Malesh Narredu trained Enabler showed that he is on the upgrade when tackling the opposition in the Gr 3 S A Poonawalla Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of races held at Pune on Sunday. The three-year-old son of Ruler of the World had scored a dramatic win on the last occasion over seven furlongs despite being boxed for a clear run in the dying moments of the race and that run was suggestive that over a longer trip, he would be more at ease. Though the cream of the three-year-olds were not in the fray, a decent lot of horses lined up for what is generally treated as a lead-up race to the Pune Derby.

The Poonawalla Million had an open look about it as Believe who was the best-performed horse in the fray was not in betting consideration suggesting that something was amiss with the trainee of Waheed. Believe was the highest rated horse in the fray but the absence of any enthusiasm for his chances in the ring had its own story to tell. Hall of Grace who had won twice in a row, Dream Alliance who was running after 168 days after a setback in training and Enabler were in betting consideration along with Misty who had not got the luck of the race on the last occasion. Since the horses are still in their formative stage, the rating does not necessarily give a clue as to what to expect as the ones which show remarkable improvement are capable of defying their rating. It was the case with regard to Enabler who was rated at 43. The distance and the improvement factor ensured that this got-abroad colt dominated the proceedings.

Hall of Grace was taken to the front straightaway by jockey Pradeep Chouhan followed by Believe, Enabler, Dream Alliance, Rush, Misty and Julius racing in this order. Dream Alliance who was racing keen clipped Belive in the first furlong and stumbled. Hall of Grace held the lead well into the straight but was sorted out by Enabler down the final furlong. Enabler surged ahead with Dream Alliance posing a big challenge but the lack of a race run went against the fancied runner as he tapered out in the closing stages of the race. Yash Narredu had no problem in guiding Enabler to win by a length from late finishing Julius who nosed out Dream Alliance for the runner-up berth after covering acres of ground in the homestretch. Hall of Grace was fourth ahead of Misty. In keeping with the market expectations, Believe faded out of contention at the top of the straight and eventually finished last.

Pesi Shroff trained Sea The Sun had not completed the course last time out as jockey Pradeep Chouhan stopped riding sensing that the horse was in discomfort which was later diagnosed as an injury to the left hind lock. As such there was a question mark about his well being though there was no doubt about the fact that he is bred to stay long and the trip of 2400 metres of the Serum Institute of India, a race for horses rated 40 to 66, was well within his compass. There was no reported record of recent workouts, punters backed the son of Sea The Sun to give an assertive performance. For the record, Vincent Van Gogh was the favourite. Jockey Umesh took Sea The Sun on a start-to-finish mission. The front-runner enjoyed an uncontested lead. Though the others closed in by the final turn, Sea The Sun was travelling well within himself. When asked to quicken by the jockey, the fancied runner left the field standing to win by a widening margin of four lengths over Vincent Van Gogh. Rue St Honore who had given a chase to the front-runner lost the runner-up berth close home by a neck. Given his abilities, Sea The Sun is sure to prove a handful when it comes to races over longer distances.

M K Jadhav trained Serrano proved to be a curse on the punters. He has the uncanny ability to inspire the trust of punters to bet on him only to find him letting them down badly. Serrano was backed heavily on the concluding day of the Mumbai racing season in April and had let down badly. Once again Serrano attracted a similar type of betting on the basis of an impressive mock race. Once again, Serrano let down huge expectations, with his jockey N S Parmar unable to get his horse on an even keel. Jockey Y S Srinath took Deepesh Narredu trained Pure For Sure on a start-to-finish mission. The progeny of Phoenix Tower who had finished an impressive second on the last occasion, had no problem in keeping her rivals at bay, going beyond the reach of the rest by the final furlong. Racing Romance ran on from behind to edge past Bubbly Boy to take the runner-up berth. Serrano was a disappointing fourth.

Whenever trainer Antia`s horses attract smart money, they invariably oblige. The six-year-old mare Sussing came in for noticeable support ahead of India Strong to win the 1200 metres Great Secret Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Sussing who was carrying the postage stamp weight, was waited in the third position by apprentice jockey N Bhosale before assuming command by the final furlong. Though India Strong finished with a flourish, Sussing had enough cushion to see off the threat. Mighty Thunder was a tame third. Rehanullah Khan trained Arbitrage attracted big betting to end up as a close second favourite ahead of Bomber in the lower division of the race. Both these horses which were in betting were not spotted to have any chance. Nirad Karanjawalla trained Nairobi obliged at nourishing odds in the hands of jockey Prasad. Nairobi chased Habibi into the straight before storming ahead for a facile win by over five lengths. Prince O War necked out Reciprocity to take the second position. Arbitrage was a beaten cause right from the start.

Karthik Ganapathy has a knack for springing surprises when least expected. Kariena from his stable won the 1600 metres Jefferson Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46, at long odds from another outsider Fancy Nancy. Fancy Nancy who had the lead going into the final furlong shaped to win but Kariena`s rally from way off the pace put paid to the hopes of the front-runner. Stunning Visual literally came from the clouds to snatch the third position from favourite Multiverse who did not live up to huge expectations.