Karthik Ganapathy trained Juliette who is simply the best older horse in training in India steamrolled an ineffective opposition in the Gr 3 Threptin Fillies` & Mares` Stakes, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Sunday`s Pune races. Juliette, headed for the Dubai Racing Carnival, was too strong for the opposition both in terms of the rating and achievement so much so that the race was bound to be a formality. The special day`s racing did not run kindly for the punters and punters dread the devastating effect of ``special`` race days!

Juliette was money back in the betting ring. If any price were offered on Juliette, it would have given rise to the suspicion that something could be amiss. There was none and Juliette, in the hands of regular partner C S Jodha recorded a win by a widening margin of four lengths over Successor. After stablemate Trinket did the job of pace-setting and weakened approaching the final furlong, Successor headed briefly before Juliette overwhelmed the entire lot cruising past the rest from the rear and winning as she pleased. Successor was second who in turn was another four lengths in front of In Contention. The procession in the straight was only to be expected in the light of the overwhelming superiority of Juliette. This was the first for Juliette on the Pune track. She had lost on two occasions on the Pune track last year.

Imtiaz Sait trained Pyrrhus had always been running consistent races but the filly took a long time to come out of the maidens` ranks. She recorded the second win of the season as well as her career with smooth acceleration down the final furlong to win the race from another long shot Empower and Exotic Queen. The fancied Inishmore was sluggish at the start while favourite Waikiki was never in the hunt. M K Jadhav`s horses don`t run consistently when they carry the weight of public expectations.

The surprise these days is that trainer Antia who was always known to wait eternally before letting go of his horses, is winning with three-year-olds. Maysara had won 55 days ago beating Pure For Sure. The former was better placed in scales vis-à-vis the horse whom she had beaten. However, Pure For Sure came in for sustained betting resulting in the odds of Maysara expanding to 4 to 1 in the ring. Apprentice jockey Haridas Gore took Maysara on a start-to-finish mission chased by Pure For Sure. In the final furlong, the front-runner looked vulnerable but Maysara pulled out that bit extra to win comfortably. Sorrento Secret was third.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Own Voice broke the maiden`s rank in the 14th attempt, staving off the spirited challenge of Finch to win the 1600 metres Yogender Singh Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Own Wish had moved up in rating by being consistent and had ended second best on three occasions. Things fell in place for Own Voice who shot ahead down the final furlong and had no problem in beating the challenge of Finch. The latter was hard-pressed to keep the runner-up berth from Keifer who lost whatever chances she had with a lethargic beginning.

Nirad Karanjawalla trained Nairobi had recorded an impressive win last time out and a repeat win looked very much on the cards judging by the quality of the win recorded. The five-year-old Nairobi came home with a powerful burst of speed in the final furlong in the hands of jockey Prasad to record a facile win in the 1200 metres Chef D`Oeuvre Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. This was the second win for Nairobi from 19 outings. Fancied Anoushka found the winner too good but managed to pinch the second place by nosing out Silver Steps.

Trainer Pesi Shroff always keeps punters guessing about the prospects of his horses though they win more consistently than anybody else. La Belle had run poorly in her debut run, finishing nearly 10 lengths adrift of the winner Maysara. Phenom who had run impressively despite a sluggish beginning was backed strongly. The well-bred La Belle who had the services of apprentice Kritish Bhagat was available at nourishing odds. In the event, the favourite was never in the hunt. La Belle cruised into the lead in the final furlong and went away for a comfortable win over Opus Dei who held off the early pace setter Bubbly Boy to get the runner-up berth. Imtiaz Sait trained Silver Spring managed to record an encore with a thrilling win in a three-horse finish in the lower division of the race. Silver Spring had a good start from the gates and in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar, held off the stiff challenge of Lord Fencia and Indian Strong. Fancy Nancy who had an interfered passage was a suggestive fourth.