Five-year old Theon from Pesi Shroff’s had a safe passage in the Golconda St Leger (Gr.2) which had only three runners facing the starter. The money-back favourite expectedly toyed with his two rivals as he won the gruelling mile and three quarter event in a common canter. In a slow run race, Pradeep Chouhan was forced to hit the front with Theon with the two runners following him in a single file. By the time Theon hit the wire, he had put daylight between him and his two rivals.

Jockey BR Kumar, who got a four-week suspension for his gingerly ride astride favourite Dr Dee Dee on Saturday, showed remarkable zeal in his effort atop Ashwa Morocco in the Mirza Zunnur Ahmed Memorial Cup. Akshay Kumar tried to exploit the initial speed Beauty Blaze is endowed with and went on a start to finish mission for the seven furlong event. Chouhan ridden joint favourite Arthur raced within striking distance of Beauty Blaze while Mysterious Angel and Ashwa Morocco were settled towards the inner rails in the mid group.

With two furlongs left for the destination, both Akshay and Chouhan got busy with their mounts whilst Mysterious Angel and Ashwa Morocco lurking behind them. Beauty Blaze fought valiantly till the last 100m before surrendering the lead to Arthur, who took charge but found Ashwa Morocco (Ampere – Bee Quick) being driven tenaciously by Kumar. The G Shashikanth ridden filly finished with a strong burst on the wide outside to triumph by a head, which extended Arthur’s agonising wait for his second career win. Ajeeth Kumar failed to extract that extra bit out of Mysterious Angel who finished an identical distance ahead of Beauty Blaze.

Chouhan started his day on a winning note with Fly Tothe Stars, the Raza Shehzad trainee whom he had successfully partnered earlier this month. Pedro Planet made the early running with Fly Tothe Stars (Tenth Star – Fly With The Wind) ridden off the pace behind his main rivals Spectacular Cruise and Quality Warrior. The three fancied runners made their move in the straight with Suraj driven Spectacular Cruise overtaking the leaders and going ahead. Fly Tothe Stars, who improved with every stride, was travelling the better close home and went on to register an encore. Quality Warrior ran a laboured third with Sorry Darling ending fourth after a good forward run behind leader Pedro Planet.

The LVR Deshmukh nurtured Yesterday, who was languishing in the maiden ranks and still rated 41, ran true to the expectations of the market forces when achieving his first career win. Despite conceding chunks of weight to his rivals, Yesterday (Ampere – Yemen Desert) found smart money coming his way, more than what flowed the way of ante post favourite Arrowtown. After failing inexplicably as a favourite against stablemate Advance Guard last month, Yesterday let Swiss Girl and City Cruise enjoy the lead and was well settled behind them by jockey Surya Prakash, who was yet to taste success this season, The dark bay gelding breezed past the duo which moved aside at the turn. Surya packed enough punch in his ride as Yesterday drew away from Akshay ridden Arrowtown, who failed to make any impression on the winner. Sucker Punch (formerly Dillon) ran on to be in the money ahead of New Hustle.

The other two races run during the afternoon were also won by maidens. Laxman Singh’s candidate Bellaque (Perfect Stride – Fire Song), who finished a suggestive second to Divine Connection earlier and was appearing on the track after two months, thrashed her opponents in the Solario Plate. Bellaque did well to hit the front after coming from the outer draw and jockey Kiran Naidu had very little to do as the filly scored an emphatic maiden win. Wind Sprite, Life’s Living, Protocol and Lights On, who had their own individual supporters, followed Bellaque home.

Alpine Girl hailing from KSV Prasad Raju’s stables recorded an impressive victory as she flew in the last furlong to stop Sye Ra in his tracks. Sye Ra took charge from favourite Red River, who flattered till entering the home stretch, and just when the B Nikhil ridden and A Vatsalya saddled gelding came within kissing distance of the winning post, Alpine Girl arrived on the scene to play spoilsport. Reining Queen, another Vatsalya ward, ran all over the place before finishing a length behind Sye Ra. Dhanu Singh Deora ridden filly Malahat from Laxman Singh’s yard ran below expectations as she took a long time warming up to her task before ending a close fourth.