Adhiraj Jodha trained Dyf who had been pretty consistent in his career, asserted his superiority in the 2400 metres Gr 3 Idar Gold Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Tuesday`s Pune races with a record to boot. The Nanoli Stud Farm bred Dyf won the race from stablemate Dangerous in a record time of two minutes 27.843 seconds. Kings Ransom whose last essay was a smashing win in the Maharaja`s Cup at Bangalore in July, ran way below expectations, finishing a tame third.

One is not sure whether Kings Ransom suffered any setback in the intervening period since her Bangalore campaign. The terms of the race favoured a stout stayer like Dyf who was getting 2.5 kgs from Kings Ransom. The designated pace maker Souza was back to what he had been condemned to do in his career. Souza was chased by King`s Ransom, Supernatural, Dyf, Dangerous and Truly Epic. The pace quickened inside the final four furlongs and Dyf lost pace and fell to the rear even as the others jockeyed for forward positions. Truly Epic briefly led the field into the straight but failed to sustain. Dyf who was alerted to the task by jockey Akshay Kumar by the use of the whip, got into his rhythm early in the stretch and swooped on those in front on the wide outside. The progeny of Cougar Mountain covered the leeway swiftly and was hailed a winner a long way from home. Dangerous ran on to take the second position ahead of King`s Ransom who failed to display her patented burst of speed. Supernatural faded out to finish way behind, with pacemaker Souza for company.

Both Dyf and King`s Ransom are likely to clash in the Indian St Leger. With the benefit of this race run, King`s Ransom surely would be a different proposition next time out.

Pesi Shroff trained Chopin had just one win from 11 outings. That win was achieved about 597 days ago. Chopin had moved up to the highest class by virtue of an impressive third in the Indian Derby. The five-year-old reportedly had a tie-forward operation before the season started. His last run where he finished a close fourth to Golden Kingdom suggested that he was capable of finding the winning mark. Chopin was in the lineup for the 1600 metres Chandrayaan-3 Landing On The Moon Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above. He was carrying a postage stamp weight. Chopin moved with raking strides and strode past the front-running Golden Neil at the final bend and bounced clear to win by over two lengths in a record timing of one minute 36.027 seconds. In Contention ran on to take the second spot ahead of Successor. Golden Neil appears to have either reached his handicap mark or he is being raced with the intention of getting his handicap mark down to be exploited later.

The 1600-metre September Handicap, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, produced a thrilling finish, with lesser-fancied Aloysia prevailing by a fraction of a second over favourite Winter Agenda. It was too close to call even with the help of a photo-finish photo. What helps in identifying the winner is the timing that the computer throws out. Aloysia had clocked one minute 38.667 seconds as Winter Agenda had timed one minute 38.669.7 seconds. In the past, without the help of the photo finish camera of the present generation, it would have been declared a headheat. When the photo-finish photo was displayed, the punters felt that it should have been a dead heat and stormed the paddock to protest. The authorities then put out the mirror image of the photo-finish which clearly suggested that Aloysia had indeed won by the proverbial whisker. The proceedings were delayed. The authorities wisely sent the horses to the starting gate using a different route. Once the next race started things came back to normal. The authorities were also successful in their persuasive efforts.

Apprentice Haridas Gore took Aloysia on a start-to-finish mission and despite a big challenge from the vigorously ridden Winter Agenda which had the veteran Srinath in the saddle, the front-runner hung on gamely to win by a nose. Chenevix Trench who did not get a clear run in the final furlong, was a noteworthy third.

The day`s opener, the 2400 metres Sana Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, also produced an absorbing finish. Lesser fancied Alpha Domino was taken on a start-to-finish mission by jockey Neeraj Rawal and was successful in staving off the late challenge of favourite Jerusalem who found the winning post coming a wee bit early. Alpha Domino led from the start without anyone challenging him in front. Jerusalem lacked early speed and graced the rear of the field. Alpha Domino enjoyed a useful lead over his eventual challenger going to the final furlong. Though Jerusalem, under a vigorous ride by Trevor Patel inched closer as the post approached, the front-runner escaped to the safety of the winning post, winning by a short head. Mastery ran on well towards the close to be a good third.

Democracy had failed to live up to expectations on the last two occasions given the imposing pedigree that the daughter of Acclaim has. The Pesi Shroff trainee was strongly fancied to win the 1200 metres Amjad Khan Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The General who had won on the last occasion but had lost the race in the Stewards room, was backed to beat Democracy whom he had beaten on the last occasion when the two had clashed. The General lacked early speed and his jockey Bhawani Singh pushed his horse aggressively to take charge within the first furlong while Umesh eased Democracy in the second position. The General was easily sorted by Democracy with her jockey hardly having to move a muscle. Democracy stretched out brilliantly to win by a widening margin of five lengths. The General was hard-pressed to retain his runner-up berth from Bubbly Boy who ran on strongly. In the form that Democracy is in, more wins are in store for her.

The 1200-metre Moosa M Hoosein Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, had many contestants running with a fair chance. Fighton was the most preferred horse ahead of Irish Gold while last start failed favourite Inishmore from the stables of Nazak Chenoy was quoted at nourishing odds. Arcana did the customary front-running b before weakening and the lead was held briefly by Divine Connection. Fighton loomed large on the wide outside but he failed to quicken in the manner expected and Irish Gold easily overwhelmed the favourite. Inishmore who moved through the inside with big strides easily conquered Irish Gold and went away for an easy win. Majestic Warrior, with a late charge, necked out favourite Fighton for the third spot. Fighton did not show any improvement over his previous effort and ran way below the hype that he had carried.

Trainer Nazak Chenoy had a double for the day as Chieftain who had come down to the lowest class, asserted his supremacy, winning the 1600 metres Spearhead Plate, a race for horses rated 4 to 30. Chieftain who raced up with the field, quickly took charge in the homestretch in the hands of Vishal Bunde and went away for an easy win by three lengths. Come Back Please who was fancied as much as Chieftain, graced the wrong end of the field till the final bend. Apprentice jockey Bhosale compounded his problems by coming home the widest which itself was a self-defeating exercise. Come Back Please ran on well in the straight but the mare had an uphill task and all that she could do was to take the second position. Marlboro Man was a well-beaten third.