The Arjun Mangalorkar groomed colt Salento is certainly a horse which falls in the "horses for courses"category. Taking the stage at Malakpet racetrack for the fourth time in his career, the bay colt kept his unbeaten status at this centre intact with a stylish victory in the Wolf777 Golconda Derby Stakes (Gr.1) on Sunday. Salento, who is the joint property of Messrs Arun Alagappan, Rajendran, Joydeep Datta Gupta, Rajan and Gautam Agarwal, registered a flawless victory in the hands of Antony Raj. The bay son of Speaking Of Which out of Peninsula was bred at the Usha Stud Farm. 

Serdar led the pack of ten  contestants with All Attraction, Mysterious Angel and Wordsmith in tow while the frontline contenders, Salento and Dyf, played the waiting game over the mile and half contest. Salento made steady progress from the half-way mark to take out the pretenders ahead one by one as the field turned for home and took the pole position when put into top gear by Antony. The bay colt then strode out majestically to claim his fourth graded race. Trevor Patel ridden Dyf and Kancha with Akshay Kumar in saddle were both hard ridden as they threw down the gauntlet to Salento in the final stretch. The winner however repelled the attack of runner up Dyf and Kancha, who ended close behind, easily. Hoping Cloud made it to the judge's board after the front runners, except Mysterious Angel, retreated from the fray.

Trevor was involved in a mishap earlier in the day when he got unbalanced and dislodged from the saddle atop hot favourite Happy Soul, who was smartly off from the gates. Caraxes meanwhile slipped into the lead and brought the juvenile into the straight. Imran Chisty-ridden Truth (Pinson - Lady Be Good), after biding his time till heads straightened for home, gathered momentum in last two furlongs and swiftly mowed down both Caraxes and Australia. Encore made his bid quite late and ended second ahead of Caraxes and Australia.

K Satheesh nursed gelding Akido (Outstrip - Gift Wrap), aided by Akshay's power-packed finish, scored the most thrilling win of the day. Mark My Day went surging ahead from the gates with Kesariya Balam and A Sandesh-steered favourite Ballerina in close attendance. Racing at the wrong end till the final bend, Akido started to bridge the leeway and as Ballerina faded away, it was left to him and Kesariya Balam to stalk Mark My Day as they approached the winning post. Nakhat Singh-piloted Mark My Day almost pulled it off before stable-mate Akido stunned him in virtually the last stride. General Atlantic, who lost considerable ground at the gates, came with a long-striding run to peg back Kesariya Balam for the third spot.

Candy Girl provided Satheesh a double when she lasted out to win in a close finish later in the day. B Nikhil kept Candy Girl in close attendance of favourite Path Of Peace, who was taken on pillar-to-post mission by Trevor. With two furlongs left for home, Candy Girl moved up gradually to join Path Of Peace and both waged a fierce battle in the straight with Fly Tothe Stars closing in on them.Candy Girl (Net Whizz - Frizbee) finally had the upper hand and hit the wire before Fly Tothe Stars could play spoilsport.

In a superb dash similar to that of Unsung Hero, Raza Shehzad nursed mare Unmatched (Crimson China - Enchanting Miss) frustrated favourite Sopranos in the shadow of the winning post. Fatuma brought the field of thirteen into the view before Ok Boss surged ahead. Akshay meanwhile went all out astride Sopranos and had just about managed to wrest the lead when K Mukesh Kumar-ridden Unmacthed came with a blazing run to flash past both Sopranos and Ok Boss. Fatuma tired out to finish fourth.

A superb finishing effort by S Saqlain aboard Carlisle saw the L D'Silva saddled colt outwit the short-priced favourite Beauty Blaze, who was entrusted in the experienced hands of Trevor. Carlisle raced within striking range of leaders Avancia and Bellaque till the final turn where Saqlain gave him his head. Beauty Blaze, who fought for her head when positioned behind the front runners, launched her assault when Carlisle assumed command but Saqlain drove him out relentlessly to gain a gratifying win. Doe A Deer came out of nowhere to finish in the money ahead of Bellaque.

The well-bred four-year old Pal Cha (ex Flaming Falcon) graduated from the maiden ranks with a runaway victory in the hands of Gaurav Singh. Backed enthusiastically in the betting ring, Ravinder Singh saddled Pal Cha (Sanus Per Aquam - Songlark) was quickly off from the blocks and was never in any danger of being caught as he made his rivals look pedestrian in the final lap. Late-finishing Clefairy ended runner up with China Town and N R I Fantasy completing the judge's frame. Favourite Wandring Warrior never showed any intent of obliging his supporters and ended in the heap behind.

Like Pal Cha, the fortunes of trainer Anant Vatsalya's ward Fast Track too changed for good after being rechristened as Das. Backed to the exclusion of eleven rivals, Das (David Livingstone- Fast Lady) wore down Samrat close home despite a poor ride given by Ajeeth. Wot's Up Joy ran on late to be second and had Good Tidings, Samrat and Sea Of Class ending close behind.