Paso Robles (Arazan – Mawaheb, Poonawalla Stud) romped home a clear winner to bag the Golconda Oaks (Gr.2) with surprising ease. The top class filly was way too superior to the rest and made it a no-contest once in the homestretch. 

The race started on an ominous note for Flamboyant Lady as she veered out suddenly on passing the winning post the first time and dropped the rider. Artistryy set a friendly pace all through the backstretch with Paso Robles in second, followed by Cape Kidnappers and Nekhbet. The order of running remained the same, about six or seven lengths covering the four runners. However, once they turned for home, Paso Robles was different class. She cruised to the front and within strides it was all over. It was completely one-sided as none offered any resistance or even give a chase. Paso Robles, owned by M/s Rama Krishna Reddy and Meka Yugandhar and trained by L D’Silva won with authority and jockey Suraj Narredu had the luxury of looking back while easing up his mount past the stands. Artistryy did well to stay on for the runner-up berth. Both Nekhbet and Cape kidnappers in particular disappointed. 

On-money favourite Victory Parade (Top Class – Harmonica), saddled by D Netto, was another one who won effortlessly. Darting into the lead on settling down, jockey Akshay Kumar held the colt until they turned for home with Titus close behind. Titus just couldn’t catch up with Victory Parade as the latter quickened past the 400 and drew away from the field. Victory Parade looked the winner long way from home and checked-in by over five lengths dominating through the entire race. Nayadeep finished on to beat Titus for the runner-up berth. 

If there was an award for the most sensational winner of the day, Crimson Fire would gobble it up hands down. What a climax that race built up. The Satyanarayana trainee had a bunch of horses in front with the fancied lot among them at the helm and in full flight. Crimson Fire (Crimson China – Friendly Type) seemed to have a Herculean task on hand as he was nowhere in the picture with under two furlongs to go. Tote favourite Lightning Fin was going all-out with One One One threatening to snatch the lead away. Rapid Fire, Tokyo Jam, and a couple others were all at top speed when apprentice jockey Rohit Kumar set Crimson Fire alight. The five year old mare scorched the turf with a fiery gallop and ravaged the fighting bunch ahead with a timely finish to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the nick of time winning by a neck from One One One and Lightning Fin. That, for me, was the most dazzling finish of the day and easily the most sensational rally as well.    

A close second for the sensational finish would be Soul Empress (Juniper – Silver Girl) from trainer Sreekant’s stables. Here too the winner Soul Empress was in the back-bunch while favourite Gorgeous Lady assumed command on turning for home. Hurricane, Secretary, Patron Saint and a few others were scrambling towards the post when jockey Irvan Singh pulled out Soul Empress and gave her the go. The five-year old mare produced a powerful run to tick off each runner along the way and went after Gorgeous Lady, the prime favourite who was being hailed the winner. Soul Empress flew in the final fifty to shock Gorgeous Lady on the post for another neck verdict with the favourite beaten on the last stride. Patron Saint and Hurricane finished alongside making it a four-way finish. 

Lacrosse (Leitir Mor – Coccinella) saddled by L D’Silva, showed what a run benefit could do to the  juveniles by coasting home to a facile victory after her fourth on debut recently. Racing just behind early leader Bulls Ace, lacrosse slipped along the rails to take charge approaching the 400 m mark and then bounded forward to amass a winning lead within the first furlong in the straight. Astronaut could not muster well enough and was going nowhere. Jockey Akshay Kumar this time had an armchair ride to victory with Lacrosse winning with a margin of four lengths. Just Incredible and Detonator improved positions in the homestretch to pick up the minor slots. Astronaut ended a tame fourth.

Sateesh trained Loch Stella (Mount Nelson – Passionate Girl) put in a determined performance to fight all the way and holding on to win from hot favourite Shivalik Valley. After having been frustrated with a series of seconds, Loch Stella seemed to have made up her mind not to give in this time. She was off to a quick start and led them into the straight. Then began a longish journey of maintaining her lead and favourite Shivalik Valley was looming large on the outside. The pair fought stride for stride almost through the long homestretch with both going hammer and tongs all the way to the wire. Jockey Nakhat Singh won the battle in the end as Lock Stella held on by a short-head from Shivalik Valley. Kimberly Cruise ended third a good five lengths plus further back. 

Mystery (Corporate Jungle – My Mood) was stretched a bit at the business end but with jockey Suraj Narredu astride he got the right assistance to shake off the challenger. True to the market trends Mystery and Incredulous ran well ahead of the rest and right from the start. Incredulous led them into the straight and soon had Mystery drawing level. Incredulous put up a brave fight and stuck by the favourite all the way. However, in the last 50 meters or so, Mystery was overbearing on Incredulous and pulled away to score by over a length. Wah Ms Zara ended a tame third. 

The last race too saw a keen finish with the Sequeira trained NRI Vision (Excellent Art – Freefall) timing her finish to perfection. Royal Dynamite faded out soon after leading them homeward and it was best Friend who was first being hailed. Soon NRI Vision came into view with Farmville and Her Excellency mustering well. It looked anybody’s race with even less than 100 to go and then NRI Vision, with apprentice Abhay Singh in the saddle quickened further to dash off and score by a length from the fast finishing duo of Her Excellency and Farmville. Promiseofhappiness improved and did well to get a slot in the frame. 

For the professionals, trainer L D’Silva, saddled a double, while top jockeys Suraj Narredu and Akshay Kumar scored a double each.