Leo D`Silva trained Paso Robles thrashed the opposition in the Gr 2 Golconda Oaks, the third classic of the season at Malakpet on Monday. Paso Robles who had claimed the Golconda 1000 Guineas won easier than expected as the challenge from Cape Kidnappers did not materialise leaving the way for the favourite to win as she pleased.

Flamboyant Lady who hit the front at the start of the race veered out violently to the outer rail and dropped her jockey Nakhat Singh. Artistryy raced keenly in front with Paso Robles settled comfortably in the second position ahead of Cape Kidnappers and Nekhbet. Artistryy held the lead till the final two furlongs. The moment Suraj Narredu asked for a bigger effort from Paso Robles, the favourite bounced clear to eventually win by a widening margin of five lengths with the jockey affording to relax. Artistryy stayed on to take the second position four lengths ahead of Mumbai challenger Nekhbet while Cape Kidnappers was a miserable last. The fact that Cape Kidnappers was not seen in serious workouts the whole of last month perhaps was suggestive of the fact that something could have gone wrong with her preparations which also reflected in her miserable performance.

Donald Netto trained Victory Parade who had finished a noteworthy third in the Golconda 2000 Guineas smashed the opposition in the 1400 metres Raja Sitharam Bhupal of Domakonda Samasthan Memorial Cup, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. Backed to the exclusion of the rest to bounce back to winning ways after 140 days, Victory Parade did all the front-running and skipped away beyond the reach of the rest in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar by a margin of over five lengths. Titus who gave a chase weakened and conceded the runner-up berth to late rallying Nayadeep.

The benefit of a race run had sharpened up Lacrosse who brooked no opposition in the 1100 metres Race Club Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Lacrosse travelled in a handy second position as Bulls Ace did the early running before jockey Akshay Kumar pushed the favourite to take charge on turning for home. The progeny of Leitir Mor skipped clear to win by a widening margin of four lengths over Just Incredible who headed late-finishing stablemate Detonator to grab the second position.

Satyanarayana trained Shivalik Valley was backed to the exclusion of the rest so much so that all other runners were quoted at odds higher than 10 to 1 but the favourite lost by a whisker to hitherto unlucky Loch Stella who had finished second best on four successive occasions. Jockey Nakhat Singh took Loch Stella on a start to finish mission and though the long shot came under intense pressure from the favourite, the front-runner just about held on to win the 1200 metres Malakpet Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Kimberly Cruise was third more than five lengths adrift but a short head ahead of Jo Malone to claim the third position. Suraj Narredu guided last start winner Mystery to get the better of Incredulous close home to win the lower division of the race. Mystery was lugging in, but the jockey could overcome the problem and get the favourite to overhaul the long-time leader. Wah Ms Zara was third.

Trainer Satyanarayana gave the second shock of the day to the punters after his heavily backed favourite Shivalik Valley failed to deliver the goods. In the very next race, Crimson Fire from his tables which was at long odds came from way off the pace, literally from the back of the field covered the ground with menacing strides in the final furlong and got the better of One One One in the closing stride of the race to win the 1200 metres Anmol Ratan Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Favourite Lightning Fin and One One One were engaged in a stiff battle for supremacy with the latter a shade ahead but the arrival of Crimson Fire totally changed the complexion of the race. This was the second straight win for Crimson Fire. Another fancied runner Rapid Fire was in the hunt till the final furlong before weakening to go out of the reckoning.

Sreekant trained Soul Empress came up with the patented late burst of speed to edge past favourite Gorgeous Lady in the dying moments of the race to win the 1200 metres Dynamic Dancer Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Gorgeous Lady who hadn`t won for 539 days came in for strong betting ahead of last start winner Soul Empress on whom there was a late surge of betting in the ring. Akshay Kumar drove out Gorgeous Lady to take the lead inside the final furlong, but closer home came under intense pressure from Soul Empress who responded to the urgings of Irvan Singh. The latter managed to put her neck in front at the finish. Patron Saint and Hurricane occupied the next two slots on the frame.

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Lacrosse (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Race Club Plate

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Loch Stella (Nakhat Singh up) winner of the Malakpet Plate (Div-I)

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Crimson Fire (Rohit Kumar up) winner of the Anmol Ratan Plate

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Soul Empress (Irvan Singh up) winner of the Dynamic Dancer Plate (Div-I)

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Victory Parade (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Raja Sitharam Bhupal Of Domakonda Samasthan Memorial Cup

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Mystery (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Malakpet Plate (Div-II)

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Paso Robles (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Golconda Oaks (Gr.2)

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N R I Vision (Abhay Singh up) winner of the Dynamic Dancer Plate (Div-II)

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