Satish Narredu trained Star Glory from Bangalore proved too good for the local horses as he cantered home to a facile win in the 1200 metres N Nari Reddy Memorial Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of races held at Malakpet on Sunday. In keeping with the current trend of rank outsiders dominating the show, Sunday`s races proved a difficult puzzle for the punters who were at the wrong end of the stick.

After his impressive win at Bangalore, Star Glory was quoted at cramped odds to record an encore. The local horses were all quoted at long odds which itself reflected the lack of confidence in the local contestants. Suraj Narredu took Star Glory to the front and enjoyed an uncontested lead which he enjoyed till the end of the race. Star Glory won by a widening margin of three lengths. Last start winner Ayr struggled to pick up speed and was a tame second ahead of Almas.

Shashikanth trained City of Blessing had run a forward race but had no takers in the ring in the 1400 metres MCEME Rolling Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Netto trained Maximum Glamour had both maximum appeal and glamour for the punters who backed the filly to the exclusion of the rest. Maximum Glamour showed up in the final furlong but could not sustain the effort. There was a cavalry charge in the closing strides of the race. City of Blessing, in the hands of jockey Mukesh Kumar, flew home to snatch the verdict from Akido, NRI Sport and Maximum Glamour. Another fancied runner Keystone was never in the hunt. These days, trainer Sequeira and jockey Akshay Kumar are not getting the number of winners that they were accustomed to. Things have become difficult for them. Lesser fancied Super Angel flew home in the final furlong to win the lower division of the race easily at the expense of fancied Soloist and favourite Own Voice.

Sequeira and Akshay Kumar combined to win the 1600 metres Qutab Shashi Million, a terms race for four-year-olds and over. Favourite NRI Valley collared the front-running Summer Night in the final furlong and won with a measure of comfort. Havelock Cruise who hasn`t won for about four months was a tame third.

Ananth Vatsalya had a fancied winner through Explosive in the 1200 metres Sea Bird Plate, a race for horses rated up to 25. The well-backed Explosive lived up to his name with an explosive late rally which floored the opposition. Arcadian Angel who was leading the pack had no answer when Explosive swooped on her. Challenger was third.

The opening race of the day, the 1200 metres Rising Star Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 was eventful. Favourite Cosmico lost considerable ground at the start and was a beaten cause thereafter. Lesser fancied India won untroubled from Max and Blazing Jupiter. There was a Stewards enquiry into the start of the race. The jockey reportedly stated that he was not ready when the start had been given and he was shouting hoarse to convey it to the starter whose reaction at pressing the button was faster! Since the other jockeys also concurred with jockey Kuldeep Singh who was astride Cosmico, the Stewards rightfully declared the horse as a non-starter and refunded the betting money to the punters. Robin Reddy trained Prime Gardenia came up with a late charge to beat Fatuma close to home to win the lower division of the race at fancy odds. Mind Reader was third. Favourite Top Diamond was not spotted.

Satheesh trained Ice Berry who was buried in the crowd for a long part of the race suddenly sprouted wings as it were in the stretch and flew home from way behind to down Campania in the waving yards of the race to win the 2000 metres Mossy Bank Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Favourite Ashwa Migsun was never in the hunt. Campania shaped like a winner after overhauling the front-running Winning Streak but close to home, there was a charge of horses from behind which totally changed the complexion of the race.