of champion trainer Pesi Shroff was racing after a gap of 154 days. The colt raced under Vittal Deshmukh during the summer season at Bangalore and had finished about seven lengths adrift of Last Wish in a formidable set. Given enough break, Arcana no doubt was a superior horse in the 1000 metres K Raghunath Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The only question mark was the long absence from the track and his fitness for the race. Arcana answered in the affirmative about his well-being and gave no anxious moments to his supporters as he led all the way and checked in well clear of Hilma Klint who held off last-start winner Hela to get the runner-up berth. Malesh Narredu who had a treble for the day after a lean run during the season also had the winner of the lower division of the race. Phanta got the better of Zukor in the final furlong to win the race quite easily at fancy odds. Arbitrage was third.

Vinesh trained Galloping Glory had run a forward race last time out with a late rally and hence had a good chance over the extended trip of 2000 metres in the Free Press Journal Trophy, a race for horses in the lowest category. Galloping Glory who sported blinkers this time out, made rapid strides approaching the final bend and joined issue with Willy Wonka in the stretch. The two fought out the length of the final furlong with Galloping Glory managing to neck out the front-runner in the closing strides of the race in the hands of jockey Bhawani Singh. Zacapa was third. Angels Trumpet was a non-starter.

Imtiaz Sait trained Campaign brought off an upset in the 1200 metres Mid-Day Trophy, a race for horses in the lowest category. Campaign had run more than 12 lengths adrift of the winner last time out but showed remarkable improvement as he came home with a powerful run down the final furlong to claim the race with authority in the hands of apprentice jockey Kritish Bhagat who had a treble for the day. Anoushka was second ahead of Lion King. Antia-trained Luminosity came in for big betting despite having no impressive credentials. Luminosity led from the start before disappearing without a trace in the final 300 metres. The six-year-old reportedly bled during the race.