The Pune Meeting 2025’s Sixth Day got off to a thrilling start on Sunday, 7th September 2025, as Race 1 – The World’s Oldest Barbershop Trophy delivered an electrifying finish over 1200 metres at RWITC. In this Class IV contest for Indian horses aged five years and above (rated 20 to 46), Moonlight Kiss (J: A. Sandesh) produced a sensational turn of foot to claim victory for trainer Narendra Lagad, clocking 1:09:168. Racing in the silks of an influential ownership group comprising Mr Jiyaji Bhosale, Mr C. D. Katrak, Mr Kishore M. Dingra, Mrs Pragya Devgan, Mr Ritvik Devgan (rep. Niche Agriculture Pharmaceuticals Limited), Mr Haren S. Malkani, Mr G. Shewakramani, Mr Narendra Lagad, and Mr Rustam Mehta, the five-year-old mare asserted her dominance with a powerful late surge.
The race unfolded at a relentless pace from the gates, with the early leaders setting strong fractions over the six-furlong trip. Moonlight Kiss settled smartly in midfield under a patient ride from A. Sandesh, conserving energy before making a decisive move at the top of the straight. Accelerating with precision inside the final furlong, she stormed past the front-runners to secure a comfortable and commanding win, showcasing both stamina and class.
Empower (J: T. S. Jodha, T: Nazzak B. Chenoy) finished a game second after fighting hard through the closing stages but fell just short of catching the winner. Meanwhile, The Athabasca (J: R. Ajinkya, T: P. S. Chouhan) produced a strong late run to secure third, rounding off the top three finishers in this competitive opener.
With the curtain raised on Day Six of the Pune Meeting 2025, all eyes now turn to Race 2 – The Lemon Tree Hotels Trophy, scheduled for 2:00 PM, where another exciting battle awaits racing fans.
Link to Pune Meeting Day 6 Results on RaceBuzz.
