Esconido Opens Pune’s Special Race Day 2025 in Dominant Fashion
The clouds hovered over Pune Racecourse on Sunday, but Esconido brought clarity to the afternoon’s opening contest with a composed and confident victory in The Aspinalls Plate, the first event of the Pune Special Race Day 2025 meeting.
Run over 2000 metres on a Good track, the Class V handicap for Indian horses aged four years and over set the tone for a competitive day ahead. The penetrometer reading of 4.5 (Longchamp Method) hinted at firm underfoot conditions ideal for a smooth gallop.
Esconido Leads Pune Special Race Day 2025 with Classy Win
It was A. Sandesh aboard Esconido who took control early and never looked back, steering the S. Waheed-trained runner to a decisive win in 2:09.655. Owned by M/s Chirag V. Shah, Amit V. Menda, Ketan S. Wakkar, Anil V. Poduval, Shivam Amarnath Mishra, and Hittesh Chabria, Esconido displayed poise throughout, accelerating in the final metres and fending off late challengers with authority.
With this commanding performance, Esconido not only opened her season account but also set the bar high for the rest of Pune Special Race Day 2025.
Goldiva and Leo The Lion Battle Behind
Behind the winner, Goldiva, ridden by P. Trevor for trainer Dallas Todywalla, closed well to secure the runner-up position in a time of 2:10.179. She looked sharp in the final furlong but couldn’t match Esconido’s early surge.
Leo The Lion, a consistent performer for the Narendra Lagad yard and partnered by A. Prakash, completed the top three in 2:10.613. His staying ability again came to the fore, confirming his reliability over extended trips.
With Esconido delivering a strong start to the day, attention now turns to The Bushtops Plate, a 1000-metre sprint that promises raw speed and intense competition.
Stay tuned to RaceBuzz for real-time coverage and official results from the remaining contests on this Special Race Day.
