Champion trainer Pesi Shroff is on a roll. The top gun is sweeping most of the classics in the Indian racing calendar. And it is proving to be as easy as sweeping autumn leaves from the garden path.

The Nilgiris Derby winner Alicia from his yard added one more classic to her list, emerging the best of her sex and age in the South India 1000 Guineas at Chennai on Thursday. Stablemate Medora was better fancied in the plum, but Alicia too had her fair share of supporters and she made them all proud, producing a sparkling gallop in the hands of the talented Umesh to snuff out the challenge of the favourite Allamanda and register her second classic success. Pesi Shroff, it is needless to mention was delighted and so too the owners, Cyrus Palia and Khusro Dhunjibhoy.  

Allamanda from trainer Arjun Manglorkar’s yard and Medora were fancied most in the classic run over the traditional mile. The former on the strength of her eye-catching effort in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas and the fact that the in-form pro Suraj Narredu was partnering her ended up firm favourite before the 10 top fillies came under the starter’s flag for the showdown at sundown in Guindy.  

Flash Bond and Golden Marina set a decent pace all through the backstretch before the latter retired at the top of the straight. At this juncture Allamanda looked good to seize the initiative, but the moment Umesh setalight Alicia, it was clear that the Pesi Shroff ward would overhaul the favourite. And she did exactly that at the distance post before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. The Mysuru challenger Chashni from the stables of Rakesh finished a game third ahead of Medora. All credit to Rakesh, the brave and bold trainer is successfully taking horses from his yard to Chennai and Mumbai and gaining the desired results. Now that Rakesh has shown the way, hopefully small owners and trainers from smaller centres will take the cue and lock horns with the toppers in the years ahead.

After going down to a better filly on the day in the first classic, Suraj astride the in-form Priceless Gold produced his best to come up trumps in the principal added attraction, the Deepak Khaitan Memorial Guindy Gold Cup run over a mile. The winner, fancied most in the betting ring unleashed a brilliant turn of foot approaching the final furlong to romp home in emphatic fashion. Bernardini in his attempt to make every post a winning one stayed on to gain the runner-up spot ahead of Angelino while My Opinion who lost a couple of lengths at the start failed to produce his best and came home fourth.

A smart last start winner Oui Sauvage recorded his second straight victory, proving too good in the concluding event, the Daydreamer Handicap run over a sprint. The winner piloted by Santosh was sweetly fancied by his connections and the six-year-old didn’t disappoint them, storming through to assume command when the race came on a boil and charge home in resplendent style. Oui Sauvage on the strength of his two smart wins is poised to complete a hat-trick of wins when saddled next. Pense’e finished second ahead of King T’chala and Gallantry completed the frame.

Earlier, the Sebastian-trained Golden Streak stunned the followers of form in the opening event, the Miss Showoff handicap run over a mile. Catalyst piloted by Nakhat Singh set a decent pace and led all the way before Golden Streak piloted by Nikhil Naidu pegged back the leader at the shadow of the winning post. Welcome Chakkaram surprised most finishing third ahead of Pink Pearl while the favourite Roses In My Dreams finished in the ruck.

The two brothers Yash and Deepesh who are enjoying a fine run combined effectively to make the first strike in the Ellerslie handicap, Yash booting home the lesser fancied Alexander before completing the grand treble on Leopard Rock. Valeska from Sebastian’s yard was the top market fancy but the favourite after gaining an edge found Alexander too hot to handle at end, going down by a half a length. Lady Solitaire in her pillar to post attempt did well to hang on to save money in place.

The money-back favourite Anatasia was second in the list of the Narredu brothers who showed a clean pair of heels to his 11 rivals, while providing Yash an arm-chair ride to success. The winner hit the front soon after the dozen jumped out and Yash without raising a sweat guided the public rage home. Star Fling gained the runner-up berth ahead of Prince Of Windsor. Anatasia is in rousing form and is certain to record a hat-trick when next saddled. So too Leopard Rock who cantered home in the P T Rajan Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs.

A confident Yash chose to play the waiting game on the `Leopard’ as Gods Plan streaked ahead and set a decent pace. The moment Gods Plan shot his bolt at the top of the straight, Night Hunt and Mzilikazi  advanced to gain control, but it was all over bar the shouting, the moment Yash alerted Leopard Rock. Hope And Glory finished second ahead of Night Hunt, who is likely to make a favourable impression soon.

The James Mckeown-trained Once You Go Black made a winning debut in the Smt.Gayatri Devi Memorial Cup. A goodtype of youngster, Once You Go Black was confidently fancied to score and in the hands of Irish pro Shane Grey, the public choice produced a sparkling gallop in the final furlong to gain the day ahead of Augusta and Emperor Ashoka.

Trainer Adhiraj Singh who led in Oui Sauvage in the final event, earlier struck through Thunderclap who edged out Due Diligence by the shortest of margins in the Angelo Handicap.