Jaandaar claimed the prestigious Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby at Pune Racecourse on Sunday, October 11, 2026, producing a determined performance in Race 6 over 2000 metres at 4:00 PM. Ridden by Vivek G. and trained by P. Shroff, Jaandaar secured the coveted victory in 2:02.492 for Mr & Mrs Vijay B. Shirke and Mr Jay V. Shirke, representing Horse Haven Breeding and Racing Private Limited.
The Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby provided a closely contested finish, with Jaandaar finding the necessary acceleration in the closing stages to hold off a persistent challenge from Avener. The winning combination maintained its composure through the decisive phase of the 2000-metre contest, crossing the finish line just ahead of the runner-up. The narrow margin reflected the competitive nature of the Derby, with the leading contenders separated by fractions of a second.
Avener, ridden by A. Sandesh and trained by Adhirajsingh Jodha, finished second in 2:02.632, just 0.140 seconds behind the winner. Beast Mode, partnered by P. Trevor and trained by M. K. Jadhav, secured third place in 2:03.194, completing the top three in Pune’s premier Derby contest.
Jaandaar’s victory added another notable result to the Pune racing season, with the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby once again providing a searching test over the classic distance. The close finish underlined the quality of the leading runners and the importance of timing in the final stages of the race.
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