Waheed trained Believe scored an upset win in the Gr 3 1400 metres F D Wadia Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Sunday`s Pune races. The victory of Believe should be termed upset only because his jockey Vishal Bunde rarely rides a winner and in a competitive race like the Wadia Trophy this was bound to be a significant disadvantage. To the credit of the less heralded jockey, Bunde got everything right when winning with a measure of comfort from Misty. Races ran kindly for the punters with fancied runners dominating the day`s proceedings.

Believe had reasonable credentials to have a say at the finish but for the reasons explained, he was ignored in the betting ring. One had to reluctantly nominate Misty to win the race because the form of the horse held good with the horses finishing behind winning their next outing. The same was the case with Believe who however had more horses finishing behind making a mark in their subsequent outings. Misty was the favourite with last start winner Time And Tide, despite trainer Jodha expressing reservations about the extended trip, being next in demand, attracting considerable betting.

One doesn`t know whether trainer Warren Singh had ventured out of his home centre to race his ward at Pune but there was a surprise in the form of Chillilady who is a maiden from two starts figuring in the lineup. Jockey Hindu Singh took Chillilady on a start-to-finish mission, with Dream Seller who cut an erratic course in the second position. The latter veered out dangerously inconveniencing Time And Time. However, jockey Pradeep Chouhan reacted swiftly and got his horse to roll back to the rails. Believe, Misty and The General who was sluggish at the start raced behind the pace-setting duo.

Chillilady fought on resolutely till the final stages of the race. Since the field was bunched up, it was clear that Trevor Patel would find it tough to find his way on the inside as the space was cramped. Believe who had a trouble-free passage assumed command in the final 100 metres and had enough legs to reach the post safely. Trevor Patel managed to extricate Misty through a tight passage and made a strong bid but it was too late to make an impact. Misty could only snatch the runner-up berth from Time And Tide by a whisker. The General too finished on strongly and was a close fourth. The first five finishers were well matched, with the luck of the race surely going in favour of the long-priced deserving winner.

Last year`s Bangalore Derby winner Supernatural once again let down huge expectations unable to justify favouritism in the 2000 metres Mysore Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. Supernatural who has had two tie--forward operations was expected to bounce back with the benefit of a race run and on the basis of this assumption, he was backed spiritedly in the ring. The advantage of a forward run had sharpened the bottom-weighted Golden Kingdom from the stables of trainer Adhiraj Jodha. Kaviraj had no hesitation in taking Golden Kingdom to the front. The front runner was allowed the luxury of setting his own pace and the uncontested lead essentially helped the front runner to keep his reserves intact for the final stages of the race.

Golden Kingdom first came under pressure from Chopin who however faded out after raising hopes in the stretch. Supernatural who made the run from behind showed some aggression but failed to sustain it and weakened to go out of contention. Rasputin made a late bid but the front-runner was not going to be caught. Golden Kingdom held on to win by a length from Rasputin and Supernatural who despite the improved performance appeared a pale shadow of his former self.

The experience of Pradeep Chouhan helped immensely in Rush snatching a nose verdict over Star Gallery in the 1600 metres Petronia Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Waheed-trained Star Gallery made rapid strides in the stretch in the hands of apprentice jockey Haridas Gore to take charge from the pace-setting Eaton Square in the final furlong. Rush was in a spot of bother as the filly was not getting a clear run close to the rails but Chouhan waited for an opportune moment to push his horse in the narrow gap between the pacesetter and Star Gallery. The duo fought out a thrilling battle, with Rush clinching the verdict by a nose in the concluding stride of the race. Kimiko was also a suggestive third.

Malesh Narredu trained Adamas who had recorded a smashing win last time out looked good in the 1200 metres Secret Romeo Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 4 to 30. However, there was big betting on Narendra Lagad trained last start winner Zip Along, with the latter closing at a short price. In the event, Trevor Patel who took Adamas on a start-to-finish mission, had wrapped up the race a long way from home before Zip Along could even get into her stride. The verdict was a widening margin of four lengths. Flying Halo ran on to take the third position. The lower division of the race however went the way of trainer Lagad, with Prince Igor producing a winning gallop down the final furlong and easily accounting for Lady Di for an easy win. Despite a sluggish start, Mighty Wings covered enormous ground to finish third.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Buckley looked good enough to win the 1400 metres Waves of Glory Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 after having had the benefit of a race run where he had finished third to Time And Tide. The betting though was concentrated on Inishmore who too was expected to do well on his late rallying second to Generosity. Inishmore showed up in front after getting past Majestic Warrior and Pink Jasmine in the final furlong but could not sustain the lead in the face of a sustained onslaught from Buckley who produced a sparkling run. Though Buckley nearly went on to Inishmore, Dashrath Singh reacted to prevent any bumping with the front runner. Last start winner Pure ran on to finish third ahead of Golden Glow.

Bezan Chenoy trained Cellini had benefitted from the forward run. The seven-year-old gelding had no problem in overwhelming the field in the 1000 metres Neona Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 86. After Arcana set a scorching pace and expended his energy, Cellini who overcame an interference early on in the race, produced a sparkling run down the final furlong to win the race as he pleased. Arcana stayed on to take the second position ahead of Star Romance who did not get a clear run along the rails at a critical stage of the race and lost a possible chance of finishing second. There was an objection by apprentice Bhosale against Aniket Karande who rode the runner-up for interference but it did not have enough merit to warrant a nod from the Stewards.