It was pay back time for L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Machiavellianism (Jazil-Empress Jessie), who won the second classic of the monsoon season, the Deccan Bookmakers Colts Championship Stakes – Grade 3 at Hyderabad on Sunday. Deshmukh completed a classic double, winning both the Fillies’ and the Colts’ and he now looks forward to the Derby which has eluded him so far. A field of seven had lined up for the mile classic, with four of them coming in from Bangalore to vie with the three local ‘boys’. Borsalino had won the Kingfisher Derby at Bangalore by a lengthening margin and he garnered the most support going into the race. Deshmukh had two contenders, Machiavellianism and Plenipotent in the race and jockey P.S.Chouhan who gets to take the pick went for the first named.

 A plot was planned by the stable, on the strategy of the race and it was executed to perfection by the two riders, Chouhan and P.A.Culhane. Borsalino, who loves to set his own pace, went ahead and Culhane on Plenipotent joined alongside and started to keep the favourite busy as per the race plan. The two had established a lead of nearly eight lengths over the others, as they went past the 800 metres board and Machiavellianism started to make his move in third position. On entering the last two furlongs on the straight, Plenipotent had his tank emptied and started to fall back while Borsalino kept going in front. Machiavellianism moved strongly in the last furlong to raise a challenge. Young Sandesh and a more experienced Chouhan went for the whalebone and it was sheer delight to see the two in full flow. Chouhan timed his final assault to a nicety and collared Borsalino close to the wire, to win by a ‘neck’. Maths Baby started to veer out on the home stretch and finished close to the stand side on the wide monsoon track. Maths Baby ended up finishing a length behind Borsalino and had he not drifted out, would have been in the thick of things at the finish.

Speaking to India Race after the race, P.S.Chouhan said,” He didn’t relish the soft underfoot condition in the Derby at Bangalore. He travelled well today and ran as per our expectation”, and added, “I expect it to be a close affair with Borsalino in the Derby”.

P.S.Chouhan continued to dominate the turf at Hyderabad with a double. Chouhan rode Deshmukh trained Mystical Knight (Ontario-Royal Applause) splendidly to score an encore in the Asaf Jah VII Memorial Cup, a nine furlongs trip for horses in the highest category. Illustrator had set out in front followed closely by El Paso while Mystical Knight was held back in the last position. Approaching the last 800 metres Mystical Knight started to move up and by the time the field showed up on the straight, he was in a striking position in fourth with El Paso leading the field. With some strong riding, Mystical Knight collared El Paso and surged ahead to win. Golden Palace unleashed a late run to push back El Paso and take the runner-up berth.

Deshmukh led in Specialist (Tejano-So Perfect) in the Fire Heaven Plate, the concluding race of the day to make it three wins in a row for the stable. Specialist, sporting the colours of Dr. & Mrs.Vijay Mallya, covered almost seven lengths in the last furlong to get the better of Maharadhi. Trevor Patel was astride the winner.

J.Silvester trained Odalis (Hymn-Sublimely Single) got back to winning ways in the G.V.Rao Memorial Cup. The 3 year old filly was off to a good start and tracked the leader Shatakshi till the top of the straight. When asked for an effort, Odalis started to lug in and the rider Lakshmikanth did well to get her to terms and forged ahead. The favourite Strides of Glory took time to raise a gallop and when she did, the asking was tall and she fell short by three parts of a length. Shatakshi finished third in front of Onti Onti Onti.

The Raja Saheb of Itkyal Memorial Cup, a six furlongs sprint was divided into two races. They were bagged by two daughters of Chatham Strait. The first division was won by Ananth Vatsalya trained Golden Jewel (Chatham Strait-Plano) while the lower division was bagged Ice Lolly (Chatham Strait-Secret Paradise), the favourite from L.D’Silva’s yard. In the higher division, the favourite Street Magic was well on course in front while Cannon Law and Golden Jewel started to get closer. Street Magic packed up inside the last 100 metres and Cannon Law was the one to surge ahead first. Golden Jewel was getting stronger on the haunches of Cannon Law and the two went past the winning post together. Vatsalya’s ward got the nod in the photo finish. Ice Lolly, a close sixth till the final bend, was pulled out by Suraj Narredu and with a good gallop, shot ahead to win her second successive victory. Play the Music rallied on to take the second spot.

D’Silva had earlier in the day led in Laurel Canyon (Noverre-Shao) in the Con Amore Cup. The 3 year old started off on a start to finish mission over the 2000 metres trip and had to fight hard with Hawkspring throughout the final stretch to stay in front. The two youngsters got close to each other on the home stretch and the rider of Hawkspring raised an unsuccessful objection.

Ananth Vatsalya’s Ziglar (Bee’s Prospector-Dream Image) won the Delage Plate, the opening race of the day. Ziglar, whose previous win was in November, won the opener despite getting hampered for room on the straight. Racing last in a field of seven runners, Ziglar started to improve on entering the straight but the opening between horses narrowed down and the jockey Ajith Kumar had to check his mount and pull him out to be shown the day light. Once given a free path the 5 year old gelding raised a big gallop to sizzle past the front runners and win. One One One, Zulu Punch and Merry Maid filled the frame.