Suraj Narredu confidently guided Champions Way, trained by his father Satish Narredu, to a commanding victory in the Gr 2 1600 meters Golconda 2000 Guineas, the second classic of the season at Malakpet on Sunday. Despite a recent setback in his performance at Bangalore, where he appeared rusty, the Bangalore challenger showed remarkable improvement and executed a flawless performance. The offspring of Sanus Per Aquam displayed dominance, taking an aggressive start-to-finish approach that left the opposition in disdain.

Champions Way had secured two consecutive wins before facing the formidable competition at the Bangalore Derby. Following another disappointing run in the current season at Bangalore, the horse exhibited significant progress, evident in his training sessions. This optimistic outlook was reflected in the betting odds, with Champions Way emerging as the clear favourite. Galahad, who had previously defeated him in Bangalore, followed as the next preferred choice, with local champion Siddharth racing on the momentum of four consecutive wins on the home track.

Suraj, the champion jockey, demonstrated his understanding of the Champions Way by taking the lead right from the start. His task was easier as no competitor challenged him, allowing him the luxury of an uncontested lead. Consequently, Suraj dictated the pace according to his strategy, and Champions Way maintained control in the forefront, leaving little hope for pursuers.


Despite Shadow Of The Moon, another local horse with a hat-trick, attempting to chase the favourite, it proved futile as he could hope to chase the shadow of the front-runner. Jockey Ajeet Kumar on Siddarth faced uncertainty in placing his horse, resulting in Siddarth falling behind. Ajeet chose to settle his horse along the rails at the back and then swung wide at the final turn. Siddharth could only manage to nose out Deccan Colts Championship winner Huntingdon to secure the third position. The moment Ajeet Kumar opted not to stay in touch with the market leader, Siddharth lost any chance of putting up a formidable fight.

Vittal Deshmukh orchestrated a triumphant debut for Laksha in the 1200 meters Dodla Pratap Chander Reddy Memorial Million, a race designed for two-year-old maidens. This race, named in honour of Deshmukh`s mentor, who significantly boosted his career by acquiring top-quality horses, allowing the trainer to dominate classics across India, was undoubtedly the one he coveted.

Laksha, strongly supported to the exclusion of all others, ran with unwavering precision in a straight line under the guidance of jockey Anthony Raj, who had the filly leading right from the jump-out. The offspring of Dali maintained a comfortable lead throughout the race, ultimately stretching it to five lengths at the finish. Star of Night made a late surge to secure the second position by a narrow margin, narrowly edging out Flying Fury.

The general trend these days is when a horse garners significant backing, its odds are compressed to the extent that it ends up running at a price dictated more by popularity than its actual merit. This phenomenon arises because most racegoers tend to favour the favourites, assuming that these horses will perform well based on the volume of bets they attract. Consequently, the other horses often run at longer odds, posing a challenge for those relying on market trends to identify contenders who might be overlooked due to the inflated odds on the rest of the field.

A notable example of this dynamic unfolded in the 1400 meters Ardent Knight Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Magan Singh-trained Blazing Gun, with one victory in four outings, was quoted at extremely tight odds, while the remaining contenders offered more favourable odds from bookmakers. Throughout the race, Blazing Sun pursued the more seasoned Happy Soul, consistently delivering that extra effort under the guidance of apprentice jockey Kuldeep Singh. Despite the backers` expectations, the favourite failed to respond sufficiently, conceding the victory to the front-runner from Vittal Deshmukh`s stables. Quality Warrior secured the third position, trailing by more than four lengths, with late rallying Alpine Girl narrowly behind in fourth place. D World was reportedly trotting lame after the race.

Suraj Narredu, who guided Blazing Sun to a losing effort, faced a similar fate in the 1100 meters Megatop Plate, a race designed for horses rated 40 to 65. Exotic Dancer, a mare that had dropped down a category following lacklustre performances in higher classes, should have been the obvious favourite. Despite Exotic Dancer`s prior success in this category and the trainer`s decision to utilize a five kg apprentice jockey, Shivansh, confidence in the mare`s immediate prospects wavered. Her significant lag, more than 27 lengths behind in the previous race, cast doubt on her ability to regain form in the lower category quickly.

Despite these reservations, market indicators suggested Exotic Dancer would be a prominent contender, given the substantial bets placed on her in the betting ring. Shivansh swiftly surged to the lead on Exotic Dancer, establishing a more than five-length advantage as they approached the final furlong. While Exotic Dancer began to struggle, Tripurari, energetically ridden by Suraj Narredu, fell just short of victory, finishing a neck behind. Nightmare secured the third position in the race.

After facing two consecutive setbacks with well-favoured contenders, Magan Singh Parmar finally broke the streak with the unexpected triumph of the long shot, It`s On. This surprising victory unfolded in the 1200 meters K Arvind Reddy Memorial Trophy; a race designated for horses rated 40 to 65. Kenna had established an uncontested lead that seemed insurmountable, especially with the heavily backed favorite from Donald Netto`s stable, Gretsy, struggling to make the anticipated progress despite jockey Imran Khan`s vigorous use of the whip.

Kenna tenaciously held on, seemingly poised for victory, but in a dramatic turn of events, It`s On, guided by the less heralded Naresh, mounted a late surge that secured the desired result in the dying strides of the race. The unexpected momentum propelled It`s On past Kenna for a triumphant finish. Alexina claimed the third position, leading the charge ahead of Verrocchio, while Gretsy, despite raising hopes in the final furlong, faded out in the race`s closing stages.

Repeatedly, horses that have been at the centre of controversies resulting in long suspensions for jockeys seldom emerge victorious in their immediate races. Some even fail to secure a win altogether. Such was the case with Faisal Hassan-trained Fly Me, which became the subject of an inquiry amid suspicions that jockey Akshay Kumar had not allowed it to run on its merits, preventing it from securing a victory. Despite high expectations and strong backing in the 1100 meters Artillery Cup (a race for horses rated 20 to 45), Fly Me disappointingly finished seventh, never posing a threat in the competition.

Only The Brave from Prasad Raju`s stables granted relief to jockey Imran Khan, who had been struggling to secure wins. Only The Brave clinched victory by leading the race from start to finish, exhibiting a strong performance without facing any significant challenges. Notably, Calista Girl, a horse that could have posed a challenge, encountered traffic problems early in the race, losing a favourable position and falling to the rear. Despite these setbacks, Calista Girl made a commendable comeback along the rails, securing a notable second place, with Dali`s Destiny finishing third.

In the 1400 meters Ardent Knight Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, the market`s confidence in Miracle Mary was puzzling. This was especially true given the horse`s tendency to be lethargic from the gates and trainer Hilton Sequeira`s recent struggles over the past two seasons. Those who backed Miracle Mary were left disappointed as the filly fell out of contention early in the race. Meanwhile, Cosmico held a substantial lead, but the well-backed last-start winner, Brooklyn Beauty from the stables of N Rawal, made a significant move. Brooklyn Beauty managed to close the gap and comfortably secured a win with Carnival Lady making a late rally to claim second place. Cosmico weakened and settled for third.