Pesi Shroff wins trainers' championship title

Pune: Trainer Pesi Shroff managed to win the trainers' championship title by only one-point lead over arch rival Malesh Narredu at the conclusion of the Pune season here yesterday. Ironically, the man who ensured that decisive victory was none other than Malesh Narredu's own nephew, jockey Suraj Narredu, who gave in incredible ride to the Shroff-trained Costa Del Sol when winning the feature event of the day, the Aquaguard Championship RWITC Ltd Gold Cup (Gr 2).

Just one race before, the same Suraj Narredu who was strongly fancied to win the Tattersalls Million--and the championship trophy for his uncle--astride the piping-hot favourite Sweet Music (trained by Malesh Narredu) was tricked by unfancied Elysee, a Sunderji ward who ran friendless in the hands of Neeraj Rawal. Smarting under that fresh loss, Suraj gave peach of a ride to Costa Del Sol when he manouvered his way between horses to wrest the issue in the final furlong of the grade 2 race.

Champions of Pune season

Owner: Dr & Mrs Vijay Mallya, URBB (Rs 61 lakh)

Trainer: P Shroff (20 wins)

Jockey: A Sandesh (28 wins)

Jockey with allowances: D S Daman (7 wins)

Apprentice jockey: S A Amit (7 wins)

Stud farm: Nanoli (44 points)

Bookmakers: Latif & Associates (Pune) & Banarasidas (Mumbai)