A vigorous ride by Mustakim Alam, given to a gutsy Alpine Star, gained the day for trainer Narendra Lagad, who won the Pride Group Independence Million, the feature event of the Independence Day card at Pune. Mustakim settled Alpine Star behind leader Blazing Bay all the way, before taking charge approaching the 800m marker, and then courageously thwarted a desparate bid by favourite Vincent Van Gogh (PS Chouhan up) in the final furlong of the 2000m trip.

Ironically, Alpine Star was not originally meant to run the big race because the trainer thought it was foolish to pay a late fee of Rs 2 lakh to take a shot at the winner's purse of Rs 5 lakh. But his wife, Begum Shaherbanoo who owns Alpine Star, put her foot down. Defying her husband, she wrote a cheque for the late entry fee of Rs 2 lakh.