Jockey Suraj Narredu summed it up best after pocketing the Wolf 777 1000 Guineas at RCTC on Fridaywhen he said his mount Success is a small filly with a big heart. The Vijay Singh-trained youngster by Havana Gold out of Columbia had dead-heated for the Monsoon Derby with Imperial Power barely a month ago and continued her success story on this day with a convincing victory over Shabelle in the Guineas. The latter had taken over the running from front-running Raisina Star at the turning for home and was shaping like a winner. However, Suraj Narredu was as cool as a cucumber atop Success as he took the turn five wide in sixth spot and changed gears thereafter. The filly responded magnificently to peg back Shabelle to the runner-up berth with 100 metres to go. The experienced rider felt that there was no doubt that the filly will get the Derby trip. It’s quite likely that she will skip the Oaks a fortnight prior to the Derby slated to be run on Sunday, January 8. Arabian Queen finished a good third and is one for the notebook while Queenstown seems more comfortable over sprints. Kiefer was a poor fifth and would be better off in handicap races.

Trainer Vijay Singh and jockey Suraj Narredu had combined earlier to fetch home the honours with Secret Pearl (Planetaire-Noble Lady) in the seven-furlong race for the Agostini Handicap. Front-running favourite Santana was collared by Secret Pearl close to the distance post. The others including ante-post favourite Eastwood were never in the race.

Jockey Hindu Singh rode a poor race on Oasis in the Madras Race Club Cup, otherwise he may well have turned the tables on the favourite Stockbridge(Speaking of Which-Sheryl) in this mile event. Jockey Neeraj Rawal atop the winner rode a copybook race to collar Malwa who had taken over the running in the straight. Hindu Singh got himself into a tangle along the rails and eventually lost the race by three-parts of a length.

The afternoon commenced with a regulation victory for Javed Khan-trained Arrow Point(Kingda Ka – Titian’s Pride)  in the 2000 metres race for the Pentire Handicap. The easy victory with Srinath in the saddle brings the filly into the reckoning for the Oaks on December 22. Trainer Patrick Quinn completed a lucrative double with Dream Chaser and Properly Posh. The former – by New Famous out of Commelina – won a close contest in the seven-furlong race for the Noble View Handicap, edging out neglected Summer Air and Whistle Blower at the wire. Jockey Antony Raj rode a powerful finish on the five-year-old dark bay. Antony closed as the favourite on Quinn’s Dubai Dunes in the day’s final event but it was the stable’s lesser fancied Properly Posh (Varenar-To The Manor Born) who pulled it off with Afzal Khan in the saddle.