Adhiraj Jodha trained Dangerous finally found the winning mark with a narrow win over stablemate Dyf in the Gr 3 Eve Champion Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Pune races. Dangerous had been consistent in classic races without winning and had gone off the boil towards the later part of the Mumbai Racing Season. The handicap favoured her and the progeny of Speaking Of Which showed the spark of old and recorded her third win after a gap of 503 days.

Dangerous was well placed in scales. The presence of classic winner Supernatural from the stables of trainer Pesi Shroff put confusion in the minds of the punters who had a difficult choice to make. Performance over hope. Supernatural who has had two tie-forward operations performed packed up without a trace at the final bend after being squeezed in by Dangerous at the final bend and ended up dismally. Dangerous who had raced in about the third position as Souza set a face pace, assumed command at the top of the straight and had enough legs to stave off the late thrust of stablemate Dyf who ran on strongly from the rear. Mojito was third. One cannot read anything into the run of erstwhile Bangalore Derby winner Supernatural because one is not sure whether he packed up because of lack of a run or whether the old issue is still bothering him. Pesi though has high hopes for him according to what he said in the pre-race interview.

Jodha had another winner through Hall of Grace who recorded an encore in tremendous fashion in the 1400 metres August Handicap, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Hall of Grace had struggled to make an impressive in his four runs prior to migrating to Pune as his efforts at Ooty were dismal, to say the least. In the hands of five kg claimer Gagandeep Manna, Hall of Grace scorched the turf right from the start to win by a widening margin of three lengths over Democracy, the well-backed favourite. Democracy despite showing improvement found the winner too good for comfort. Kinzhal was a tame third.

Imtiaz Sait trained Flaming Lamborgini brought off a stunning upset in the 1800 metres Yana Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Flaming Lamborgini who had not found the winning post for about 546 days, readily obliged, with a fluent run down the stretch for a win by over three lengths. Own Voice ran on taking the second position ahead of late-finishing last-start winner Gangster. The fancied Brave Beauty and Fortunate Son were beaten causes well before the race came to a boil. After Key To The Mint led the field up to the final bend, even Fortunate Son who was in proximity too sent distress signals. Flaming Lamborgini then cruised past these runners and presented C S Jodha with an easy ride to victory.

Narendra Lagad trained Daulat Mai had recorded a smashing win during the Mumbai season and then had many nonproductive efforts which however served the purpose of getting a few kgs drop in the handicap scale. The five-year-old mare appeared to be spot on for the 1400 metres To The Manor Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Daulat Mai chased Love Warrior into the straight before storming clear in the straight to record an emphatic win in the hands of apprentice Mustakim Alam. Finch ran on from behind to place second ahead of Ciper. Chieftain lost considerable ground at the start while Mysterious Girl who was in the betting was stranded at the gates and did not complete the course.

Faisal Abbas trained Fortune Teller who was backed by the people in the know, smashed the field in the 1200 metres Cabriolet Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Fortune Teller raced a handy third till turning for home. Jockey Amyn Merchant got busy at the final turn. The progeny of Excellent Art cruised into the lead and was hailed a winner a long way home. The victory margin was a widening six lengths. Galway Bay was second ahead of Fidato. Opus Dei who was in serious betting did not get a brisk beginning from the wide outside draw and apprentice Saba could do little on him thereafter.

Trainer Sangram Singh Joshi hadn`t had a winner for quite some time. Come Back Please had run a suggestive fourth in his last outing. The five-year-old mare was well fancied though the favourite for the race for M K Jadhav trained Gimme. This trainer`s horses rarely run to expectations and in keeping with this trend, the favourite performed poorly. Come Back Please literally came from the jungles to zoom past eight-year-old Verdandi to record an impressive win. Mastery was third.

The heavily supported Zukor readily obliged in the day`s opener, the 1000 metres Colombiana Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. After Slam Dunk led the field well into the straight, Zukor surged ahead in the hands of apprentice jockey Aniket Karande and held off the late flourish of Remy Red and fancied C`est L`amour. Slam Dunk weakened to finish fourth.