Jockey Prakash drove out Xisca to get the better of Kohinoor Wish in the final stages of the Gr 1 Golconda Textiles Deccan Derby to swell his tally of classic wins at Malakpet on Sunday. The Pesi Shroff trained daughter of China Visit came up with a powerful stretch run to overtake longtime leader Kohinoor Wish to record a decisive win. This win also provided Shroff his first success in this race as a trainer. Xisca is the second daughter of China Visit to win a Derby. In July, Moonlight Romance had won the Gr 1 Kingfisher Derby and the success of Xisca should boost her sire China Visit whose progeny seems to be firing with regularity in recent times.

The Usha Stud Farm produce Xisca went into this race as a favourite ahead of local hope Vijay Monarch and she justified the strong support by showing both her staying prowess as well as ability to change gears by picking up speed when Kohinoor Wish appeared to have gone away from the rest with a furlong to go. Jockey Prakash, whose classic tally is more than 100, is also the one Indian jockey to have over 2000 winners. The unassuming professional has proved to be quietly efficient though lack of success in the last few months may have dented his confidence a bit. This win should see him at the helm again.

Da Xia and Youre An Eton were the pace setters as the field set out to travel the mile and quarter trip in good, firm going. The pace of the race was pretty decent, with Kohinoor Wish and Rapture of Victory settled in about fifth or sixth position. Vijay Monarch graced the rear end of the field followed by Xisca. Half way through the stage, Pradeep Chouhan abruptly moved up on Vijay Monarch from behind, possibly sensing that he had kept the one paced horse too far away from the front bunch and Prakash followed Xisca into the straight. Vijay Monarch failed to quicken and stayed glued to the fourth position while Xisca steadily gained the upper hand.

Jockey John pushed Kohinoor Wish to take over the running at the top of the long Hyderabad stretch which in itself was a good move. Where he erred was in pushing Kohinoor Wish to accelerate when he could have done well to have waited with the horse in front. Kohinoor Wish went away into a big lead and at one time it looked as though Xisca would be unable to catch up with him. However, the effort of running in front told on Kohinoor Wish who slackened inside the final100 metres. John also aggravated the problem by relying on the whip more than hands and heels approach. Prakash was unhurried in his approach and it was clear that he was pretty confident that he would catch up with the front runner. He was not required to be aggressive on the horse by using the whip. He drove out the filly with hands and heels and overhauled the front runner quite comfortably, sparing a shade less than two lengths at the finish. Rapture of Victory chased Kohinoor Wish into the straight but did not gain places but managed to finish third, ahead of stablemate Vijay Monarch. Kohinoor Wish ran a game race but stamina limitations and the jockey`s tactic of rushing his horse undid any possibility of pulling off a big win for trainer Prasad Raju. The rest of the runners were outclassed.

The Derby day was dominated by quite a few long shots and as such, punters got the wrong end of the stick. The Major General Nawab Khushru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup, a Category I race, had a creditable field of 14 runners and half a dozen of them ran with a chance of winning. This was reflected in the odds. However, close to race time one could spot a surge in the support for Shezad Abbas trained Aphrodisiac who was being ridden by Irish jockey Daniel Grant. Kohinoor Mystic, who had proved invincible over five furlongs, had his share of supporters. Kohinoor Mystic as his wont led the field from the start and broke into a big lead. With a furlong out, the lead looked healthy enough to assure him a win but Aphrodisiac came up with big run and had the measure of the front runner in sight of the winning post. Kohinoor Mystic was fast slackening and was edged out by Chesnut Charmer for the runner up berth. There was flurry of activity behind but Kohinoor Mystic saved placed money from fast finishing Splendid Act.

Shamsuddin trained Standing Ovation was backed to the exclusion of his rivals though he had no recent form to his credit. But then he was taking on a modest opposition and as such, his past performance was expected to hold him in good stead. But in the event, Standing Ovation who showed up prominently at the top of the straight, packed up when pressure was on to eventually finish way behind. Kohinoor Eye had the first run on her opponents and led for much of the straight but lost steam in the closing stages of the race. Allegation, who had run poorly hardly a few days ago, came up with a big rush to go ahead and held off the late rally of Anguna and Canadian Girl. The victory of Allegation was a big blow to punters as he hardly had any supporters in the ring.

Corvette was another favourite to let down the supporters. Backed with conviction to land the spoils in the Turf Authorities Cup (Div I), a mile race for horses rated up to 50. Corvette was taken on a start to finish mission. She had a big lead over the rest on entering the straight and looked like she would oblige even with a furlong to go. However, she slowed down closer home and Askoz came from way behind with a big gallop to get the nod at the finish. Kohinoor Ruby brought off a big upset in the lower division of the race by doggedly staying on in front and winning at the expense of Star of Hyderabad who found foot too late to make an impact on the result.

Orient Glory, who had lost in controversial circumstances as a favourite, was yet again supported to win in the 1100 metres Jatprole Cup, a race for horses rated up to 75 in what was an open betting affair. There were more than four horses that had their share of supporters. As it happens always in such a scenario, the least supported horse in the fray, Aloisia brought off a big upset winning with a prominent run in front, winning at the expense of Jewel In The Crown and Flash of Emerald who appeared late to finish an impressive third. Orient Glory was prominent till the final bend and thereafter went backwards and was not sighted.

The Leader did not show his qualities when letting down as a favourite. After being sluggish at the start, The Leader steadily moved up and even took over the running with about 350 metres left in the race. But he slowed down inside the final 100 metres and Jabel Queen rallied well to record a comfortable win.

Laxman Singh`s Arya Veer, who had recorded an impressive during the summer season in Bangalore, hadn`t run since returning to Hyderabad. Now running in the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Cup, Arya Veer moved from the third position at the final bend to leave the field stranded to win as he pleased. Al Sarraah necked out Onti Onti Onti for the second spot.

Favourite Vijay Damini did not win the way she was expected to. Vijay Damini was hard pressed by Golden Queen who even put her neck in front. But under pressure, she drifted out which allowed the former to seize the initiative again and win by a neck.