The local lady did it. And she did it in style. Something Royal from leading pro Sebastian's yard galloped to fame, winning the blue riband of the Udhagamandalam season, the Nilgiris Derby in emphatic fashion and her double classic success at the Blue Mountains confirmed that the classy filly is one of the best in the Chennai campus. The frontliner in the mega event after her success in the 1000 Guineas had consistently produced heartwarming performances on the trial track and Sebastian was pleased with her preparation for the big event. Sai Kumar her pilot, who had partnered her in her maiden classic success at this track was immensely pleased with the progress she had made going into the biggest plum of the season. Sai was confident and he knew that Something Royal was raring to go. The mile long trip posed no problem and the competitors held no great threat. The Bangalore challenger Knotty Charmer too had improved most, but her final preparatory gallop separated her from the rest. She according to most top pros was the one to beat and she proved them right landing the Derby riches in style. 

The fact that Knotty Charmer garnered the maximum support in the betting ring surprised the pundits. They made no secret of their opinion that the hot lady will be hard to down on a rain-hit track which suited her style. Her ability to quickly shift gears is what really separated her from her two main rivals, Knotty Charmer and Time And Tide. Sai Kumar, playing the waiting game, judged the pace well and timed his final challenge to a nicety. The manner in which Something Royal pulled the plug and fused out her eight rivals when the race came on a boil clearly established her superiority and it proved to be Ladies Day Out again at the Nilgiris. Sebastian was over the moon and Sai was ecstatic. All the hard work had paid off and it was time to uncork the bubbly after the champagne effort. 

Three summers ago the Bangalore hopeful from Sulaiman Attaollahi's yard, Queen Spirit in the hands of Mumbai-based pro Zervan had spoilt the local party beating Glorious Grace and Still I Rise in the blue riband. This time Knotty Charmer looked good to extend the Derby winning streak of the Bangalore brigade. But the big girl made sure that the big boys only followed her home while she stood tall at the podium. 

The one big consolation to the Bangalore camp was that Imperial Blue from Irfan Ghatala's yard proved too good in the Dr MAM Ramaswamy Memorial Stakes, the principal added attraction on the D-day. The winner confidently piloted by leading pro Umesh assumed command at the top of the straight and powered home to the delight of his owner Arun Alagappan. The sporting owner later led in another top fancy Berrettini, who showed a clean pair of heels in the lower division of the Turf Authorities Trophy run over a sprint. The upper division was claimed by the overwhelming favourite Slainte from James McKeown's yard. The winner needed to win the race again in the stewards room following an objection lodged by Mohit Singh rider of Augusta against Umesh astride Slainte for cutting sharply and taking his ground. The stewards quickly and rightly overruled what appeared a frivolous protest.   

Leading trainer B Suresh, who led in Berrettini recorded a popular double, earlier striking it rich on the favourite Royal Icon in the opening event, the Bangalore Turf Club Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. Suresh sent out the public choice spot on and the topweight made every post a winning one without really extending herself. Royal Icon , it must be mentioned is on top of her game and is set to add one more to her kitty before the curtains are brought down at the end of month. 

After finishing second behind Gold Fame in her last essay, Happiness from Sebastian's yard went one better cantering home in the Smt,Gayatri Devi Memorial Trophy run over a sprint. Knotty Wonder was backed to the exclusion of her eight rivals in this event, but the Ramanathan ward found Happiness too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth. 

Trainer Anil Kumar brought off a good gamble on Suparakiga in the Mysore Race Club Trophy run over a mile. The winner in what appeared an open affair unleashed a good gallop in the final furlong to romp home an easy winner. Another fancied runner Wonderful Era again failed to break ice, finishing runner-up again in her third successive start. The topweighted Walking Brave cornered good support and at end closed firm favourite, but the Krishna ward never could keep pace and finished in the ruck. 

Sheer Rocks again took a lot of money down the drain, failing to even make the frame in the Hyderabad Race Club Trophy run over a sprint. The public choice hit the front and held the initiative before the five to one shot Celeste from Mandanna's yard partnered by apprentice jockey B Dharshan seized the initiative at the top of the straight and put the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong.