The precursor to the Deccan Derby (Gr1) day (2nd Oct) turned out to be a unique day at Hyderabad that saw three runners create new track records. The new record holders are Versallies (1100 meters), Nazariya (2200 meters) and Egyptian Prince (1800 meters). Form generally held good for the day, with most of the fancied runners running true to form. Then there were those who achieved their maiden successes and the one who took the longest time and number of attempts was Handsome Duo whose first career win came on his 27th start.

The Smt Teegala Sulochana Reddy Memorial Cup – the feature of the day, had three divisions and the race being for three year old maidens had three juveniles score their first career win.  To add to the dramatics the division I of the race was decided in the Stewards’ room with City of Blossom awarded the race following an objection against original winner Mehrzad.

Mehrzad expectedly went for it from the word go and had a useful lead in the straight. Safra was up on the outside along with City of Blossom. These two started to chase down Mehrzad. However as they came closer, Mehrzad started to drift to the outside in the final furlong. Mehrzad took them out substantially and the trio finished-up closer to the stand-side railing. There was fair grounds for the objection, as Mehrzad swayed away from the course and took his two rivals along. What perhaps convinced the stewards to allow the objection was the fact that City of Blossom closed-in on Mehrzad in the last few strides. And the verdict being just a neck, it was justified. City of Blossom (Net Whizz – Love Me Tender) trained by Satyanarayana and ridden by Deepak Singh, got his first win on his sixth start. Mehrzad was relegated to second and Safra, who too was taken out considerably, ended a close third.

The second division of the feature race was claimed by Born Greek (Hymn – All The Rage) who had gone close but had faltered in providing the finishing touch on more than just a few occasions. Today was different and the long wait for the elusive victory was finally over when he took charge in the final furlong and drew away to score an emphatic win.

Aristocrats Charm led them into the straight with Stepper and Mind Reader close behind. Born Greek, with jockey Aneel astride, was some distance away as they straightened up for home.  Aristocrats Charm accounted for those close behind her and everyone else, but Born Greek. The Ravindra Singh trainee was slightly erratic as he drew level with Aristocrats Charm but picked up momentum and stretched out nicely to win by a good four lengths. Aristocrats Charm found one better alright, but she beat the rest comfortably, finishing well ahead of Green Turf and Star Racer. Favourite Unstoppable ended one off the frame.

Prasad Raju’s Her Legacy (Arazan – My Lakshmi) cantered home to win the third division of the race with minimum fuss. Jockey Suraj Narredu settled the filly in third as Gusty Note led them into the straight with Buzz Light Year in second. Her Legacy gathered speed past the 400 m mark and took on new leader Buzz Light Year. Her Legacy stormed ahead without encountering any resistance from Buzz Light year and the filly shot clear within strides to win by more than four lengths. Sterling King ended a faraway third.

Versallies completed an impressive hat-trick with a flawless start to finish essay. Jockey Suraj Narredu cruised into the lead soon on settling down and Versallies travelled hard held until into the straight. Aon Aon Aon surfaced on the outside and almost drew level, but once Suraj asked Versallies for an effort, the Netto-trained filly accelerated fluently and darted further away from Aon Aon Aon. Versallies (Green Coast – Delafruz) won untroubled and clipped split-seconds off the track record clocking 1:05:61 for the 1100 meter race. Aon Aon Aon held off Honest Hunter for the runner-up berth. Mon General ended a close fourth.

Egyptian Prince (Eskendereya – Stonestreet Lady) clocked the best timing of 1:50:87 for the distance of 1800 meters while bouncing back to win the Class III Jagityal Plate. Egyptian Prince almost led all the way and was headed by Shiloh only for a brief while through the backstretch. After wresting back the initiative quickly, there was no catching Egyptian Prince as he dominated his opponents all the way. The Deshmukh ward grew stronger in the straight and looked the winner a long way from home. Durango kicked on to take the runner-up berth with Lockhart saving the place money, finishing alongside Durango.

Nazariya (Whatsthescript – Mother’s Pride) also rewrote the record books with a determined effort over 2200 meters, stopping the clock at a nippy 2:21:27 while pegging back Ashwa Arjun close home. It was a long battle considering Ashwa Arjun was in the lead early on with Nazariya tagging along close behind. The rest were following this pair all the way into the homestretch.

Ashwa Arjun was not keen to surrender when Nazariya challenged his lead.  The duo was battling on. Alexanderthegreat tried hard from the rails side and Big Brave was looking to slip in between the fighting pair. Up in front, Ashwa Arjun and Nazariya were involved in a grim battle, while the other pair couldn’t find much at the business end. Jockey Akshay Kumar got that extra bit out of Nazariya in the final strides and the Laxman Singh ward just managed to put his neck in front at the all-important end. Ashwa Arjun was a game runner-up; Alenanderthegreat edged out Big Brave for place money.

A similar battle erupted in the last race of the day where jockey Ajeeth Kumar dazzled in the saddle to secure a long-awaited win for Ananta Vatsalya trainee Handsome Duo (Stern Opinion – Fashion Lady). Country’s Gift had just taken charge from Cowboy’s Delight in the straight and as she sped away from the early leader, Handsome Duo started to catch up. Country’s Gift and Handsome Duo fought neck and neck in the final furlong before Handsome Duo sealed it in the last 50 meters or so. Country’s Gift was gallant in defeat ending a fighting second. Valle Ikon closed-in on the pair in front to end a decent third.

Earlier in the day, Loch Stella (Mount Nelson – Passionate Girl) saddled by Sateesh was well ridden by allowance claiming jockey Bopanna to down Air Salute close home. These two fought through the long Hyderabad straight with Air Salute slightly ahead until the last fifty meters. Loch Stella kept it going and shot ahead of Air Salute to win by a length. Hurricane, who was close behind them, drifted out under pressure yet managed to finish alongside Air Salute, just a head behind.

Jockey Suraj Narredu was the lone pro to score a double.