It was exactly a year ago when Champions Way won the Golconda Derby and earlier the 2000 Guineas by vanquishing the four local challengers – High Command, Truth, Siddharth and Shadow of the Moon, he was taking on once again in the seven-horse field contesting for the Qutab Shahi Million on Monday. Champions Way, incidentally, had not won a single race in the interim period and yet the Satish Narredu-trained Champions Way received maximum support in the betting followed by Yukan, another Bangalore challenger in the fray, and High Command. Suraj Narredu adopted the same runaway tactics atop Champions Way which had fetched him the two regional classics last year whilst Shadow of the Moon and High Command chased him and the rest not too far away. Champions Way brought the field into the home stretch and his rivals started to close in on him. However, it was the lion-hearted Truth, who travelled wide into the straight from the rear and started to devour ground as soon as Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) showed him the daylight. Truth (Pinson – Lady Be Good) moved up resolutely to join Champions Way in the last furlong of the mile trip and hardly faced any resistance from the favourite when cruising away for an authoritative victory. Siddharth, though served well by the terms of the event, improved late in the final stages and could only beat Champions Way for the runner-up slot. Yukan finished fourth. Young S. Sreekant has done a fantastic job in mentoring Truth, who has not only proved to be a versatile specimen but also a money spinner for his proud co-owners N. V. Rohin Kumar & G. S. Keshavamurthy. Truth was bred at Nakul Stud Farms.
 
The Rock Heaven Plate for horses in the highest class was claimed by Last Wish, who came under trainer LVR Deshmukh’s charge after migrating from Bangalore last monsoon. Alexina hit the front when the race was flagged off for the seven furlong journey with Black Onyx and Proud Mary in pursuit. Huntingdon and Hugh Capet, the two fancied runners in this set, were ridden off pace as also Last Wish. Black Onyx grabbed the lead with about a furlong and half left for home with Huntingdon making his bid in the centre and Last Wish also coming with a fluent run on his outside. Akshay Kumar-ridden Hugh Capet was the last one to enter the straight and started to accelerate but, as it turned out to be, the favourite was given too much to do as Ashhad Asbar-piloted Last Wish (Top Class – Marilyn) swooped down on S. Saqlain-partnered High Command shortly after the latter had tackled Black Onyx and went on to pip him on the post. Hugh Capet finished third, a length and half away while Black Onyx ended fourth after a good rehearsal for a sprint and bears watching when he runs in his own age group.
 
China Town, racing in the same colours as Last Wish but saddled by Ananth Vatsalya, also found his way to the winner’s enclosure after a prolonged wait. China Town took a smart jump from the barriers but was eased off by Ajeeth Kumar as Shah of Iran dashed into the lead and had Kings Best racing on his haunches while Ampere’s Touch stayed in close attendance. China Town improved steadily as the field approached the final turn to range alongside the leaders in the final run-in. China Town (Chinese Whisper – Fury) spurted ahead of Shah of Iran when alerted by Ajeeth and the lead he established proved to be a cushion when Neeraj Rawal-steered Ampere’s Touch came menacingly close to topple him after warming up to his task a bit late. China Town prevailed over Ampere’s Touch by a neck with Sun Dancer ending up in the money ahead of Just Incredible.
 
Vatsalya had earlier led in the 20 to 1 longshot Federer, who made every post of the Kamareddy Cup a winning one in the hands of Ajeeth. Favourite Black Dust took a long time to find his rhythm and his late bid found him falling short by half-length at the wire. Federer (Dandified – Let There Be Light) fought bravely to quell the strong challenge thrown at him by Caraxes opposite the stands and later kicked on gamely to ward off the threat posed by P. Sai Kumar-ridden Black Dust who came flying towards the end. Skyward ended a tame fourth.
 
Having finished down the field, more than a distance away from winner High Heels just eight days ago, Robin Reddy-groomed Exclusive Black shocked his rivals with a speedy display in the Jangaon Plate. Exclusive Black failed to overtake Shadow Fax as they moved towards the final bend and then shifted out slightly allowing favourite Deccan Spirit to snatch the lead. K. Mukesh Kumar-ridden and Magan Singh Parmar-trained Deccan Spirit flattered briefly before Md. Ismail powered Exclusive Black to regain the lead and lasted out to win from Star Forever. In an effort similar to that of her stablemate Black Dust, Star Forever came with a terrific burst towards the end but eventually went down by a whisker. Warwick took the third spot ahead of Calista Girl. Deccan Spirit surprisingly failed to make it to the judges’ board.

Trainer Neelesh Rawal claimed the second and third division of the Saroornagar Plate, a race for horses in the lower class, and had a fancied runner Balahaka, who was permitted to be withdrawn during race time in the first division. G. Naresh-partnered Fortune Art stayed in close attendance of the top-weighted favourite Glimmer of Hope, who went on a start-to-finish mission. However, the six-year old maiden Fortune Art (Royal Gladiator – Beucaire) put in a strong run in the final furlong to tackle Glimmer of Hope and went on to score a comfortable win. Glimmer of Hope had to settle for the second spot with Shubrak finishing a faraway third and had My Brother following him home.
 
Despite being a maiden on record, four-year old Hawk Wing was backed to the exclusion of his seven rivals and the opposition was so weak that the Neelesh Rawal trainee was never under any threat once he hit the front with Neeraj Rawal in the saddle. Hawk Wing (Ampere – Hawafa) passed the winning post well clear of Country’s Maximus, who had Deccan Ranger and Sadiya close behind.
 
The exit of Balahaka from the line-up in the last race paved the way for Lady Jane, who tasted her maiden success. K. Satheesh-schooled Lady Jane (Mull of Kintyre – Charming Princess) had a slender lead after shrugging Most Beautiful in the initial stages of the race and was then driven out under the whip by Ekram Alam to keep Taaliyah and Ben Pensant at bay. Hoping High showed some zest, though in the lowest class, to finish a neck behind Ben Pensant.