The Pune racecourse buzzed with excitement on Friday, October 24th, as spectators witnessed a series of thrilling finishes. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the ‘To The Manor Born Plate,’ where the magnificent three-year-old filly, Semurg, powered to a commanding victory under the skilled guidance of jockey Amyn Merchant.
Semurg’s impressive performance thrilled her owner and trainer, Mr. Himmat Singh, marking a significant win in her career.
Race Results: A Day of Champions
1. A.J. Wadia Plate (1,400m)
The day kicked off with Lion King claiming the A.J. Wadia Plate, ridden by C. Umesh. Yuletide, with Mustakim aboard, secured second place, followed by Marlboro Man (Antony Raj) in third, and Anaira (Merchant) in fourth. The race was completed in 1 minute, 26.47 seconds. Lion King’s win paid ₹22, with a SHP of ₹20. Owners: M/s. Amit R. Mehta, Nareandra Kumar Ambwani & Ketan R. M. Trained by Shazaan Shah.
2. The Maddox Plate (1,000m)
Foxy, ridden by A. Sandesh, proved to be the fastest in The Maddox Plate, crossing the finish line ahead of Majestic Warrior (Avinash) and Viennoise (Omkar). Rafael took fourth place. The 1,000-meter dash concluded in 57.36 seconds, with Foxy returning ₹15 to her backers. Owner: Mr. Jaydev M. Mody. Trained by Behram Cama.
3. To The Manor Born Plate (Div. I) (1,400m)
The featured race saw Semurg (Amyn Merchant) clinch the top spot, demonstrating her superior form. Machiavellian (Antony Raj) came in second, Majesticus (Neeraj) third, and Lara (C.S. Jodha) fourth. Semurg’s win offered a notable ₹271 payout. Owner & Trainer: Mr. Himmat Singh.
4. Shamu Chavan Salver (Div. II) (1,600m)
Come September, guided by Mustakim Alam, triumphed in the second division of the Shamu Chavan Salver. Duesenberg (C. Umesh) was second, Sands Of Dubai (Santosh) third, and Royal Champ (A. Prakash) fourth. The 1,600-meter race finished in 1 minute, 38.34 seconds. Come September’s victory paid ₹59. Owners: Begum Shaherbanoo Husain Lagad & Mr. Deepak S. Sharma. Trained by Narendra Lagad.
5. P. Hadow Trophy (1,200m)
Bee Magical, ridden by Neeraj Rawal, delivered a strong performance to win the P. Hadow Trophy. Lord Eric (Antony Raj) and Abhicandra (Sandesh) secured second and third, respectively, with Aperol (C.S. Jodha) finishing fourth. The race time was 1 minute, 08.52 seconds. Bee Magical returned ₹16. Owners: Equus Racing & Mr. Mukul Sonawala. Trained by Imtiaz A. Sait.
6. Shamu Chavan Salver (Div. I) (1,600m)
In the first division of the Shamu Chavan Salver, Looking Like A Wow (Ramswarup) surprised many with a fantastic win, paying ₹340. Exciting (Vivek G) and Little John (Antony Raj) followed in second and third, with Allez L’Etoile (Mustakim) taking fourth. Race time: 1 minute, 39.28 seconds. Note: Ember Tower (P. Dhebe up) did not participate. Owners: Mr. Sudendu Shah, Mr. K.M. Shah, Mrs. Preeti C. Shah, Mr. Tanmay V. Mathurawala, Mr. Thi Ha & Mr. Subhag Singh. Trained by Subhag Singh.
7. To The Manor Born Plate (Div. II) (1,400m)
Hazel, ridden by Vivek G, clinched the second division of the To The Manor Born Plate with a dominant run. Jackson (Sandesh) finished second, Magical Moments (Mustakim) third, and Desert Charm (Antony Raj) fourth. Hazel’s impressive win paid ₹18. Owners: Mr. & Mrs. Shapoor P. Mistry rep. Manjri Horse Breeders’ Farm Pvt. Ltd., Mr. D.R. Thacker rep. DT Racing & Breeders LLP & Mr. Ashok Ranpise. Trained by Prasanna Kumar P.
8. Star Millionaire Plate (1,200m)
The final race, the Star Millionaire Plate, saw Samson (Mustakim Alam) emerge victorious. Menjou’s Moustache (C.S. Jodha) was second, We Still Believe (K. Pranil) third, and Windborne (Antony Raj) fourth. Samson returned ₹29. Owners: Mr. Laxmikumar Goculdas rep. B.S. & Services Pvt. Ltd., Mr. & Mrs. Homi Mehta, Mr. Jehangir Mehta & Mr. Sam Mistry. Trained by Narendra Lagad.
The day concluded with several big payouts: Jackpot 70%: ₹23,280 (20 tickets), 30%: ₹2,851 (70 tickets). Treble: (i) ₹5,157 (2 tickets), (ii) ₹1,133 (24 tickets). The Super Jackpot of ₹28,685 was carried forward.