Laxman Singh trained King Charles who was the highest rated colt in the fray, overwhelmed the opposition to win the Gr 1 Golconda Derby Stakes, the biggest race of the Hyderabad Winter Season, in front of a packed gathering on Sunday at Malakpet. Jockey Sandesh rode a brilliant race, nursing the son of Kingda Ka in a handy position, before unleashing the horse in the final furlong to get the desired result. King Charles caught up with front running Mogadishu with ease and recorded an emphatic win.

The topic of discussion was whether King Charles would get the mile and half trip effectively. There was no doubting his class as he had a bagful of wins including the success in the 2000 Guineas. He had performed poorly, losing to stablemates when tried over a mile and quarter trip. However, the trainer persisted in running him in the Derby as there was no harm in trying the horse in the big event as he enjoyed a higher rating. When the contenders in fray don`t have impressive credentials, it is always better to run the horse with the best record for class often overcomes other limitations. Trainer Laxman Singh who is enjoying a great run, could not have made a better decision than to run King Charles in the race and the champion did the rest in the hands of highly capable Sandesh. The victory of King Charles provided his sire Kingda Ka with the first success in the Derby. The victory also boosted the new stallion at the Nanoli Stud Farm.

Rigoletto who had run second in the Pune Derby was entered in the fray with great enthusiasm by the connections. Trainer Shroff obviously expected the horse to do well and the owners too were present at the venue. The service of Trevor Patel was requisitioned despite the jockey`s retained owner having a runner in the race. There was some spirited betting on Rigoletto and it was the only time the progeny of Kingda Ka was noticed. In the race itself, Rigoletto was settled in the rear group in the early part of the race and thereafter made no significant thrust and finished dismally.

Mumbai challenger Jigsaw hit the front as the field set out for the mile and half trip followed by Mogadishu, Woman O War while King Charles raced in about the sixth or seven position while Let There Be Light, Blazing Touch and Rigoletto were in the rear. After traversing two furlongs, Donoghue on Dragon bolted to the front and the Mysore challenger led the field by several lengths before packing up midway through the race, veering out and then stop galloping. Suraj Narredu quickly pushed Mogadishu into the lead on turning for home and the progeny of Phoenix Tower sailed clear of the rest. With about 300 metres left in the race, it looked as though Mogadishu could carry the day. However, King Charles came home with a powerful burst of speed, got past the front runner inside the final 100 metres and sped away for an assertive win. Blazing Touch, who had a rating of 76, came from a long way back to head Mogadishu at the post to claim the runner up berth. Let There Be Light too came from a difficult position at the back to finish fourth. He was kept too far back by jockey John so much so that it was an uphill task for the progeny of Win Legend from thereafter. The winner clocked a slow time of two minutes 33.3 seconds.

Another horse who had performed way below par along with King Charles in the same race over 2000 metres, That`s My Darling, was a smashing winner of the 1600 metres Secretariat Cup, a Category I race, indicating that the previous race was a false affair. Favourite Kolors who raced in a handy position ahead of the group, appeared to have stolen a march inside the final furlong when That`s My Darling began to swoop on the front runners on the wide outside. That`s My Darling showed amazing acceleration as the winning post appeared in sight and easily overhauled the front runner with ease to record a handsome win. Top weighted Carlton carried the back breaking weight of 64 kgs to finish third. Unfortunately, in India, the handicappers continue to compress the scale from the bottom instead of from the top which should have resulted in Carlton carrying not more than 60 kgs.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Advocate General hadn`t won for three seasons. The progeny of Stern Opinion had begun promisingly in the first season but thereafter there was a slump in his performance. Allowed to run at big odds, apprentice jockey A S Pawar had Advocate General lead the field from the front and instead of weakening in the straight which used to be the case in the past, the lesser fancied runner skipped clear and the lead built eventually stood him in good stead as Brilliant Twist made a strong rally which however failed to succeed narrowly in the 1400 metres Deccan Prince Cup, a Category II race. The favourite, The Blue hung in badly and though he had a good chance, he could do no better than finish third.

A quality rider always makes a big difference to the outcome of the races especially in a centre like Hyderabad where the jockeyship on view is of a much inferior order. Long shot Catherine shot into the lead in the 1200 metres Squanderer Cup, a Category II race, and seemed to be travelling well going into the final furlong with a healthy lead. However, Mukesh could not ride out forcefully when Trevor on Par Excellence came home with a rush and measured the front runner in the dying moments of the race. Vijays Triumph was finishing the fasted but had to settle for the third position, a whisker behind the runner up.

Suraj Narredu drove out aggressively, the lesser fancied Dancing Leaf to win the 1200 metres Youngsters Million, a terms race for first season runners. Favourite Aragonda Express and Aika Aika Aika were disputing the lead even as Dancing Leaf was making progress from about the sixth position. Aika Aika Aika rolled over to the rails after overtaking the front runner causing Aragonda Princess to be pulled out and this horse was in danger of interfering with Dancing Leaf who was picking up steam. Suraj did well to steer his path out of harm`s way and the progeny of Arazan produced an astonishing turn of foot to collar Aika Aika Aika in the shadow of the post to record an impressive win. Soviet Rule made no progress after having recorded an impressive win last time out.

Faisal Hassan trained Pfeiffer had more supporters than Byron Bay to win the 1200 metres Sikander E Aazam Cup, a Category III race. The battle was confined to these two runners with the Netto trained Byron Bay asserting his supremacy in the final furlong after a brief battle for supremacy in the straight, to record an easy win. Golden Angel was faraway third.

Sk Kassam trained Aware pulled off a good win in the 1400 metres Allez Vite Plate, a Category III race. Last start winner Bouquet who raced in a striking position into the straight, shot ahead inside the final 300 metres but her lead was short-lived as Aware improved places along the rails and overwhelmed the front runner to record an emphatic win. Pakat Pakat Pakat ran on to finish third.

Prasad Raju trained Bharat Princess made a strong rally from behind to get past Tiger close home to win the 2000 metres Nelston Plate, a Category II race. Tiger displaced the rapidly weakening favourite Kiss N Chase from the lead approaching the final bend and set sail, opening up a healthy lead. In the meanwhile, Chisty on Bharat Princess got business and under a relentless ride, the long shot began to devour ground and succeeded in overhauling the front runner in sight of the post. Lethal King also made good progress from the rear to finish third.

Srinivas Reddy trained Gunner just about lasted out to win the 2000 metres Brown Sugar Plate, a Category III race. Gunner had to wage a stiff battle for supremacy with Prudently Perfect who attempted start to finish tactics and got better inside the final 100 metres. Even as Gunner was nearing the post, two horses charged home but the favourite escaped to victory by a whisker. Sea Change and Glory of the Year were the other horses which were involved in the three horse finish. Prudently Perfect weakened to finish fourth.

Another Srinivas Reddy trained favourite Market Leader won the day`s opener, the 1600 metres Aristocrat Cup, a Category III race. Apprentice jockey A S Pawar took Market Leader on a start to finish dash and the front runner stayed put there to win by a widening margin of four lengths over Amethyst and Princess Rose.