The bay filly Psychic Star, one of the five outstation challengers in the field of ten contesting for the HPSL Golconda 1000 Guineas (Gr.2), proved too hot to handle for her rivals at Malakpet on Sunday. Pesi Shroff’s protégé had graduated from the maiden ranks just three weeks ago at Pune but she raced like a champion in the hands of G. Vivek over the mile journey. Nyx enjoyed a slender lead over Mother’s Grace and Star of Night in the initial stage of the mile event while Maigira, Arion One and Psychic Star lay in wait close behind to pounce upon the front-runners. Nyx led the field into the straight with Mother’s Grace failing to quicken and Star of Night too unable to gain momentum. Trevor Patel stirred Maigira into action in the last two furlongs and tried to come through the inner rails but swiftly changed his mind. He brought Maigira four horses wide and at this same juncture Vivek put Psychic Star into top gear following which the filly went surging ahead and was in no danger of being caught thereafter. Psychic Star (Multitude – Psychic Light) checked over two lengths clear of Maigira with Star of Night and Nyx following them home. Bred at the Usha Stud Farms, Psychic Star is the joint property of Mr Vijay B. Shirke, Mrs Padmaja V. Shirke, Mrs Liane Luthria and Ms Ameeta Mehra.
 
With a forward on debut run under her belt, Zuza was installed as the hot favourite to win the Windscale Plate, reserved for two-year old juveniles. Ashhad Asbar-ridden Zuza (Arazan – Hidden Soul) hit the front soon after the gates opened following which the LVR Deshmukh-schooled filly showed a clean pair of heels to her six rivals, none of whom seemed ready for competitive racing. Nevertheless, despite failing to raise a fluent gallop, debutant Bestie managed to finish runner-up ahead of Corte Madera and Double Bubble.
 
Deshmukh achieved a good double when top-weighted Lashka gave weight and a spanking to favourite Ariette in the Lingapur Cup. Rolls Royce dashed into the lead with Calista Girl keeping company alongside while Trevor kept Lashka close behind in a striking position with Ariette racing handily not too far away. Calista Girl put her head in front when Rolls Royce had thrown in his towel inside the last two furlongs but she was soon overpowered by Lashka, who came with a blistering run when Trevor asked her for an effort. Lashka (Dali – Lucky) lengthened her strides in the final furlong and won convincingly from Ariette, who managed to finish second. Exclusive Black improved late to finish a close third ahead of Burgundy Black.
 
Trevor had earlier steered the Laxman Singh trainee Detective to a facile win after the ante post favourite Golden Gazelle was allowed to be withdrawn from the fray. Happy Soul led all the way from the start till the field straightened for home and surrendered the lead to Trishul, who tracked him all along. Just as Asbar eased Trishul in the lead, Detective, who graced the wrong end of the field till approaching the final turn, was set alight by Trevor. Detective (Sedgefield – Translation) displayed a terrific turn of foot and came with a devouring run to breeze past Trishul for an authoritative victory. Ampere’s Touch finished third, a nose ahead of N R I Ultrapower but the placing was reversed after the objection lodged by the latter’s rider was upheld by the stewards.
 
Emperors Charm from Hilton Sequeira’s string raised a superb gallop to put last-outing winner My Challenge under the shade. My Challenge, with Trevor to guide her fortunes on this occasion, appeared to be enroute her second successive win as she took charge of the running when the gates flew open. The Laxman Singh-mentored filly, however, found reaching the winning line an uphill task when Emperors Charm stormed on to the scene. Emperors Charm (Chinese Whisper – So Charm) strode out magnificently towards the rails when young Alex Rozario nudged him for a response and stunned the on-money favourite close home. Gloria, who was in pursuit of My Challenge throughout, failed to accelerate and finished a close third ahead of Genie.
 
The piping-hot favourite Annhilator justified the cramped odds when he thrashed his older rivals in the Himayat Sagar Cup (Div-II). Racing in the mid-field as Smart Boy seized the early initiative and brought the field into the straight, Annhilator was held up momentarily as Park Lane came alongside but Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) did not lose sight of his task. He brought Annhilator (Gusto – Tsesebe) on the outer lane and drove him vigorously to sail clear of Park Lane in the final furlong or so. City Cruise ended in the money ahead of Sadiya. Varaneek Gold ran disappointingly when failing to grace the judges’ board
 
Clara also crushed her opponents in the last race of the day to make amends for her previous failure only a week ago. Backed once again with the same enthusiasm, S. Sreekant-saddled Clara raced unconcerned in the fourth spot as second favourite Vital Sign broke away into a long lead and came all alone in the straight. However, Clara (Planetaire – Atmosphere) came with raking strides to steadily bridge the gap and won pulling up in the last furlong. Vital Sign kept the runner-up spot, well ahead of Muaser and Reining Queen.
 
MF Ali Khan-trained favourite Taaliyah went on a start-to-finish mission in the first race but found the going tough in the final stages of the six-furlong journey. Md. Ismail-ridden Politics from Robin Reddy’s stables moved up steadily in the straight and overpowered K. Mukesh Kumar-steered Taaliyah in the last hundred metres. Exponent ran on leisurely from the rear to finish runner-up, well ahead of Taaliyah with Fortune Art ending close behind.