Malesh Narredu trained Enabler who had reeled off two wins in a row, maintained the upward curve with a resounding win in the Gr 1 Mayor Baburao Sanas Memorial Pune Derby, the biggest race of the Pune Racing Season on Sunday. Yash Narredu rode a confident race on the winner. The Sohna Stud Farm produce thus dominated the main juvenile races of the season having earlier won the F D Wadia Trophy and S A Poonawalla Million through Believe and Enabler. The third placed Dream Alliance was also bred at the Haryana based Sohna Stud Farm.

Despite the fact that the Bangalore Derby winner Jamari from the stables of trainer Pesi Shroff did not have the benefit of a race run because of a setback, the daughter of Cougar Mountain went to the post as a strong favourite. The others in the field were all available at long odds. Trainer Pesi Shroff had said that the filly was in good shape though she did not have the ideal lead up to the Derby. Last year, King`s Ransom had won the Pune Derby racing straight in the main event without any race run. The majority of race goers believed that Jamari was capable of a similar feat. However, there were many who felt that Jamari`s two mock races were not impressive and nursed doubts about the filly asserting her supremacy yet again. Jamari had slammed the opposition in Bangalore Derby in soft underfoot conditions and her trainer had said that she would be more at home on a fast track. This may be the reason why there was greater optimism about Jamari`s success.

On the other hand, Enabler hadn`t anything wrong. His first win of the season had come under most difficult circumstances. After being pocketed for an opening till the closing stages of the race, Enabler had shown tremendous acceleration when he was pulled out and got a clear run. After that win, Enabler had gone on to win over a mile in a more straightforward manner. Being the son of Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World, there was no doubt about the staying abilities of Enabler. The striking acceleration that Enabler was capable of and the ability to stay were potent combinations and this combined to ensure that the Malesh Narredu trainee would have a decisive say. Enabler won with an ease that was not anticipated. Imtiaz Sait trained Dream Alliance who had suffered an eye injury, did not have an ideal preparation despite which the progeny of Planetaire ran a good third under the circumstances.

Jamari`s stablemate Capitolium hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the 2000 metres trip followed by Jamari, Star Gallery, Kings Love, Enabler, Believe, Transcend and Dream Alliance. The last named was a little sluggish at the start. By the time the runners approached the 800 metres marker, the places behind the pace setter had been shuffled with Dream Alliance having moved up significantly with Enabler also quickly improving his position. Inside the final two furlongs, Jamari overtook Capitolium with Enabler and Dream Alliance giving a chase to the favourite. Jamari was unable to draw clear and Enabler covered ground menacingly and managed to overhaul the favourite easier than expected and went away, even giving scope for Yash Narredu to celebrate well before the winning post. Jamari was beaten to the second place followed by Dream Alliance and Capitolium. Transcend finished the race in distress. Believe was a poor last despite promising much earlier in the season with success in the F D Waida Trophy.

This was the third Pune Derby success for Malesh Narredu, the other two successes having come on Pioneer and Quasar. Yash who enjoyed his first Derby win, said that he was pretty confident about winning. ``When I made my move at around the 800 metres marker, I was not perturbed by the lead taken by Jamari because my horse is blessed with the ability to change gears whereas the favourte was one paced. I was confident before the race and during the race as well,`` he added.

Srinath`s clever tactical riding enabled Shahzaan trained Joaquin to pull off a narrow win over favourite Ahead of My Time in the Gr 3 Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. Srinath moved up swiftly to be alongside Ahead of My Time and had C S Jodha who was the astride the favourite confused: Whether to make all the running or stay put in the position he was in. Srinath perhaps took Jodha by surprise when he hit the front and controlled the pace cleverly. Joaquin who enjoyed a couple of lengths lee way fought on resolutely in the straight and Srinath`s power packed riding ensured that he managed to keep Joaquim in front at the all important end. Ahead of My Time who could have won with a more enterprising ride was a neck at the finish. The Sovereign Orb, with a late rally, ran on to finish an impressive third. The winner clocked a fast time of one minutes 07.70 seconds. The terms of the race also went in favour of Joaquin who hadn`t won for well over a year.

Narendra Lagad trained Mighty Thunder whose jockey Chinoy had escaped punishment for his lackadaisical ride earlier in the season, caused a big upset, scoring his second win of the season, in the 1200 metres J M Shah & C M Shah Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. The strong favourite for the race, Sovereign Grey was a big disappointment, lacking the speed to take a forward position in order to be effective. Despite a sluggish beginning, Mighty Thunder moved up briskly and had the lead going into the final furlong and easily held off the challenge of fancied Superimpose to win the race in the hands of Mustakim Alam. Sovereign Grey was a disappointing third.

The 1400 metres Jimmy Umrigar Trophy, a race for maiden three-year-olds, saw a dramatic three-horse finish, with Adhiraj Jodha trained Kanyarashi making amends in the hands of jockey Srinath. Pesi Shroff trained Zuccaro was backed to the exclusion of the rest based on his mock race despite having had a bad start in his earlier run. Zuccaro took a decent jump but did not quicken and was tailed off last. Kanyarashi led from the start and thwarted the challenge of The General to win the race. Zuccaro covered acres of ground in the final furlong but missed the berth by a long neck and a nose. Trevor Patel on the favourite did not show any panic and rode an unhurried race. The favourite should make amends before long.

Dallas Todywalla trained It`s My Time came in for one-sided betting in the 1600 metres F A & K A Irani Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86 but disappointed after giving hopes early in the straight. Magileto led aggressively in front and stormed clear in the final furlong in the hands of Mustakim Alam to record an easy win at long odds. Rambler ran on to finish second ahead of Flying Scotsman while the favourite was a tame fourth.

Another Altaf Hussain trainee Divine Thoughts won the 1200 metres Pune Police Commissioner`s Trophy, a raced for horses rated 20 to 46, quite easily in the hands of Haridas Gore sealing the issue well before the final furlong. Zukor was second ahead of Adamas. The heavily supported Dream Seller who incidentally had the beating of Enabler at Mumbai, refused to settle and was inclined to run out which effectively sealed his fate.

The only favourite to oblige in the day`s proceedings came in the first race of the day, the 2400 metres Vinayak Trophy, where Hosidar Daji trained Chat led all the way and provided Trevor Patel with an easy win by a widening margin of four lengths. Daianne gave a futile chase and had to settle for the second spot ahead of Mastery.