The Deccan Derby has a history of springing surprises on unsuspecting racegoers. The race is run at a stage of the season when horses are still progressing and, as such, there is no settled form. Performances so far serve only as a guide to determining the possible contenders. The horse that gets its act together on the day is the winner, and it may not necessarily be the best horse in the field or the one that will overtake the winner during the winter season.

Magan Singh Parmar-trained Buddy, who had finished a fair third in the Colts Championship Stakes, came into the Derby with more faith and prayer than hard evidence behind him. He ended up stunning the field with a start-to-finish mission under jockey Mukesh Kumar, winning at the expense of Fillies Championship Stakes winner Moonveil and the late-charging Mahogany from Pune.

There were a host of horses within striking range, among them favourite Madante, who showed out early in the straight on the wide outside. She was the first of the principals to be beaten but stayed on well enough to finish fifth, giving the impression that the filly is one-paced and does not possess an extra gear.

Moonveil had every chance after racing prominently but was unable to produce the acceleration needed to overhaul the front-runner. She did enough, however, to thwart the bid of Mahogany, who made swift progress in the straight after racing in the rear group early.

Quatro showed some promise as the race began to unfold in the straight but lacked the sustaining ability to make a serious challenge and finished fourth.

Jockey Mukesh Kumar, who already had two Classics to his credit through his successes on White Pearl in the Golconda Oaks and Non Pareil in the Delhi Derby, thus registered the biggest win of his riding career through Buddy, who also provided stallion Dali with his first Derby winner.

Asked whether he was confident of winning the race, Mukesh said: “I had mere hope to start with. I got some confidence while approaching the final bend with the lead intact and conviction by the time the final furlong approached, as none from behind looked menacing. Though my horse veered out a bit, I was firmly in control. I am extremely delighted to get my first Derby in Hyderabad, where I am based.”

When the crowded field of 14 runners was dispatched by the starter, Mukesh Kumar pushed Buddy to take charge and his cause was helped by the fact that there was none willing to match strides with him. The horse thus enjoyed an uncontested lead.

Trevor kept Moonveil in second position, with Madante in mid-group while Mahogany was held up in the rear group. Buddy came into the straight a couple of lengths clear. Despite Trevor going all out, Moonveil`s response was not enough to trouble the front-runner and, in the end, Trevor was fighting not for the spoils but to retain second position.

The fact that more than half a dozen horses were not far from each other was indicative of the lack of any clear standout in the field, and it would be unwise to expect dramatic improvement from these horses during the winter.

Like the big race, picking winners in the other seven races proved no easier. The form has been as firm as wet sand, and the betting market has occasionally spoken in two entirely different voices. This season has produced both extremes: entire cards falling neatly into the lap of the favourites, followed on other days by the favourites taking a holiday en masse. For punters, consistency has been the one thing conspicuously missing.