The prophecy was fulfilled at the Gr 3 Coromandel Gromor Deccan Fillies Championship Stakes, the season`s first classic at Malakpet on Sunday. In a thrilling display of guts, Divine Prophecy carved her name into the annals of racing history. It was a race where fortune favored the brave, and none braver than the young jockey, Vivek G. The rising star, showcasing a fearless spirit and raw talent, dared to exploit a narrow gap along the rails. With Divine Art tiring out at the crucial moment, it seemed as if the racing gods themselves smiled upon Vivek. On the outside, the favorite Spanish Eyes was relentless, her strides powerful and determined, almost in line with the leaders.
But luck is fickle, and racing is often a game of inches. Divine Art faded just enough to create an opening. Sensing the opportunity, Vivek urged Divine Prophecy forward with everything he had. Spanish Eyes, ridden by the seasoned jockey Sandesh, wasn`t giving an inch. The two thoroughbreds, locked in a battle of wills, charged down the final furlong, neck and neck, every stride a desperate bid for glory.
The crowd held its breath as the duo thundered past the post, their hooves pounding in unison. It was a photo finish—a race so close it could only be decided by the skin of Divine Prophecy`s teeth! The judges` decision came, and the crowd erupted in cheers—Divine Prophecy had prevailed!
Mother`s Grace ran a commendable race to finish third, while Divine Art, out of her depth and drained of energy, faded into the background. Another runner from champion trainer Pesi Shroff`s yard, Villanelle, failed to make an impression. This victory marked yet another triumph for the Mukteshwar Stud Farm, further enhancing the reputation of their remarkable stallion, already the sire of this year`s Sprinter`s Cup winner. This was perhaps the first classic triumph for trainer Ravinder Singh for whom the horse came under his charge after her original trainer Hilton Sequeira suffered a suspension for breach of medication rules.

Earlier, Suraj Narredu had positioned Divine Prophecy perfectly to take the early lead, with Divine Prophency and Spanish Eyes closely shadowing her every move. The field was tightly bunched, each horse vying for position. In the straight, Divine Art momentarily held sway but lacked the stamina to maintain her advantage. It was here that Divine Prophecy, sensing her chance, squeezed through along the rail, setting the stage for the dramatic duel that would follow. As the race reached its electrifying conclusion, the bob of the heads favored the gallant Divine Prophecy—a victory for bravery and boldness in the face of fierce competition.
As the dust settled, the local crowd erupted in jubilation. Their hometown heroine had held off a formidable lineup of outstation challengers, proving that on this day, at least, the prophecy was divine indeed.

Donald Netto-trained NRI Doublepower was heavily backed to score an encore in the 1400 metres Northern Dancer Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 60 to 85. But this victory didn`t come easy—it required every ounce of skill and experience from jockey Suraj Narredu to edge out a determined Indian Sniper, who was aiming for a hat-trick of wins.

Known for her come-from-behind tactics, NRI Doublepower once again started off in the rear, as the frontrunners, led by Angio, set a blistering pace. As the race unfolded, Suraj Narredu skillfully navigated NRI Doublepower through the pack, moving up rapidly by the final bend, even though he had to take the wide route. Meanwhile, Indian Sniper, under apprentice jockey Likith Appu, had found a seam through the middle and was charging forward with a fierce determination.

The last 100 meters were a thrilling showdown between Indian Sniper and NRI Doublepower, with neither willing to concede an inch. The two horses fought neck-and-neck, stride-for-stride, until NRI Doublepower, the favorite, managed to thrust her neck in front at the wire. Despite numerous failures, Lash Wish continued to enjoy big support in the betting ring but again failed to deliver, finishing a distant third, five lengths behind the leading duo.

The lower division of the Northern Dancer Plate delivered a similarly gripping finish. Both Maverick and Lucky Zone, coming off impressive runner-up efforts, were primed for a showdown. Maverick went off as the strong favorite, and this time it was Likith Appu who steered his mount to victory. Maverick tracked Malibu right until the final furlong before making his decisive move.

As Maverick surged ahead, Lucky Zone launched a powerful late bid, rapidly closing the gap in the straight. The two locked horns in a fierce battle for supremacy, but Maverick held his ground, fending off the challenge by a neck. NRI Superpower followed in third, completing a dramatic day of racing. Maverick under pressure veered out and took Lucky Zone along but the resultant objection by jockey Aashad Asbar who rode the runner up did not find favour with the Stewards and the placings remained unaltered. Maverick was one of the three winners saddled by trainer Netto.
Encore, a last-start winner, delivered another impressive performance by fending off challenges from Decoy and the favorite Deccan Spirit in the 1400 metres Pakhal Lake Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Deccan Spirit looked poised for victory as he led going into the final furlong, but Encore, under a relentless ride from jockey Md Ekram Alam, dug deep and surged ahead in the final 100 metres. Decoy mounted a strong bid along the rails, but Encore had just enough in reserve to cross the finish line safely in front. Despite coming off a recent win, Encore was surprisingly quoted at 10 to 1 odds.
Meanwhile, in the 1200 metres Bhonger Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45, Mikimoto—trained by Netto—lived up to strong favoritism by dominating the field. Jockey Kuldeep Singh guided Mikimoto to a commanding start-to-finish victory, never coming under pressure despite veering out in the final stages. Although this move narrowed the gap between her and Windsor, there was no doubt about the winner`s superiority. Assured Success trailed in third, finishing six lengths behind.
Trainer Satheesh is known for his horses delivering shock results when least expected, and it was no different with Genie. The filly was overlooked by punters—and for good reason, having finished a dismal 27 lengths behind in her last outing. In the 1100 metres Belmont Prince Plate, Exclusive Black, the favorite, led the field into the straight and seemed set for victory as Genie appeared to be struggling and running green. Despite her erratic course, Genie found her stride, finishing strongly to overtake the front-runner close to the post and storm ahead for a remarkable victory. Talking Stick made a late surge but couldn`t catch Genie, who had already sealed the deal. Newfound Glory took third, while a fatigued Exclusive Black faded to a disappointing fourth.

In another twist, Char Ek Char, trained by Mir Faiyaz Ali Khan, hadn`t seen the winner`s circle in over 900 days but was fancied to win the 1400 metres Hyperion Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. The six-year-old mare had shown a hint of promise with a forward run in her only outing this season, but the manner in which she dominated the competition was nothing short of astonishing. One had to wonder where this newfound vigor had been hiding in her earlier performances. Jockey K Mukesh Kumar kept Char Ek Char in about sixth position as Star Cruise set a strong pace upfront. As they turned for home, Char Ek Char was brought wide into the straight and unleashed a stunning burst of speed, clinching the race well before the finish line. Wandring Warrior finished second, ahead of Soorya Vahan, but there was no doubt that Char Ek Char was far superior to the rest of the field.