Only five three-year-old juvenile fillies chose to contest for the rich stakes offered by the Byerly Turk Million, a Group 3 event which featured Monday’s card at Malakpet. RH Sequeira schooled She Can (Win Legend – Masquenada), who registered a facile victory on debut last month, was installed as the hot favourite ahead of her stable-mate Proud Mary and the chestnut filly gave no anxious moments to her supporters. Calista Girl shot into the lead soon after the gates flew open but she ran out of fuel after her blistering run in the first four furlongs and began her retreat.
 
Proud Mary was urged by Suraj Narredu at this juncture to take charge, however, the second favourite was soon fighting for survival as She Can began her assault. Akshay Kumar-ridden She Can, who was kept her a handy third behind Calista Girl, mounted a fierce attack and had the upper hand after a brief tussle with her barn-mate. The on-money favourite then cantered home for a convincing win over a set of feeble rivals. Proud Mary ended runner up with Bash On Regardless, Trevor Patel piloted Sangreal and Calista Girl following her home in a single file.

Akshay achieved a back-to-back double astride Black Onyx who put in a spirited run in the straight to nail the well-performed favourite Ballerina in the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Memorial Cup. Both Trump Star and Xfinity strode ahead of the field after divesting Blissful of her lead shortly after the start. Trump Star increased his lead on the way which appeared to be sizeable when he brought the field into the home stretch. With Ayr and Xfinity unable to quicken, Trevor asked Ballerina for an effort. But the enthusiastically backed Black Onyx (Stardan – Dancing Dame), who was almost last to enter the straight, produced a sparkling run and proved too good for Ballerina on this occasion. With just half furlong left for home, Akshay powered the MS Parmar saddled Black Onyx to nail both Ballerina and Trump Star and drew away for an emphatic win. Ayr, Xfinity and late-finishing Kingston were in close tow.

Jockey Suraj Narredu hit the bull’s-eye right at the start of the day when he successfully steered two piping hot favourites, Bellaque and Planet Royale. D Netto groomed Bellaque made amends for her previous failure when taking toll of a mediocre opposition in the opening event of the day. Suraj had Bellaque (Perfect Stride – Fire Song) in the pole position after travelling a few metres from the gates and had the race under control despite Happy Go Lucky’s bravado as the heads turned for home. A couple of cracks from Suraj’s whip and Bellaque was homeward bound as she kicked clear of her rivals. Fresh Hope ran a noteworthy second after getting into her stride close home whilst Happy Go Lucky ended third ahead of Lightning Fairy. Lacking in experience, rookie riders Kuldeep Singh and Ajay Kumar were unable to provide adequate assistance in the saddle to Happy Go Lucky and Fresh Hope as both horses ran all over the place during the race.

Debutant Planet Royale was tuned to the moment and her eye-catching preparatory runs made her the odds on favourite to win the juvenile event. The S Sreekant schooled filly was off to a smooth start from the barriers and Suraj just had to keep her on course for a facile win. Queen Empress and Reigning Beauty were in a futile chase of the winner all the way. Queen Empress stayed in the second place but Reigning Beauty surrendered the third spot to the fast finishing Fly Me.

Kiran Naidu partnered Baisa was the lone on-money favourite to bite dust during the day. Naidu hit the front with Baisa and found Stay Smart chasing him into the straight. Ravinder Singh’s candidate Stay Smart (Ivory Touch Lopamudra) was driven confidently by Gaurav Singh as he joined Baisa in the last furlong and snatched the lead briefly. Top-weighted Baisa fought back and stretched out but Stay Smart wore her down with a resolute effort. Deccan Ranger and Blast In Class took the remaining minor places on the judge’s board.

Kuldeep went on to make amends for his forgettable ride earlier and earned his second successive victory aboard LVR Deshmukh trained mare Thanks, who claimed the G Vasudeva Reddy Memorial Cup. Thanks (Ampere – Tableau Vivant) went on a wire-to-wire mission and was a winner at every post of the seven-furlong journey. Those in the know backed Thanks and the mare ran true to the market’s prediction. Ante post favourite La Mirage, whose odds drifted in the betting ring, was hard-ridden by Suraj but Netto’s ward was in no mood to oblige and succumbed meekly. Candy Girl ran on to displace True Icon, who ran prominently behind both the winner and the runner up till the fag end of the race before ending fourth. The rest of the runners seemed to be out for airing.

N R I Fantasy from G Shashikanth’s string was strongly fancied to taste her maiden success which she did but the filly had to fight tooth and nail to overcome the threat posed by her experienced adversary, Sopranos. Speedy Mr Perfect led the field even as N R I Fantasy fought aggressively for her head with Ashhad Asbar in the initial stages of the six furlong event. The favourite tackled Mr Perfect in the final run in but soon had Sopranos breathing down her neck. Sopranos inched closer with every stride but eventually went down by a neck despite Akshay going all out in the last furlong. Delhi Heights showed some improvement in his form and finished third ahead of hard-ridden Explosive.

Inside Story was well fancied to win on relegation and the K Satheesh nursed mare obliged the punters as apprentice RS Jodha helped her achieve her maiden success. Inside Story (Saamidd – Allys Glory) raced within striking distance of Space Time till she was given her head by Jodha in the last furlong and half. The favourite surged ahead and was home and dry till Good Tidings, who has made a habit of putting in a late effort, came charging at Inside Story. Canterbury failed to quicken in the last furlong and had to settle for third place ahead of Space Time.