The tranquil morning at Pune’s racecourse on Friday, October 10th, was enlivened by a series of impressive horse exercise sessions. Among the many equine athletes, Desert Classic and Fontana particularly stood out, demonstrating remarkable fitness and readiness that captivated observers.
Inner Sand Track Performances:
600m Gallops:
- **Adonis**, guided by jockey Bhawani, clocked a relaxed 40 seconds.
- **Charlie**, also ridden by Bhawani, moved with effortless grace, finishing in 39 seconds.
- **Magileto**, under A. Gaikwad, displayed solid form, completing the distance in a swift 39 seconds.
800m Drills:
- **Alexandria**, with Zervan in the saddle, was noticeably urged, finishing the 800m in 52 seconds, with her final 600m in 39 seconds.
- **Eastern Monarch**, ridden by S.J. Sunil, showed good pace, matching Alexandria’s 52-second finish and 39-second last 600m.
- **Namiri** (Vivek G) and **Marius** (apprentice jockey) worked in tandem, recording 53 seconds for the 800m, though Namiri pulled clear impressively towards the end.
1000m Workouts:
- **Madison**, steered by Pranil, performed admirably, finishing in 1 minute 6 seconds, with her last 800m in 51 seconds and 600m in 38 seconds.
- **Touch Of Mystic**, partnered with S. Amit, moved fluidly, completing the 1000m in 1 minute 5 seconds, and covering the last 800m in 51 seconds and 600m in 38 seconds.
- **Fontana**, under Pranil, responded brilliantly, clocking an impressive 1 minute 5 seconds for the 1000m, with a blistering 51 seconds for the final 800m and 38 seconds for the last 600m.
1200m Masterclass:
- **Desert Classic**, with S. Kamble aboard, delivered an absolutely stunning performance. She covered the 1200m in 1 minute 19 seconds, maintaining an exceptional pace with her last 1000m in 1 minute 4 seconds, 800m in 50 seconds, and an impressive 600m in 38 seconds.
Gate Practice Sessions:
1000m Gate Practice:
The inner sand track also hosted gate practice for two-year-olds. **Black Magician** (Shahrukh) and **Victory Flair** (Shubham) completed their 1000m practice in 1 minute 6 seconds, with the last 800m in 52 seconds and 600m in 40 seconds. Notably, Black Magician demonstrated superior speed, finishing a considerable distance ahead of Victory Flair.