Although there were just six contenders in the fray, the first classic at Malakpet produced an exhilarating finish befitting the status of the event. Bangalore-based professional Irfan Ghatala nurtured filly Queen Envied got up just in time to stun favourite Artemis Ignacia, Tiger Mountain and Ballerina on the post to the Golconda 1000 Guineas (Gr.2) on Sunday. Arrowette, the only maiden in the field, set the early pace over the mile trip with favourite Artemis Ignacia and Ballerina racing behind and Elusive, Tiger Mountain and Queen Envied also in close touch.

PS Chouhan urged Artemis Ignacia to tackle the tiring Arrowette in the straight but soon found K Mukesh Kumar ridden Ballerina ranging alongside. Both Artemis Ignacia and Ballerina went stride for stride in the last 300m and none of them willing to concede an inch. Meanwhile Tiger Mountain was alerted by Suraj Narredu and overtook Elusive who failed to accelerate. Antony Raj ridden Queen Envied started his bid in the straight but ran erratic. The second in demand Queen Envied veered out under pressure and went out further under the right-handed whipping of Antony. Fortunately for Queen Envied, Antony changed his whip hand to bring the bay filly back on track and she finished on with a terrific burst to tame Tiger Mountain, Artemis Ignacia and Ballerina. A neck, short-head and a head separated the first four runners.

A similar three-way was witnessed earlier in the day for the KR Arvind Reddy Memorial Cup. L D’Silva trained Ayr tracked leader Exotic Dancer till the horses came into the straight and stole a march over his rivals with a furlong and half left for the wire. Top-weighted Ayr (Roderic O’Connor – Book Thief) had a cushion of more than three lengths lead over Malaala, Nugget and Kancha. Mukesh did not let his guard down and kept the colt on course as Nugget and Kancha drew closer. Ayr kicked on gallantly to keep Akshay ridden Kancha and Chouhan Nugget at bay. A neck separated the each these three runners. Malaala finished a further two lengths away.

Mukesh gave another confident ride to Bellagio in the day’s concluding event which helped D’Silva’s candidate to vanquish the shortest priced runner of the day, Crimson Rose. The RH Sequeira saddled Crimson Rose made a start-to-finish bid with Bellagio close on her haunches. Akshay pulled out his whip to keep the odds on favourite ahead but Bellagio was ridden flat out by Mukesh in an attempt to catch his rival. Bellagio (Speaking Of Which – Clementi) got stronger at the finish as Mukesh rode him plain hands and heels in the last lap and wore down the favourite a few strides away from the post. Burgundy Black ended faraway third ahead of Divine Connection, who was a victim of apprentice RS Jodha’s poor riding as he veered out in the straight to finish on the outer rails.

Akshay succeeded in guiding two other favourites, N R I Superpower and debutant She Can, to victory and both were sent out by Sequeira. N R I Superpower gave no anxious moments to her supporters as she was settled well behind leaders stable-mate Dream Station and owner-mate Nightmare. Akshay hustled N R I Superpower into the lead as the pace-setting duo made way for the favourite. Akshay drove out N R I Superpower (Win Legend – One Life To Live), who notched her fourth career success while keeping Yesterday and Just Incredible at bay. The winner’s stable-mate Dream Station was wasted in setting the pace while Princess Daka, also from the same yard, seemed to have saved her best for some other day.

Two-year-old debutant She Can (Win Legend – Masquenada) was tuned to the moment by Sequeira and the chestnut filly waited to pounce on the frontrunners, Hemping Vazra and Armoury till the field straightened for home. She Can bounded forth when given her head by Akshay and was home and dry with the rich stakes of the Dodla Pratap Chander Reddy Memorial in her bag. High Command, Rising Tycoon and Commanding Heights entered the scene quite late to make any difference to the outcome.

Ravinder Singh schooled filly Calista Girl (Cougar Mountain – Incandescent) proved far too speedy for her rivals and made a winning debut in the Zurbaran Plate. Ridden by B Nikhil, the two-year-old chestnut filly was quickly off the blocks and was tenacious enough to thwart hot favourite Windsor, who warmed up far too late when asked for an effort by Akshay. A similar show by Lucky Zone could only land her the third berth ahead of That’s My Love.

Jasbir Singh trained and Mohit Singh ridden grey filly Hoping Cloud (Saamidd – Kalinda Snow) registered an encore and was easily the most facile winner of the day. The hot favourite, after ridden off the pace over the mile journey, took the shortest route home to pierce through the front running duo Amalfitana and Bangor On Dee at the final turn. The winner was sighted a long way from home as Mohit eased Hoping Cloud into the lead. Starwalt ended a faraway second ahead of City Cruise and Bangor On Dee.

Trainer Laxman Singh nursed filly Barbet (Kingda Ka – Veronese) justified her favouritism and scored a fluent win in the hands of B Nikhil. Barbet allowed Horse O’War and Star Medal to enjoy the lead but only till the last furlong and half. Just as Barbet launcher her assault, second in demand Thanks slipped unnoticed through the inner rails. Barbet however snuffed out her rival’s challenge and scampered home for a convincing victory. Thanks, who was racing after a gap of over a year, came across a better one and can be expected to make amends for this defeat. Silk ran on well to finish in the money ahead of Siri.