Pesi Shroff trained Miracle maintained her amazing run of wins tackling the opposition with ease in the Gr 2 Golconda 1000 Guineas, the first classic of the season, at Malakpet on Monday. The money-back favourite was a cut above the horses she was taking on. In keeping with this expectation, Miracle had a walk in the park, though the tactfulness of the experienced jockey Pradeep Chouhan was needed to overcome a scare during the race.

Miracle raced in about the fourth position and Chauhan waited well into the straight before letting the daughter of Multidimensional stretch out. There was a scare as the horse appeared to have stumbled or shied away perhaps hitting a patch but the jockey did well to keep his balance and gather the horse and let the favourite stretch out to win by a widening margin of four lengths. Own Voice battled it out Ruling Goddess to snatch the second position. This was the sixth straight win for Miracle who is the best of her generation in the country. Miracle will next race in the Indian 1000 Guineas at Mumbai on December 19.

Srinivas Reddy trained Happy Go Lucky made an impressive winning debut in the Himayat Sagar Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Backed spiritedly to oblige on the basis of excellent preparation, the two-year-old daughter of Top Class showed speed and resolution to have the race in her control all through the race. Jockey Aashad Asbar had only a steering job to do. NRI Superpower ran on well to take the second spot ahead of Essential, both of whom should be better off for the experience.

Shiraz Sunderji trained In Contention let down huge expectations in the 1800 metres Himayat Sagar Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The race was won by Vittal Deshmukh trained Moringa with In Contention who was poorly placed by jockey C S Jodha warming up when the task was over. In Contention who was a short-priced horse was not ridden with great intent by Jodha who was content to settle the favourite in the rear group. Moringa who was handily placed was alerted to the task by jockey Pradeep Chouhan as soon the horses entered the homestretch. Moringa produced a strong gallop and drew clear in the final furlong to win the race with a measure of comfort. In Contention could only snatch the second position from Nightmare with a leisurely bid.

Star Babe produced a big upset in the 1400 metres Cabaret Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Yet again Sunderji trained Multimoment was the favourite but flopped miserably after showing up briefly in the straight. Star Babe who was in the rear group, quickened very well in the homestretch to establish a winning lead by the final furlong. Royal Grace who was the firm favourite had acres of ground to cover in the straight and though the favourite was full of running, the front-runner held off grimly. Star Dancer was third while the fancied duo of Multimoment and Win Vision made no show.

Ananth Vatsalya trained Lightning Fairy who had found one better on two successive occasions made amends with an impressive win in the 1600 metres Medak Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Though Lightning Fairy had a lot of ground to cover in the straight, the moment jockey Akshay Kumar pulled her out and gave a clear run on the wide outside, Lightning Fairy covered the leeway with ease and won drawing away. Team Player who raced in front stayed on to take the second position ahead of Inception. Satheesh trained Royal Pal came in for big support to win the lower division of race though the last run was not suggestive of any imminent change in fortune. Royal Pal raced freely in front along with Wot’s Up Jay and faded out in the final furlong. Stablemate Ice Berry came from way off the pace to sail past Wot’s Up Jay to land the spoils with ease. Queen Blossom was third.