L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Vijays Pride (Bertolini-Designer Chic) lifted the Deccan Bookmaker’s Golconda 1000 Guineas (Gr.II), the first classic of the winter season at Hyderabad on Sunday, in an effortless fashion. This was the third classic feather in the Mebajaeona Stud bred filly’s career.

Vijays Pride raced handily in fourth position till the last 400 metres while Exclusive cutting the wind in front, followed closely by Win And Enjoy. Strides Of Glory was another two lengths away in third. Inside the last two furlongs, Win And Enjoy moved ahead of the tiring Exclusive and Vijays Pride approached on a tight rein from behind to flash on and go to the front. Jockey P.S.Chouhan needed to only niggled the filly to stride out and never required to get his stick out at any stage. Centrestage beat the rest to be the runner-up, ahead of Win And Enjoy.

Trainer M.Sathyanarayana was a relieved man, to see his ward Windsor Manor (Placerville-Amber Windsor) correct her Waverly manners and maintain a straight course this time out to win the Chief Justice of A.P.Trophy. The 4 year old filly had displayed her return to form in her last run while finishing second to Proof but was disqualified after she veered out of the straight course causing interference to other runners. Jockey S.John brought Windsor Manor to the inner fence quickly from the outer most draw and made every post a winning one. The daughter of Placerville behaved exceedingly well to keep a straight course on the final run and triumphed effortlessly in a smart timing. Days of Thunder, in second all the way from the start, held on to the position from Guiding Light.

Street Magic (Mathematician-Galway) was given a neat ride by jockey Vivek to win the lower division of the Vegavathi Plate. Kohinoor Fighter was in front as the field straightened up for the final run and the well backed favourite Vijay’s Best trying its best to get to terms. Street Magic in the meanwhile weaved its way along the rails and with a good turn of foot shot ahead to win easily in the end. Kohinoor Fighter held on to the second place from Vijays Best.

R.H.Seqeira’s Winning Strides (Eljohar-Fourty-Winks), who had lost out to Queen Of Hebashe in its last run two weeks earlier, made amends when jockey M.Mark rode him out to win the Original Vel V.Balasubramani Memorial Cup. The top two market fancies, Rich and Famous and Sun Bird fought for the lead from the start and as they came into the straight both were under pressure. Winning Strides improved steadily along the inside and surged ahead in the last150 metres and won well. Palace Affairs rallied well to finish second while Rich And Famous was back with a run to take the third place. Ajit Kumar, the rider of second placed Palace Affairs lodged an unsuccessful objection against Mark, the rider of the winner for interference near the last 200 metres.

The grey filly Snow Fall (Don Michelleto-Royal Guest), bred at Nakul Stud, from S.A.Shehzad Abbas’s yard, started off her career with a start to finish win in the Ardent Knight Plate, a six furlongs dash for maiden two year olds. Kohinoor Thunder moved to second position on top of the straight and was pressed hard inside the last 150 metres but jockey Ch.K.Chary kept up the momentum on Snow Fall and had the filly kicking on to justify the favouritism.

S.S.Faisal Hassan’s True Friend (Hymn-Pussy Cat) scored an encore in the lower division of the Rishi Konda Plate. Maharadhi was pushed hard to take over the running, coming from the rear, within the first furlong of the race. Allianz Arena was up in second, followed closely by True Friend. On entering the home stretch, Maharadhi left a wide gap open along the rails and P.S.Chouhan wasted no time in pushing True Friend through the gap. Maharadhi fought back with a re run but the stronger ride of Chouhan saw the favourite True Friend safe at the finish by a ‘neck’. All The Fun rallied late from the last position to finish third.

Ananth Vatsalya’s Kohinoor Vikrant (Sharp Attack-Dancers Quiz) won the higher division in a nail biting three horse finish. Rocking Racer was in front, into the last 200 metres with Prince of Arabia up with a strong challenge and Kohinoor Vikrant inching closer with every stride. As the three went past the winning post locked together, Kohinoor Vikrant had put its nose in front to get the nod. Prince of Arabia finished second with Rocking Racer taking the third spot. Winjoy was blocked of a clear run in between Rocking Racer and Prince of Arabia in the last furlong and had to be checked to avoid clipping one of them. Chouhan, the rider of Winjoy lodged an objection against the rider of Rocking Racer and the stewards overruled it, retaining the original order of placing.

The opening race of the day, the Medak Plate, run over 2000 metres, was won by Laxman Singh trained Racing Tycoon (Ace-Difficult Doll), beating the ‘on money’ Vijay’s Winner after an intense duel right through the final furlong. Vijay’s Winner, a last outing winner went ahead at start but was fighting for his head till the back stretch. Fashionista and Racing Tycoon went past near the 1200 metres and Chouhan managed to keep the favourite in third. Getting into the final run, Racing Tycoon grabbed the lead and Vijay’s Winner was also asked to quicken. The two started to fight it out and with Racing Tycoon under P.A.Culhane drifting out of the straight course, still managed to hold on to the lead at the wire.

D.Netto’s Elenor (Mathematician-Chesterford), a winner of two successive races in Monsoon showed plenty of speed to complete a hat-trick in the higher division of the Vegavathi Plate, the concluding race of the day. Emerging quickly in front after the start, Elenor led the field along the inner rails and allowed Oasis Vision to go forward while the favourite Snow Bird was racing in third. Rounding the bend, Elenor rushed along the rails and got to the lead again. Oasis Vision bridged the gap towards the winning post but failed to collar Elenor and finished second. Snow Bird was third another half a length adrift.