S.Padmanabhan trained Hall Of Famer (Win Legend-Elusive Trust / Dashmesh Stud) scuttled home to win the Golconda 1000 Guineas (Gr.2), the first classic of the Hyderabad Winter Season. While trainer Padmanabhan got one step closer to a ‘Classic Century’, winning his 91^st, it was a moment to cherish for Dashmesh Stud. The grey filly Hall Of Famer is the daughter Win Legend who has inherited the greatest racing qualities from Sunday Silence.

La Dona the winner of the Mysore 1000 Guineas was the overwhelming choice to win the first classic. Hall Of Famer had won two races in a row, the last one at Mysore clocking a smart timing over a mile. The grey filly was the second in demand at 6-1 while the other six runners were at longer odds.

Space Ship set a decent pace followed by Cataleya, Hall Of Famer, La Dona, Awesome Approach, Talladega, Like Wise and Cheerleader. On entering the straight Cataleya surged to the lead and Hall Of Famer was quick to join from the outside.  Approaching the last furlong Hall Of Famer went ahead but started to drift out of the straight course even as La Dona rushed to challenge from the inside. David Allan did his best to keep Hall Of Famer going despite the drift and managed to stay in front by over a length from La Dona. Cataleya and Cheerleader filled the frame in that order.  

L.D’Silva trained Queen Of The Stars (Phoenix Tower-Star Queen / Manjri Stud) pulled off a big upset in the higher division of the Mauritius Turf Club Cup. Shamrock Lady after leading till the last 400 metres made way to Numinous. Net Champ rushed through the narrow gap along the rails and Queen Of The Stars started to gain ground from the outside. Kimono was also up with a challenge with them. As they neared the winning post Queen Of The Stars surged ahead to hit the post half a length in front of Net Champ. Kimono took the third spot ahead of Numinous. In the lower division Laxman Singh trained Vijay Sakhi (Tagula-Markova) returned to winning ways. Racing in third early on Vijay Sakhi moved up to be beside the leader City Of Dreams on top of the straight. The race got to a boil inside the last 200 metres and Vijay Sakhi galloped the better to beat the relentless City Of Dreams by half a length. Italian Cypress came up fast towards the closing stages to finish third. Vista filled the frame.

Trainer K.Satheesh sent out another youngster Prince Caspian (Excellent Art-Entendu) from the stable to win the Brave Dancer Plate, a 1200 metres sprint for maiden 2 years old. Prince Caspian who had finished a good third in a terms race on debut was the piping hot favourite among the eight youngsters that lined up for the race. After a good star Prince Caspian had fallen back to be fifth. Jockey P.S.Chouhan brought Prince Caspian from the outside and the bay colt stretched out effortlessly to win by a good margin of over three lengths. Escobar, Tootsie Roll and Treasure Striker filled the frame in that order.

Jockey Y.S.Srinath rode a solitary winner through L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Tiger (Astronomer Royal-Seasham) in the opener of the day, the Windscale Plate. Dahlois was on a start to finish bid over the nine furlongs trip and came in first on the straight. Tiger joined up from the outside on top of the straight and after a keen tussle surged ahead to win by half a length. Limitation warmed up late to finish a close third.

Anupam Sharma trained Dolce (Hymn-Ivona) won the division I of the Original Vel V.Balasubramani Memorial Cup. Bouncer set off on a start to finish bid over the 1200 metres sprint and Dolce settled well in chase followed by the rest. Bouncer stayed stubbornly in front till the distance marker even as Dolce moved up with a challenge. Dolce travelled the better and surged ahead to wrap it off. Romantic Fire and Trustful finished third and fourth respectively.

Visiting jockey Louis Beuzelin pulled off another win for trainer D.Netto through Avantika (Whatsthescript-Belvedere) in the higher division of the Salute Her Plate. Into the home stretch Yes Baby came in first chased by Great Glory and Prime Time. Avantika was brought from the outside and Louis started to get harder on the filly. Avantika forged ahead inside the last 100 metres and spared a length to Prime Time at the finish. Hard Fought came in late to beat Yes Baby for the third spot. The lower division was won by S.S.Faisal Hassan trained Negress Pearl (Rebuttal-Ganga Purna). Sefarina on a start to finish bid was strongly challenged by Ikigai on the straight. As the two fought hard Negress Pearl ranged from the outside and with a flying finish sped past to scorea maiden win. Ikigai finished second ahead of Sefarina. Mountain Of Light finished fourth.

Trainer L.D’Silva was the only professional to score a double on the day. His 5 years old mare Danielle (Moon Prospect-Shelly Green) that was winless from 23 starts just managed to edge out Symbol Of Gold in the Blue Bird Plate, the concluding race of the day. Symbol Of Gold was looking good mid-way up the straight. Danielle racing in about eighth turning for home weaved through the field and with a blistering gallop fought hard and snatched the verdict by the shortest of margins in the shadow of the winning post.