Just a month ago, Synthesis suffered defeat in the Colts Champioship Stakes though not for a lack of talent. The three-year old bay colt groomed by Rajesh Narredu erased the bitter memories of that loss with a resounding victory in the Coromandel Gromor-sponsored Deccan Derby (Gr.1) on Monday. Suraj Narredu gave a flawless ride to Synthesis as the crowd favourite raced towards the winning post in solitary splendour after brushing aside Galahad's resistance in the last two furlongs of the mile and quarter contest.

Windsor set the pace as the field of eleven took off for the monsoon racing season's biggest event for juveniles. Galahad, Sea The Sun and Synthesis raced in close attendance and the order of running remained unaltered till the heads turned for home. Galahad went ahead as soon as Windsor had shot his bolts. Suraj meanwhile timed his challenge to perfection and moved smoothly to join Galahad. Synthesis moved like a Ferrari when tackling Galahad and the race was as good as over about two furlongs away from home. Synthesis checked in a distance clear of Truth, who ran on to finish runner-up whilst Galahad managing to keep the third place from Livermore. The rest were simply outclassed. Synthesis is co-owned by Ms Ameeta Mehra, Messrs Balam Mohla, Atul Amersey and Anil Saraf. Synthesis was bred at Ameeta Mehra at Usha Stud Farms.

The four-year old filly Candy Girl, whose last win was in Class III, made her rivals look like novices in the Turf Authorities of India Cup, an event for horses in the highest class. Trainer K. Satheesh wiped off the penalty she incurred for that success by entrusting Candy Girl to 5kg-claimer Ekram Alam. The whipless apprentice justified his master's faith by steering the filly to a glorious win. Candy Girl (Net Whizz - Frizbee) snatched the lead from Exotic Dancer shortly after the starter's flag came down for the seven-furlong race. Candy Girl reduced the event to a one-horse race as she raced like a scalded cat and left her rivals stranded behind. Star Glory was the only horse who showed some spunk in trying to collar the winner in the home stretch but that effort was in vain. Kingston, the winner's barn-mate, and Royal Grace completed the judge's board.

Leo D'silva started the day with a bang by saddling a brace of winners - Doe A Deer and Shadow Of The Moon. Entrusted to rookie Shivansh after she failed in the hands of Trevor Patel, Doe A Deer (Roderic O'Connor - Klipspringer) succeeded in bringing home the bacon on this occasion. The chestnut mare stalked leader Ok Boss into the straight before waging a fierce battle and went stride for stride with him in the last furlong. With about 100m from home, Doe A Deer forced Ok Boss into submission and lasted out to win from fast-finishing Creative Force and First Class. The last-named was "tucked in" towards the inner rails by Akshay Kumar and the mare unleashed a strong run when shown the daylight. But it was an effort too late from First Class, the hot favourite, and she had to settle for the third place behind Creative Force. Ok Boss retired to be a fair fourth and is inching closer towards an overdue victory.

Ironically, D'silva's second winner Shadow Of The Moon, who ran in the same colours as Doe A Deer, was also piloted by Trevor during his failed mission in the Colts Championship last month. The son of Sir Cecil out of Avarua, however, was a different customer in the Class IV handicap event Jockey S. Saqlain brought Shadow Of The Moon through the wide gap as Exclusive Spark shifted out whilst turning for home. Shadow Of The Moon went sailing past leader Vintage Brut and galloped resolutely as Saqlain egged him on to stay beyond the reach of Blazing Gun and Exclusive Spark. Life is Good ended fourth ahead of Australia, who put up a pathetic show.

Ashoka (Gusto - Epsilion Orionis) was backed to.the exclusion of his rivals in the big field of sixteen vying for Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup and he duly obliged. MR Chauhan-saddled Ashoka raced close on the heels of Maximum Glamour and Mozelle till approaching the final turn and went cruising into the lead when given his head by Suraj. The race was sewn up a long way from home by Ashoka. Unsung Hero, Beauty Blaze and Shazam finsihed in that order behind the winner though on sufferance.

The Laxman Singh-schooled Enabling, who had reeled off three victories in a row, flopped badly in the Madras Race Club Cup run over nine furlongs. Only My Way showed the way to the field with Superstellar, Just Incredible and Enabling in pursuit. Apprentice Kuldeep Singh-ridden Acrobat was in the rear initially but made steady progress at every stage of the nine-furlong trip to range alongside the leaders before the field turned for home. Acrobat (Ampere - Avant Garde) was full of running when entering the straight and surged past Only My Way and Superstellar in a trice. The LVR Desmukh-saddled gelding stormed ahead and kept going to inflict a humiliating defeat upon Akshay Kumar-partnered Enabling, who seemed shorn of the brilliance she reflected when achieving a hat-trick. Only My Way held on to be third ahead of True Icon.

Tripurari from MS Parmar's yard, who was running on relegation to Class IV, had Akshay guiding his fortunes on this occasion. Backed as if defeat was out of question, Tripurari got straight down to business when the gates flew open but looked vulnerable as Salisbury loomed large on his outside in the last furlong. Salisbury assumed command but found Exclusive Luck breathing hard on his neck. In the ensuing duel, jockey Md. Ismail drove Robin Reddy-groomed Exclusive Luck (One Lucky Dane - Lucky Gal) with positive intent to gain the upper hand over his rival. Tripurari had the ignominy of losing even the third place to late-finishing Royal Pal.

Akshay rode a solitary winner during the day when Siddharth obliged his followers on his way to his third straight success. Siddharth (Excellent Art - Lavender Brown) was ridden well off the pace by Akshay as Kings Best decided to go start-to-finish over the seven furlong trip for the Royal Western India Turf Club Cup. Siddharth moved rapidly when Akshay switched lanes to make his bid from the outer lane and wore down Kings Best with a little over two furlongs left for the destination. The bay gelding won convincingly from Reigning Beauty with Kings Best managing to finish in the money, a head in front of Nucleus, who was backed enthusiastically but failed to live up to the expectations of his supporters.

The concluding event of the day witnessed a shock victory recorded by thr maiden Moon Walk, which helped apprentice Shivansh complete a double. Ravinder Singh-nursed Moon Walk (Sedgefield - All The Rage) raced well up with the leader It's My Life and had Canterbury racing abreast. Moon Walk shifted out at the turn allowing Canterbury to go past It's My Life. Shivansh did well to bring Moon Walk back into contention and overhauled Canterbury after a brief tussle. The winner lugged in as she raced towards the winning post but was good enough to hit the wire ahead of Akshay-driven Good Tidings. Canterbury and Riffa followed them home. PS Chouhan-ridden favourite Forever Bond seemed to be in distress and was out of the fray halfway through the seven-furlong trip.