Leo D’Silva trained Huntingdon won the Gr 3 Race2win.com Deccan Colts Championship Stakes, the second classic of the season with a gutsy performance on the rain-drenched Malakpet track on Sunday. Up-and-coming Saqlain rode a confident race despite the long shot not keeping a straight course to provide Leo D’Silva with back-to-back success in classics, the first time ever for both the trainer and jockey.

An emotional Leo who was winning the Colts Championship for the first time in 33 years could hardly speak, with tears overwhelming him. To the credit of Leo who ruled as a champion for a number of years, he has fought his way back after going through hard times on every front including personal health. This season has seen him back at his best and he had every reason to be emotionally drained after getting back to his old rhythm.

Gopi Y Rao, son of Shankar Rao who was a leading bookmaker of Hyderabad for a number of years, was sponsoring this event for the second year running. He has big ideas and even wants to sponsor the Derby, with the attendant promotion to boot to involve people who otherwise may not set foot on a race course. His enthusiasm must be lauded. He was successful in adding a lot of colour to the event.

Coming back to the classic, it was full of drama both on it and off it as well. Synthesis and Destroyer from Bangalore who had both placed in the classics during the summer season, were the overwhelming favourites. However, there were issues with both of them in that Synthesis had this habit of running out whether by force of circumstances or because of adversely reacting to the use of the whip. On pedigree, Destroyer is only bred to sprint though on class, he can get a furlong more provided things go well for him. The sand-based Malakpet track was not the same after heavy rains in the morning and the underfoot conditions progressively deteriorated by the time the classic was run. Destroyer did not show any spark though he was well positioned to launch himself and appeared to have run out of steam when finishing a tame fourth. Synthesis took the final turn wide and the horse ducked in midway in the straight. With the eventual winner Huntingdon also cutting an erratic course but travelling better, Synthesis failed to live up to expectations. Huntingdon was the better horse of the day and as such the objection by Yash Rode who rode Synthesis against Saqlain who was astride the winner for interference did not find favour with the Stewards.

One of the local hopes High Command took over the running from the start followed by Worcester, Destroyer, Shadow of the Moon, Huntingdon, Czar, Synthesis with Wolf Creek being a tailed-off last after a lethargic beginning. High Command held the lead into the final furlong while Destroyer failed to make the expected progress. Huntingdon came through the centre of the track to come into contention midway through the stretch. Synthesis took the turn very wide and when Yash Narredu changed the whip hand from right to left, the horse ducked in. Huntingdon under pressure changed course but had a firm grip on the race. Synthesis could not bridge the gap. Rajesh Narredu who trains Synthesis said that his horse did not react positively to the use of the whip. High Command stayed put to take the third position. Huntingdon who is by Oiseau De Feau out of Glorious Hymn was bred at the Samra Stud Farm.

Sreekant trained Truth continued to be on the upgrade and recorded his third straight win when claiming the 2000 metres Colonel B Santosh Babu Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Truth who is by Pinson out of Lady Be Good and bred at the Nakul Stud Farm, showed good progress in both his alacrity from the gates and mid-race speed. Humanitarian and Bangalore challenger Stormy Ocean were both strongly fancied along with Ramiel while Truth was at longer odds despite his consistency of performance. Path of Peace took over the running at the final bend with Humanitarian in the chase with the quickly improving Truth in proximity. Patho of Peace held charge deep into the straight while Humanitarian quickly faded out of the scene. Truth engaged Path of Peace in a stiff battle for supremacy before asserting his supremacy to win by a shade over two lengths. Going by the progress made by Truth, he should surely be in the lineup for the Deccan Derby. Stormy Ocean and Ramiel were disappointing.

M R Chauhan trained Avancia edged past favourite Kenaf in the closing stride of the race to win the 1100 metres Telangana And Andhra Sub Area Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Kenaf took a fly jump and jockey Afroz Khan had to use up the horse to move around the field to take charge within the first furlong. Kenaf led quite well in front chased by Avancia, Archway and the rest. Kenaf was travelling well within himself and he shaped to oblige expectations but closer home, ran out of steam. Under a vigorous ride by apprentice jockey Sonu Kumar, Avancia inched her way past Kenaf. Malibu and Archway finished on strongly taking the third and fourth positions, not far from the battling duo in front.

The 1800 metres Silver Phantom Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds, turned out to be dramatic. Hot favourite Lady Racines veered out after jumping with the field and did not raise a gallop along with Sacred Bond. Jockey Anthony Raj waited with the fancied Terenga in the mid-group as Toffee set the pace and led into the straight. Terenga easily cruised past the front-runner in the stretch to eventually win by a widening margin of eight lengths. Queen Empress nosed out Stunning Art to get the runner-up berth. The pace setter Toffee weakened to finish fourth.

The race for the lowest category of horses, the 1200 metres Hill Fort Plate, saw favourite Silver Lining from the stables of trainer Leo D’Silva oblige expectations. Silver Lining led from the start and was travelling within himself that there seemed to be no threat to his victory. Jockey Saqlain was not required to do much on the favourite. My Master ran on late to take the second spot. Canterbury was third more than five lengths adrift.

Newly licensed trainer G Sandeep saddled his maiden winner through long shot Mireya who took charge early in the straight to have the 1200 metres Bhupalpally Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, sewn up a long way from home. Favourite Ice Berry made a late dash to pinch the second spot from First Class. The lower division of the race went the way of Hilton Sequeira trained Sopranos who justified the strong support in the betting ring, with a powerful run down the final furlong in the hands of jockey Pradeep Chouhan to justify favouritism. There was a close tussle for minor placings with Classy Dame necking out Fatuma and Spectacular Cruise to get the runner-up berth.