The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) conducted the fourth day of the Pune Meeting 2026 at Pune Racecourse on Saturday, 29th August, with Challenge Accepted opening the afternoon with victory in the 1st race, The Azzurro Plate. The Class II handicap for horses rated 60 to 86, with horses rated 40 to 59 eligible, was run over 1200 metres at 01:30 PM. Challenge Accepted, ridden by Ramswarup and trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, stopped the clock at 1:09:202 for Mr Rajendran rep Rapar’s Galloping Stars LLP. The Pune race result 29th August began with a determined performance from the winner. The official RWITC record lists The Azzurro Plate as Race No. 58.
Challenge Accepted travelled well through the contest and produced the necessary acceleration in the closing stages. Ramswarup kept the winner balanced and timed the finishing effort effectively, allowing Challenge Accepted to gain the advantage and maintain it to the line.
Manor House, ridden by S. G. Prasad and trained by Aman Altaf Hussain, finished second in 1:10:087. Son Of A Gun, with A. Prakash aboard for trainer Narendra Lagad, secured third in 1:10:247.
The afternoon then moved to the 2nd race, The J. E. Hughes Trophy, scheduled for 02:00 PM over 1600 metres.
Sovereign King secured the honours in the 2nd race, The J. E. Hughes Trophy, a Class I handicap for horses rated 80 and upward, with horses rated 60 to 79 eligible. The 1600-metre contest was held at 02:00 PM, with Sovereign King ridden by Antony Raj S. and trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, completing the race in 1:38:251 for Mr Sudendu Shah, Mrs Preeti C Shah, Mrs Vanita K Shah, Dr Rahul Shah, Mrs Pooja S Shah, Mrs Hiral Shah, Mr Chaitanya Shah & Mr Vinod M Mathurawala rep Shah Equines LLP.
Sovereign King settled into a useful rhythm before improving through the latter stages. Antony Raj S. brought the winner forward at the right moment and Sovereign King responded strongly enough to secure the advantage in a closely contested finish.
Chagall, ridden by Vivek G. for trainer P. Shroff, finished second in 1:38:339. Fighton, partnered by Prashant P. Dhebe and trained by M. K. Jadhav, was third in 1:38:595.
The next race was The Evaldo Plate, scheduled for 02:30 PM over 1600 metres.
Seneca won the 3rd race, The Evaldo Plate, a Class III handicap for Indian horses rated 40 to 66, with horses rated 20 to 39 eligible. The race was contested over 1600 metres at 02:30 PM. Seneca was ridden by Ramswarup and trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, recording a winning time of 1:39:204 for Mr Haider Soomar, Mrs Rashmee A Amersey rep So Blest Trading Co Pvt Ltd, Mr Kishore P Rungta, Mr Vivek S Jain, Mr Saleem Fazelbhoy & Mr Gautam Lala rep Gainsville Stud & Agl Farm Pvt Ltd.
Seneca maintained a steady position before building momentum as the race entered its decisive phase. Ramswarup kept the winner travelling smoothly and Seneca finished strongly enough to hold the advantage through the final stages.
Don Julio took second in 1:39:376 under Neeraj Rawal for trainer Rehanullah Khan. Spanish Eyes, ridden by P. Trevor and trained by Dallas Todywalla, finished third in 1:39:571.
The fourth race was The Star Trainer Plate, due at 03:00 PM over 1000 metres.
Darcy landed the 4th race, The Star Trainer Plate, a Class III handicap for Indian horses rated 40 to 66, with horses rated 20 to 39 eligible. The 1000-metre race at 03:00 PM was won by Darcy under C. Umesh for trainer Faisal A. Abbas, with a winning time of 0:57:656 for M/s Chanakya Sanjeevkumar Gaur, Cowas D Bajan & Faisal A Abbas’s.
Darcy showed good speed over the sharp 1000-metre trip and remained in contention before producing the decisive effort. C. Umesh kept the winner on an even stride and Darcy finished strongly to secure the race.
Admirable, ridden by Neeraj Rawal and trained by P. S. Chouhan, finished second in 0:57:938. Storm Cloud, partnered by Avinash Paswan for trainer Narendra Lagad, was third in 0:58:006.
The fifth race brought the day’s Grade III feature, The Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million, at 03:30 PM.
Encino Claims The Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million
Encino won the 5th race, The Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million (Grade III), a contest for Indian horses aged four years and over. The 1200-metre feature at 03:30 PM saw Encino ridden by P. Trevor for trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha, clocking 1:08:213 for Mr Gautam Lala rep Gainsville Stud & Agl Farm Pvt Ltd, Mr Kishore P Rungta, Mr S R Sanas & Mr Ajay K Arora’s.
Encino travelled with purpose and maintained a strong rhythm before producing the winning effort in the closing stages. P. Trevor timed the challenge well and Encino continued to find enough under pressure to finish in front.
Shambala, ridden by Antony Raj S. for trainer Nazzak B Chenoy, finished second in 1:08:573. Market King, with Vivek G. aboard for trainer Imtiaz A. Sait, took third in 1:08:890.
The official RWITC programme confirms Encino, Shambala, Market King and Social Butterfly among the declared runners for the Grade III Sprint Million.
The sixth race was The Idar Gold Trophy, scheduled for 04:00 PM over the day’s longest distance of 2400 metres.
Duke Of Tuscany Wins The Idar Gold Trophy
Duke Of Tuscany secured victory in the 6th race, The Idar Gold Trophy, a Terms race for horses aged four years and over. The 2400-metre contest at 04:00 PM saw Duke Of Tuscany partnered by R. Ajinkya and trained by P. Shroff, recording 2:29:348 for Mr K N Dhunjibhoy, Mr Z K Dhunjibhoy & Ms Anosha Meyers rep Five Stars Shipping Co Pvt Ltd, Mr Rama Seshu Eyunni & Ms Anita J Captain.
Duke Of Tuscany handled the staying test with a measured performance, maintaining a consistent rhythm before moving into contention for the final stages. R. Ajinkya brought the winner forward at the appropriate moment and Duke Of Tuscany held the advantage to the finish.
Fynbos, ridden by Vivek G. and trained by P. Shroff, finished second in 2:29:488. Kings Gambit, with Yash Narredu aboard for trainer P. Shroff, took third in 2:29:737.
The official RWITC declarations confirm the six-runner Idar Gold Trophy field included Duke Of Tuscany, Fynbos, Arrived, Kings Gambit, Dream Alliance and Red Bishop.
The seventh race followed at 04:30 PM, with The Fourth Estate Trophy over 1400 metres.
Esteban came through to win the 7th race, The Fourth Estate Trophy, a Class IV handicap for Indian horses rated 20 to 46, with horses rated 0 to 19 eligible. The 1400-metre race at 04:30 PM was won by Esteban under Avinash Paswan for trainer Narendra Lagad, with a winning time of 1:25:979 for Mr Balam Mohla, Mr Jehangir Mehta, Mr Anil Saraf, Mr Kishore M Dingra & Mr Rajiv Tinaikar, Mrs Minal Pitale, Mr Suresh Pitale & Mr Nihar Pitale rep Green Turf Racing LLP.
Esteban maintained a useful position before improving through the latter stages. Avinash Paswan kept the winner travelling efficiently and Esteban produced the necessary response in the straight to secure the lead.
Funny Bunny, ridden by Vivek G. for trainer P. S. Chouhan, finished second in 1:26:429. Believe, partnered by R. Ajinkya for trainer S. Waheed, finished third in 1:26:483.
The race conditions specified that jockeys would not be permitted to use the whip in The Fourth Estate Trophy.
The final race of the afternoon was The Capitulate Plate, scheduled for 05:00 PM over 2000 metres.
Exotic Star completed the eight-race programme with victory in the 8th race, The Capitulate Plate, a Class V handicap for Indian horses aged four years and over, rated 1 to 26. The 2000-metre race at 05:00 PM saw Exotic Star ridden by S. Mosin for trainer S. Waheed, recording 2:10:617 for Mr Shivam Amarnath Mishra, Mr Ketan S. Wakkar, Mr Hittesh Chabria, Mr Rajiv Tinaikar, Mrs. Minal Pitale, Mr. Suresh Pitale & Mr. Nihar Pitale rep. Green Turf Racing LLP & Mr Anil V. Poduval’s.
Exotic Star handled the 2000-metre journey well and remained competitive before producing the effort required in the closing stages. S. Mosin kept the winner on a consistent rhythm and Exotic Star finished in front to bring the fourth day to a close.
Whisper, ridden by Vishal for trainer M. Narredu, finished second. Ma Cherie, partnered by Haridas Gore for trainer Sangramsinh N. Joshi, finished third. The supplied race result did not include official finishing times for the second- and third-placed horses in this race, so no times have been added here.
The official RWITC declarations confirm Mai Tai, Exotic Star, Okinayume, Whisper and Ma Cherie as the five runners declared for The Capitulate Plate.
The fourth day of the Pune Meeting 2026 therefore concluded after eight races, beginning with Challenge Accepted in The Azzurro Plate and ending with Exotic Star in The Capitulate Plate. The day’s programme also featured the Grade III Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million and the 2400-metre Idar Gold Trophy, providing two major highlights across the afternoon.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.