RAEES WINS THE LAST GROUP RACE OF THE PUNE SEASON

Trainer Imtiaz Sait had entered the league of the 2000 winners club, and was a very busy man on the last day of the season having to saddle four runners, Caprisca, Raees, B Fifty Two and Winter Renaissance, in The Aquaguard Championship R.W.I.T.C. Ltd. Gold Cup, Gr.2 run over the mile and a quarter. The Indian St Leger winner Caprisca garnered favouritism in the eight horse field with his other three runners available at double digits. The winner of the Threptin Fillies & Mares, Watchmyscript was fancied to give Caprisca a fight to the end. It was however, the favourites stablemate Raees (Sedgefield-Lost Perfection), the winner of the Suresh Mahindra Trophy run over 3200m just two weeks earlier, who scripted his way to success.
B Fifty Two took to the lead with Winter Renaissance and Kambaku in close attendance. Raees and Auburn were close at hand with Caprisca, Whomakestherules following, and Watchmyscript sitting in the rear. Till the 6f marker the order remained unchanged with Raees settling well in third. Crossing the 600m marker B Fifty Two extended his lead to about four lengths to the good of Kambaku with Raees in close third. As they took the turn for home B Fifty Two tried to maintain the lead but it gradually dwindled away as Kambaku, with Raees on his outside, followed closely by Winter Renaissance, Auburn and Caprisca began their challenge. Whomakestherules and Watchmyscript were still the back-markers. In the last 250m Raees, with Akshay Kumar in the saddle, was seen powering his way with Caprisca on his outside. It was all over for the longtime leader B Fifty Two as Raees and Caprisca took the fight to the line with the former emerging triumphant over stable mate Caprisca by ½length. Watchmyscript came with a late flourish to take third 1¼ lengths away with B Fifty Two holding onto fourth.

This was a proud moment for sporting owners Mr & Mrs Hoosain S Nensey and Mr Saif H Nensey who were unfortunately not at the course to lead in Raees, who was winning the first Group race of his career. The five-year-old gelding has won seven of his 21 starts with career earnings of ₹33,27,108.