Srinivas Reddy trained Woman O War extended her winning streak to six when she won the Gr 3 Deccan Fillies Championship, the first classic of the season, at Malakpet on Monday. Woman O War had to overcome many hiccups enroute to her success and at one point of time looked extremely vulnerable as her jockey struggled to stay in the saddle due to the filly stumbling badly. That Woman O War is a horse of substance despite the limitation imposed on it by nature as she is one eyed was amply demonstrated.

Seldom has a local hose been installed as such an overwhelming favourite against the might of outstation challenge especially since the field consisted of Bangalore Derby winner Angel Dust and other well performed horses from that centre. Woman O War had won all her previous outings and the striking acceleration from way behind which had been the Hall Mark of her success, had made her enjoy the confidence of race goers in her ability to deliver in her first crucial test. That Woman O War overcame so many problems during the race is testimony to her immense talent.

Quite often the most expensive purchases fail to win even a single race. Race goers are well aware of the 16 million dollar purchase made many years ago by Coolmore, World`s leading breeding establishment many on a two-year old named Green Monkey which never won a race! Woman O War was bought for contingency and she cleared her due amount in her first two wins itself. That one has to be lucky to get horses of substances is what her owner Sarasam Madhusudan Reddy would readily admit.

Coming back to the race, it was a choppy affair. Most of the runners went all over the place. Angel Dust made an attempt to win start to finish and was followed by Starlet, Maleficent, Dazzling Bay, Heaven Is Here, That`s My Darling, Woman O War and Tronada. Approaching the final bend, Woman O War ran into That`s My Darling, very nearly clipped the front runner and the horse stumbled as well but jockey Imran Chisty barely hung on in the saddle. In the straight, the horses were all over the place. Dazzling Bay who had a clear run on the inside shot ahead and held the lead till overhauled in the final stages of the race. Heaven Is Here and Woman O War were in danger of running into each other and then That`s My Darling came across. Heaven Is Here then ducked towards the inside. In the meanwhile, Chisty chose the same path that had seen him being successful on the favourite. He brought her on the wide outside and Woman O War flew home to win with great ease in the end for all the hiccups suffered enroute. That`s My Darling covered good ground in the straight to edge past Dazzling Bay for the runner up berth while the latter held off Heaven Is Here to claim the third place. Angel Dust who looked very light in the paddock, performed miserably being the first one to get beat and finished in the penultimate position ahead of Maleficent. The winner clocked a time of 39.20 seconds which is par for the distance on the monsoon track.

The Stewards of Hyderabad Race Club took a controversial decision to declare Undu Undu Undu as a non-starter after the favourite finished second to Azazil in the 1200 metres Elusive Hero Plate (Div I), a Category III race. Undu Undu Undu was supposed to have sported a tongue strap but perhaps it was noticed at the last minute at the gates that the horse was not sporting one, possibly the equipment having slipped out. Under the circumstances, the tongue strap could have been put at the starting gate or the horse withdrawn. There are instances when under such circumstances, horses have been allowed to run. However, the Stewards ordered an enquiry into the running of the race and decided to treat Undu Undu Undu as a non-starter when it had run a bonafide race. The rules of racing are not clear on this technicality. Quite often, horses finish their horse with one or two shoes have splayed but such horses are not treated as non-starters. The relevant rule where Stewards can declare a horse as non-starter if the Stewards are satisfied that the horse under question did not run on merits for various reasons, treating such a horse will meet the ends of justice, then they can declare such a horse as non-starter. This is perhaps for the first time that such a thing has come about. May be when the authorities re-write the rules, they could dwell on such technicalities as well. Bangalore Turf Club is in the process of re-writing the rules of racing and possibly those who are assigned to do the job could take tricky issues that have surfaced from time to time and cover the loopholes in the law. For the record, Azazil whose odds drifted in favour of Undu Undu Undu had it easy in the end, in the hands of jockey Trevor Patel.

Suraj Narredu had it easy on Prasad Raju trained Celestial Fire who went on a start to finish mission in the 1200 metres A Krishnaswami Memorial Cup, a Category II race. Favourite Faster Than Light struggled hard to catch up but found the front runner unrelenting.

Ananth Vatsalya trained Mangalyaan won the 1200 metres Raja Saheb of Itkyal Memorial Cup, a Category III race, in a hard fought finish from Manogamini and on money favourite Amethyst. Trevor on Mangalyaan drifted in and closed the path of Amethyst who was beginning to gain ground and effectively shut the doors on whatever chances the favourite had. There was an objection by Suraj on Trevor for interference but the same was overruled by the Stewards. Trevor has had similar instances in the recent past when he has crossed over, chopping off the horses on his inside, a trend which may get him an enforced holiday if he does not correct the trait without wasting time.

Prasad Raju trained Go For Gold produced a strong gallop in the final furlong to seal the fate of the 1200 metres Original Vel Mrs Radha Balasubramani Gold up (Div I), a Category I race. Ocean Side made a late rally to come within striking distance of the eventual winner. Beau Ideal was third ahead of Hidden Power. Favourite Tejaswini was not spotted at the busy end. Favourite Dance To Destiny got everything right in the lower division of the race, just about lasting out to win from late finishing Lips Locking who could have been the winner if her jockey had been more competent. Blossom and Modern Sniper finished in close order.

The 1600 metres Delage Plate, a Category III race saw betting centred on Ice Crystal, Silver Passion and Vijay Sakhi. The last named led in earnest going into the final furlong but was floored by the powerful run unleashed by Ice Crystal who came from the rear group to easily collar the front runner. Ice Crystal went away for an easy win over Jerrell who also finished well relegating Vijay Sakhi to the fourth place.

Faisal Hassan trained Malakeye Ziba chased Majorca well into the straight before breaking free in the final furlong to win the 1200 metres Scenic Royale Plate (Div II), a Category II race for maiden three year olds. Favourite Shivalik Bird picked up momentum long after the race had been lost and failed to even get past Apache Gal for the runner up berth. Laxman Singh trained Little Smart Heart overhauled front running Commanding Boy in the final furlong and then swept away for a comfortable win over late finishing Class Act in the lower division of the race.