Exceeding all expectations and dispelling all doubts about his staying ability, Champions Way registered his second classic success at the Malakpet racecourse on Sunday. In doing so, the Derby conquests of jockey Suraj Narredu remained unabated as he steered the four-year old colt to a bloodless victory in the HPSL Golconda Derby Stakes (Gr.1). Keeping in mind that the Satish Narredu-schooled son of Sanus Per Aquam out of Castle Queen relished setting his own pace and had never lost when taken on a start-to-finish mission, Suraj had no hesitation in allowing Champions Way to hit the front from the barriers. True to his name, Champions Way raised a magnificent gallop over the mile and half trip to outclass his eight rivals. All that his opponents could do was to follow him in a royal procession. Livermore, the favourite and the Oaks winner, got no opportunity to question the supremacy of Champion Ways at any stage. The only time Livermore came close to the winner was when S. Saqlain brought her into contention as the field swung into the home stretch. But Livermore was going nowhere after Suraj released the brakes on Champions Way, who skipped away for an authoritative win. Truth progressed well in the straight and gained ground on Livermore in the dying moments of the race to finish runner-up just under a length ahead. Huntingdon got to take the fourth spot after Shadow of the Moon, who was in chase of Champions Way till the bend, faded out. Champions Way is the joint property of Mr Teja Gollapudi and Messrs Blazing Saddles (PF).
 
Soon after his Derby success, Suraj partnered Crown Witness, who raced in the same colours as Champions Way but was saddled by KSV Prasad, to a fluent win. Crown Witness came well from the wide draw to be a handy third behind the leaders, Setastar and London Bells. Crown Witness (Sanus Per Aquam – Crown Empress) was given his head shortly after the field straightened for home and the favourite responded by storming ahead in the last furlong and half. Suraj kept Crown Witness going under the whip for his maiden success. Nkalanzinzi, who was second in demand, warmed up late but found the winner beyond his reach. Federer, who had a troubled passage in the initial stages of the race, rallied well in the straight but conceded the runner-up berth to Nkalanzinzi close home. London Bell retired to be a faraway fourth.
 
Prasad Raju led in a winner right at the start of the day when Cannon Rose, who was knocking at the doors of success since her debut two months ago, entered the winner’s circle in her seventh attempt. P. Sai Kumar-ridden Cannon Rose raced close behind rank outsider Lady Jane, who shot into the lead as the gates opened, and went hunting for her in the last two furlongs of the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup (Div-II). Cannon Rose (Air Support – Senora Bella) inched closer with every stride to swoop down on Lady Jane and was driven strongly by Sai Kumar to gain the upper hand about a furlong away from home. Lady Jane was not disgraced in her defeat as she managed to finish a length behind the winner. Oliver’s Mount gathered momentum in the straight to finish third ahead of Anemoi. There was a lot of smart money wagered on D. Netto-trained and AA Vikrant-ridden Gun For Gold but his much-anticipated winning debut failed to materialise as he struggled throughout the race.
 
Diablo from Prasad Raju’s yard had put in some excellent work in the morning trials and was also expected to make a winning debut. The bay colt however came across one better in Kalki (Speaking Of Which – Daffodil), who was tuned to the moment by Bharath Singh and made every post of the first division of the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup a winning one in the hands of Trevor Patel. Diablo, with Suraj in saddle, was inconvenienced by Antony Raj-ridden second favourite Torch Bearer right at the start and finished second after going in futile chase of the winner. Bellingham edged out Torch Bearer for the third place in the last few strides.
 
Trainer Magan Singh Parmar and jockey G. Vivek were associated in a successful double through Coming Home and Blazing Gun, who were both available at lucrative odds. Top-weighted Coming Home (Stardan – Super Sonic) was settled in the fourth slot as Ambitious Star showed the way to the field and had Star Cruise and Golden Forza in pursuit. Vivek alerted Coming Home soon after entering the final stretch and went all out when taking the shortest route for home. The mare quickened nicely and had the measure of Ambitious Star about a hundred metres from the post. Favourite Samrat improved well close home but the winner proved far too superior, Ambitious Star ended in the money ahead of Exponent and Inderdhanush.
 
After being an expensive failure twice this season, Parmar decided to pitch Blazing Gun in the higher class which proved to be a smart move. Blazing Gun seized the initiative at the start but, after travelling a furlong or so, allowed Only My Way to head the field. Both these horses entered the straight well clear of the rest and were involved in a fierce duel after Blazing Gun ranged alongside the leader. Afroz Khan-piloted Only My Way fought valiantly and stretched Blazing Gun to the hilt before succumbing close home. First Class ended third ahead of the two fancied runners – Sacred Bond and Rising Tycoon. Both of them ran far below par and for no apparent reason.
 
Four-year old Hurricane Bay, who had hit the board for the first time in his career after coming under Leo D’Silva’s charge, ran true to the promise shown in his previous outing. Opting to run in the higher class to gain the handicap advantage and a new set of equipment apparently did the trick for Hurricane Bay. He raced in the mid-bunch as favourite Final Judgement tried runaway tactics once again with Soorya Vahan and Precious Gift in close attendance. Soon after turning for home, S. Saqlain brought Hurricane Bay (Planetaire – Midnight Wind) wide into the straight and showed him the daylight. Hurricane Bay unleashed a powerful run to collar Final Judgement in the last furlong and went on to score his maiden victory. Final Judgement finished second, just ahead of Ampere’s Touch who was followed home by Antidote.

Maverick, according to trainer D. Netto, was racing with a “tougher bunch” when he flopped as an on-money favourite a month ago. But Maverick proved his master’s assessment wrong when vanquishing Miss Maya in a much tougher set competing for the Royal Western India Turf Club Cup (Div-I). Calista Girl made the initial running with Dali’s Destiny, Dyanoosh, favourite Leather Back and Miss Maya bunched up close behind. With little under a furlong left for the destination, Miss Maya snatched the lead whilst Leather Back was held up for room towards the rails. Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) elicited a good response from Maverick (Lord Admiral – Silver Cruise), who put in a smart run in the final furlong to join the issue with Miss Maya. Both steeds then went stride for stride in the last hundred metres with Maverick snuffing out Miss Maya’s winning bid in the last couple of strides. Dali’s Destiny and Dyanoosh ended third and fourth respectively. Leather Back didn’t have the luck of the race and found himself hemmed up towards the rails from where Ashhad Asbar decided to essay his challenge. Asbar couldn’t get the desired opening initially behind Dali’s Destiny and Calista Girl later on and failed to extricate Leather Back from the mess.

Jasbir Singh-groomed Thanks pulled off a stunning upset in the Turf Authorities of India Cup (Div-I). Mohit Singh eased Thanks into the lead soon after the gates flew open and had him racing on the bit as favourite Faith and Akido went in hot pursuit. Thanks (Ampere – Tableau Vivant) brought her eight rivals into the straight and soon gave all of them a slip in the final run-in. Unlike her previous effort when she was ridden way off the pace, Faith raced well up behind Thanks and found the going tough when asked for an effort by Trevor. The favourite was outpaced and finished fourth after being tackled by Akido and Hugh Capet, who ended second and third respectively, in the final stage of the race.