Fancied horses ruled through the eight-race card at Hyderabad on Wednesday, bring some relief and sanity after last week's stunning results, when favourites had gone for a big toss.
 
Agni (Burden of Proof – Auxiliary) one of the two on-money favourite, the other being Mozambique, scored expectedly and although he won by a narrow margin, he never looked in danger. Jockey Zervan guided the Netto trainee right up with the front running Rahil and Lightning Fin. On turning for home, Agni picked up momentum and sailed ahead past the duo and established a handy lead. While Lightning Fin faded out, Rahil kept at it but in vain. Agni eased up closer home letting Rahil to cut down the margin of victory. Lockhart arrived with a fast gallop and caught the eye while finishing a close third.

Jockey Suraj Narredu enjoyed a profitable day scoring a fine treble. His first success for the day came astride Hassan's Top Saga (Top Class – Saganaki) in the lower division of the Rani Laxmi Bai Plate. Suraj nursed Top Saga into the early lead and held sway all the way through. Top Saga moved under the whip to build a handy lead approaching the distance post, with Flamingo Flame trying hard to mount a challenge. Suraj Narrredu never let his guard down and kept riding out aggressively and managed to stave off the challengers. Premier Action steamed in very fast, but had gone wide, closer to the outer railing. Nevertheless, Premier Action managed to pip Flamingo Flame for the runner up berth, finishing less than a length behind Top Saga.
 
Suraj Narredu then partnered Sequeira saddled Balius (Air Support – Soviet Song) to a comfortable victory in the Warangal Plate run over the mile. Balius sailed smoothly into the lead soon on settling down and had City of Sails and Wings of Eagles close behind. However, once they straightened up for home, Balius kicked on gamely and steered clear of competition to compile an easy victory, scoring a hattrick in the process following his back to back wins last season. Balius looks good for more success this season. Wings of Eagles hung on to the second spot ahead of Alta Vita who improved towards the finish.
 
Suraj picked up his third win astride trainer Laxman Singh's Top Link (Top Class – Mizzna) who was well-backed at 2/1. Celtic Queen brought the field homewards with Vijay's Empire getting a clean opening along the rails. Barely had Vijay's Empire gotten past the leader, when Top Link moved up nicely to join the issue. Top Link picked up speed and soon dashed ahead to take charge. Vijay's Empire could not match the new leader but galloped on without much hope. Top Link stayed in command al through to the delight of his supporters and prevailed with a fair measure of comfort. Tootsie Roll finished on with a good gallop to trounce Vijay's Empire and finish within a length of Top Link to claim the runner-up berth. Tootsie Roll fared well and might it be worthwhile to note this run.
 
Trainer Laxman Singh's Mozambique (Western Aristocrat – Jahanara) scored a fluent victory and justified the cramped odds offered on her. She flew out of the gates to lead the field and was a class act all the way. She dominated right through and looked the winner long way from home. She eased up in the final 100 meters giving jockey Ashhad Asbar an easy ride to victory. Hope is Eternal, never really in the hunt, produced a nice finishing run to get past NRI Symbol to take the runner-up berth.

Prince Valiant (Varenar – Alma Mater) made a smashing debut in the day's first race, producing blinding speed in the final furlong to shock favourite Mehrzad. Mehrzad had done most things right and looked good coming into the straight. He built a handy lead and was shaping well when Prince Valiant, with jockey Ajeeth Kumar in the saddle arrived with a big run to simply leave Mehrzad far behind once he rattled past him. The LVR Deshmukh trainee won impressively by close to six lengths! Mehrzad unfortunately found one better, but will live to fight another day. Angel Tesoro ran on to finish in the money.

SSF Hassan trained Agilis (Stern Opinion – Another Reema) improved over his first run this season and was fit for the fresh start. This time he pulled off clean as a whistle grabbing the lead soon on start and building on it efficiently. After leading them into the straight, Agilis, with AA Vikrant astride, galloped away fluently to snuff out the rest; bounding away sweetly to win with a commanding margin. Composure followed the winner all the way home. Favourite Cowboy's delight ended a tame third, just managing to keep All Star General at bay for the third place.

Consigliori (Air Support – Caprese), from the stables of trainer LVR Deshmukh, was well ridden by apprentice Surya Prakash who had to weather the storm towards the closing stages as public fancy Zamora produced a fiery run in the final furlong. Consigliori went into the lead soon on entering the straight and worked his way forward in the final 400 meters. Zamora made his move from the outside but still had a couple of lengths to cover. The rest were a beaten lot when Zamora moved up to the haunches of Consigliori. The pair fought hard and Surya Prakash kept his nerve and pushed Consigliori on vigorously all the way to quell the looming threat and carve out a narrow victory. Zamora was gallant in defeat, but could have perhaps made his move a shade earlier. Havelock Cruise ended a faraway third.
 
For the professionals, jockey Suraj Narredu was most successful accumulating three winners, while trainers LVR Deshmukh, Laxman Singh and SSF Hassan saddling a double each.