Laxman Singh trained Veronese brought off a big upset in the Gr 2 Golconda Oaks, the third classic of the season, run on Monday at Malakpet. Favourite Aster Rose who was raced off the pace, covered ground briskly in the straight but lost steam in the final furlong to finish a tame third. Upsets are par for the Oaks at any centre and in keeping with this trend, Veronese won against the run of expectations in the colours of K N Dhunjibhoy.

Aster Rose was quoted at cramped odds and it was justified because the filly had run against the best of her contemporaries and had run an eye-catching second in the Bangalore Summer Derby. However, the filly hadn`t run since July as the South India Guineas which was to serve as a lead up race, had twice been postponed and the filly was scratched from that race. As such, Aster Rose was essaying a difficult task of going over a mile and half trip which needed her to be at her best. Also, the fact that Aster Rose had a minor operation to the throat a couple of months ago was bound to put a question mark about her prospects. These are the things one must factor in to explain the filly`s defeat when by virtue of her performances in the past, she stood tall in this race.

The pace of the race was a crawl as Trevor who found himself in front on Frosty did his best to ensure that the filly had enough reserves for the homestretch. Veronese and Aster Rose were both in the rear though what clinched the issue decisively in favour of Veronese was the fact that jockey Neeraj Rawal who came in place of the indisposed Sandesh, had moved up by the final bend and was within striking range of the front-runner. Frosty led deep into the straight but her reserves ran out with about 100 metres left in the race and Veronese overhauled her easily to record an upset win. Frosty stayed on to take the second position while Aster Rose, after a brief flourish, weakened to finish third.

The Gr 3 Byerly Turf Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, had an open look about it as the field attracted many first start winners. Southern Promise was the preferred one as the daughter of Multidimensional had recorded an impressive debut win. Southern Promise indeed shaped to win but in the final stages of the race was done in by the aggressive finish of Meritocracy who managed to neck out the front-running favourite. The daughter of Excellent Art produced a scintillating run in the final furlong to get the nod in the closing strides of the race. Fashion High had all the chances but she could not add more aggression into her effort and had to settle for the third place.

A big field of 13 runners was in the fray for the 1400 metres Dr M A M Ramaswamy Memorial Cup, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. The race looked competitive with the best-performed horses in the fray have logged in miles and miles in their long career and thus showing signs of the ill-effects of the long campaign. Parushram who had just one start in monsoon but as a four-year-old campaigned with great expectations, bounced back with a blistering run in the final furlong to win the race at big odds in the hands of visiting jockey Beuzelin Louis. The highly-accomplished Machiavellianism came up with a late rally but had to be content with the second position ahead of Happy Guy and Vijay Viraaj. The race, in keeping with the expectations, produced an absorbing finish.

Laxman Singh trained Naazaan prevailed in the 2000 metres Fire Haven Cup, a race for horses rated 46 to 70, in a nail-betting finish, surviving by the skin of his teeth over Handy Man. Favourite Leading Legend who had placed in classics in monsoon, perhaps needed this run as despite an all-out effort, could only finish a good third. With a few strides left in the race, it was difficult to predict who could be the winner as Naazaan held a slight edge over fast-finishing Handy Man. However, in the bobbing of heads, Naazaan prevailed by the shortest of margins.

Laxman Singh enjoyed a good day having saddled three winners including the day`s plum event and missing the other one by a whisker, was also successful through Aragonda Princess who recorded an encore in the 1200 metres Musical Morn Plate, a race for horses rated 46 to 70. Aragonda Princess produced a winning effort down the final furlong to get the better of Bharat Queen close home to record a comfortable win. Favourite Dancing Leaf who has been plagued by a tendon injury, struggled for speed at a crucial stage of the race and was relegated to the third position. Favourite Vijays Delight was unruly at the gates and was promptly withdrawn from the fray in the 1200 metres Salarjung Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 26 to 50. The race was won by long shot Yet Another from Waseem Ahmed`s stable. Yet Another shook off the front-running Ice Cave in the final moments of the race. Bouncer who was also up with the pace, weakened to finish third. Favourite Dublin had to be ridden out with all the resources at his command by jockey Suraj Narredu to win the Division II of the race. Green Striker appeared to have established a critical lead going into the final 100 metres as Dublin had some leeway to cover. However, the power-packed finish of the jockey enabled Dublin to eke out a final stride win. Roma Rouge was third. Anupam Sharma trained Blaze of Glory completed an encore by storming clear of front-running Nelly in the final furlong and then easily containing the challenge of late rallying Dear Friend to win the Division III of the race. Exclusive Monarchy gave a good dividend on place betting.

Faiyaz Shaikh trained Cirillo tracked Royal Gold into the straight before storming clear with 200 metres left in the race to win the 1600 metres Next Move Plate, a race for horses rated up to 30. There was a cluster finish behind with Angels Ray getting the second place ahead of Cannon Hope and Amazing Power.