Pesi Shroff wasted little time turning Pune into an extension of Bangalore, saddling four winners on Sunday to stamp his authority on the fledgling season. If there is one golden rule punters are rapidly relearning, it is this: when uncertain, follow Pesi. Kings Gambit led the charge in the Eve Champion Trophy, while Chagall, Matisse and Mahogany completed a quartet that left rivals chasing shadows and bookmakers breathing easier.

Pesi Shroff seems to have packed his Bangalore winning habit into his luggage and unpacked it straight at Pune. The champion trainer rattled home four winners on the third day of the Pune season on Sunday, reinforcing what has become a familiar punter's survival strategy: when in doubt, back Pesi. More often than not, his horses look fitter, healthier, better prepared and, rather annoyingly for everyone else, usually end up proving it on the track as well.

The feature event, the 2000 metres Eve Champion Trophy for four-year-olds and over, saw Kings Gambit justify favouritism with a workmanlike victory. Fresh from his Bangalore campaign, the Pesi-trained runner had race fitness on his side and used it well. Dream Alliance briefly threatened to spoil the celebration after collaring the eternal front-runner Azalea at the top of the straight. Azalea, by now, appears to have accepted her lifelong job description as the designated hare and dutifully sticks to the script even when nobody explicitly asks her to. Dream Alliance fought bravely before waving the white flag in the shadow of the post as Kings Gambit, ridden confidently by Yash Narredu, lengthened his stride to score comfortably. Stablemate Red Bishop, partnered by Vivek, finished third while Azalea was left watching the closing stages from a respectful distance.

Another Shroff inmate, Chagall, decided that a year without winning was quite enough and resurfaced dramatically in the 1400 metres Altaf Hussain Million for horses rated 60 to 86. Ironically, the race named after Altaf Hussain nearly ended up being won by his son Aman, whose Neutralist looked home after making every yard. But horse racing has an irritating habit of ignoring the script. Chagall, with Opus Dei for company, unleashed a late surge and snatched victory by a whisker in the dying strides. Neutralist had done everything except glance over his shoulder. Favourite Thundering Phoenix never looked likely to justify the confidence reposed in him.

Whenever Pesi saddles two runners, punters develop instant split personalities. The 1600 metres Royal Princess Plate for horses rated 40 to 66 presented exactly that dilemma. Dreamer from M K Jadhav's yard attracted solid support while Olivier had useful Bangalore form. Yet it was the overlooked Matisse, winless for nearly 200 days and partnered by apprentice Siddharth, who turned the race into a one-act play. Allowed to dictate from the front, Matisse found enough in reserve when Dreamer mounted a serious challenge and kicked on again to score with authority. Olivier finished a neck behind Dreamer after staying on along the rails.

Mahogany was part of Shroff's quartet in the 1200 metres Dr P K Sardeshmukh Maharaj Trophy (Division II) for maiden three-year-olds. The trainer is generally accused of keeping his heavyweight artillery for Mumbai and treating Pune as a leisurely weekend outing. Sunday's results suggested otherwise. Despite attracting little market attention while Yinsiruk soaked up the betting, Mahogany quietly bided her time at the rear before producing a sharp burst through the inside to overhaul the favourite in style. This full sister to the accomplished Enigma looks a filly with a bright future. Noraiah finished third.

The upper division produced another upset as heavily backed Pure Soul failed to deliver despite being backed to prohibitive odds. Sandesh produced Coffee At Eleven with impeccable timing and the Planetaire progeny unleashed an explosive turn of foot to brush aside the favourite with ease. Manuel finished a promising third after making late progress.

Favourite backers endured a difficult afternoon, their wallets becoming steadily lighter with every passing race. Pradeep Chouhan-trained Staria looked all set to justify cramped odds in the 1400 metres Orange Flame Plate for horses rated 20 to 46 after leading into the final furlong. But Himmat Singh-trained Semurg had other ideas, swooping late before sailing away for an emphatic victory. Merchant of Venice edged out the tiring favourite for second.

Malesh Narredu-trained Gunfire was one favourite who remembered his lines. In the 1000 metres Golfing Plate for horses rated 40 to 66, the Mumbai performer made every post a winning one and comfortably held Wind Dancer and El Moran at bay. Having already won twice and finished placed once in Mumbai, bookmakers wisely decided generosity was an unnecessary virtue.

The biggest market casualty of the afternoon was Dallas Todywalla-trained Golden Eye, the shortest-priced runner of the day, who failed to justify the avalanche of support in the 1400 metres August Handicap for horses rated 20 to 46. Avante had to thread a path through Alpha Strike and Spectra on the inside, along the rails, before Vivek found daylight. Once clear, the filly accelerated like she had discovered an empty express lane and stormed home at rewarding odds. Hermanus finished strongly for second ahead of the game front-runner Alpha Strike.

Karthik Ganapathy-trained Her Charge gave favourite backers one final reason to smile in the concluding 1600 metres Zephyr Bay Plate for the bottom class. Sweeping past Royal Champ early in the straight, Her Charge quickly settled the issue and cantered home by four lengths. Ma Cherie flew home from the clouds to narrowly miss second, leaving Royal Champ clinging to the runner-up cheque by the slimmest of margins.