Satish Narredu trained Star Glory (Top Class – Confiance) was the overwhelming favourite to win the Nari Reddy Memorial Million, the feature race on Sunday and the promising three-year-old colt fully justified that status by winning the race named after one of the favourite sons of Hyderabad/India. One among the most respected racing personalities with the sharpest of minds, Mr Nari Reddy was the ‘go-to’ man not only at Hyderabad, but across all Turf Clubs in India. His passing away late last month was felt deeply among the racing fraternity and the ‘Million’ race was a fitting tribute to the gentleman.

Star Glory had it easy as jockey Suraj Narredu eased him into the lead soon on settling down. White Roses followed close behind with Ayr and Almas racing next while Exclusive and London Bell were in the rear.

Star Glory galloped majestically once they turned for home and looked the winner instantly. Suraj didn’t need to actually get him going as Star Glory had stolen a march early in the straight and left his rivals far behind. He won by a healthy margin. Ayr beat the rest comfortably to take the runner-up berth well ahead of Almas.

Jockey Suraj Narredu was a bit emotional after the presentation. “It felt nice to win this race which was in memory of one of the most respected racing personalities. I had barely come to terms with the sad demise of Mr RR Byramji, another legend, when the news of Mr Reddy sir’s passing away drifted in. I recall having met Nari Reddy sir on occasions and always admired his knowledge and his straightforwardness. He has given me sound advice and I have learnt a couple of things I cherish. Winning this race which is in honour of Nari Reddy sir is indeed a privilege. I felt emotional at the presentation. He was a personality that one would admire at the very first meeting. I pay my homage to Reddy sir and share the loss with his family” said Suraj Narredu.

Trainer RH Sequeira had a quick treble within the first half of the race card, thereby leading in three winners in the first four races! This included the other Million race – The Qutab Shahi Million with on-money favourite NRI Valley.

N R I Valley (Saamidd – Sashimi) packed a punch in her finish to sail away and take her win tally to six out of 16 starts. She has six seconds as well and that, most would agree, is an enviable record.

Summer Knight hit the front with Havelock Cruise on his tail, while NRI Valley tailed the field close behind. Summer Knight shook off Havelock Cruise as the latter drew level to challenge his lead. N R I Valley, with local ace Akshay Kumar in the saddle, picked up momentum approaching the distance post and soon launched his attack, galloping strongly on the outside. Summer Knight fought well for a few strides, but NRI Valley was just too good as he stretched out fluently to draw away in the final 100 meters and post a comfortable victory.

Sequeira had opened the day on a winning note with Indie (Leitir Mor – Maleficent) in the first race of the day. Cosmico, the favourite in the race, was declared a ‘non-starter’ as the jockey claimed that he had indicated that he was not ready for the start, yet the gates clanged open despite his frantic calls to the starter. A stewards’ enquiry ensued and some of the jockeys substantiated the claims of Kuldeep Singh, the jockey in question. It was evident on seeing the footage of the start that the jockey was indeed not ready, hence the ruling.

Indie rose from the mid-bunch soon on turning for home. Loch Stella was in front and was soon challenged by Blazing Jupiter, City of Blossom ran close to the rails with Max on the outside. Indie arrived with a strong finishing gallop and flashed past them all and strode away to pocket the race long before the winning post to win by over two lengths. Max followed the winner home, beating Blazing Jupiter to third.

Super Angel (Win Legend – Ice Point) provided Sequeira his third winner, producing a smooth flowing gallop at the business end. Apprentice jockey overcame more than one hindrance yet won the race with commendable ease. Firstly, he was not the quickest out and Super Angel after the jump, took a couple of strides before settling down at the wrong end of the ten-horse field.

Full Volume was in front with the fancied Soloist travelling well in second position with City of Wisdom and a couple others bunched up tightly. Super Angel and her jockey Abhay Singh continued to grapple, caught between horses which caused the rider to check his mount twice between the 700m and 600m mark.

As they entered the straight, Soloist looked assured as he advanced past the leader smoothly and built up a lead. Abhay started to ride out hard and also had to change his whip hand a few times to ensure Super Angel didn’t stray either way. Once Super Angel picked up speed, she came swooping down on Soloist and breezed past a host of runners to score a thunderous victory. Soloist had done nothing wrong but the plot saw a sudden change as Super Angel dashed past in the final few strides to clinch the division 2 of the Mecme Rolling Trophy. Own Voice too improved in the latter stages to finish close behind Soloist. Char Ek Char too was in trouble as the rider lost his footing in the stirrups in the final furlong, which commentator Shivaprasad had the presence of mind, amidst the frenzy, to call out!

The upper division of the race was equally dramatic with a three-way finish that saw Shshikanth trained City of Blessing (Excellent Art – Accessorize) put in a perfectly timed run to clinch the race on the last stride from a trio of horses scrambling to the post.

Favourite Maximum Glamour looked on-course as she had a useful lead of over two lengths at the distance post. Akido, BY The Bay, Keystone, NRI Sport were inching closer to the leader when City of Blessing started to warm up. While By the Bay and Keystone were thereabouts, NRI Sport and Akido started to accelerate well and were catching up fast with Maximum Glamour. City of Blessings, with Mukesh Kumar astride, flew towards the finish with a dazzling burst to snatch victory with a neck verdict, on the last stride. NRI Sport ‘nosed’ out Akido, while Maximum Glamour was beaten to fourth, all in a matter for split seconds!

Robin Reddy trained Prime Gardenia (Arazan – Queen’s Collection) came alive in the final furlong to score a thrilling victory adding to his solitary win that he scored about this time last year. This one too changed the script by the seconds as Golden Forza enjoyed a big lead of about five lengths midway in the straight. Favourite Top Diamond and Fatuma were in chase. Prime Gardenia was picking up on the outside, while Gurbaaz was closer to the rails.

Golden Forza ran out of gas and was overhauled by Fatuma and Prime Gardenia both timing their finish at the same juncture. Jockey Nikhil got Prime Gardenia going on full steam to knock the fight out of Fatuma and score by half a length. Mind Reader was not sighted, but he too arrived full of running and finished on the haunches of Fatuma, although he was way too wide. Mind Reader’s run was eye-catching as he covered a lot of ground in a short span to pip Gurbaaz, who was way ahead, for the place money.

ON a day when outsiders ruled, Ice Berry (Corporate Jungle – Velvet Queen) too chipped in with a win at 10 to 1. The Sateesh trained mare put in a spirited run at the finish to peg back Campania by a neck in the shadow of the winning post.

This one too was a four-horse finish that was as exciting as it could get. Winning Streak got past early leader Campania in the backstretch and galloped at a steady pace until into the straight. Campania got closer and caught up with Winning Streak with a furlong to go. Campania had a slight edge when he got the measure of Winning Streak, but had Ic Berry breathing down his neck. Southern Lady too was right with them fighting hard to get to the post. Ice Berry, with jockey Gaurav Singh pulled it off with a blinding finish to beat Campania by a neck. Southern Lady was another neck behind, finishing third, just ahead of Winning Streak.

Explosive (Sedgefield – Pickwick Papers) who had scored his maiden victory way back in September of 2019, ended his long wait for a taste of victory again. He was the favourite as he had come down in class, yet he had to tackle a field of fourteen to manage that and it’s never easy going by the recent trends.

The Anantha Vatsalya trainee was not in the best of positions, detached from the bunch of about eight or nine runners in front. Into the straight, Challenger held the advantage over Arcadian Angel and these two were clear of the rest. Explosive was rallying well but jockey Deepak Singh had to weave his way through horses and once he got a clear passage, Explosive came charging in at a good rate to storm past them all and score with a margin! He was way too fast in the final 100 meters and won with authority by a good two lengths. Arcadian Angel did well until beaten by a better rival. Challenger re-ran to stick to the third spot, warding off Spectacular Cruise.

For the professionals, trainer Sequeira saddled a fine treble and jockey Abhay Singh scored a double.