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By winning the Gr 2 Golconda 1000 Guineas in such a decisive manner, Paso Robles has proven she is every bit the formidable local competitor people expected her to be.
As the opening classic of the year, this event highlighted the talent of Leo D`Silva's trainee. The filly is a daughter of Arazan, a sire remembered for two dominant, back-to-back victories.
This victory confirms the filly's consistency and reliability; she played right into her jockey's hands, outclassing the rest of the field with impressive skill.
The betting markets had already signaled her dominance, as Paso Robles was the clear favorite while her rivals failed to generate much excitement. Consequently, the result was widely anticipated, leaving many bettors with a profitable day.
The race saw Paso Robles charge from behind to hunt down Ice Floe, who had been leading the pack alongside Winall and Cape Kidnappers from the start. After pulling even with Ice Floe in the home stretch, jockey Suraj pushed the favorite to surge ahead. Even when Cape Kidnappers launched a threatening late run, Paso Robles had enough left in the tank to hold her lead. Meanwhile, British Empress managed a quick burst from the outside to edge out Ice Floe for third place.
Following a move to trainer Satyanarayana's stable, NRI Symbol put on a stunning show. Guided by apprentice jockey Rohit Kumar, she managed to overtake Top Contender in the final strides of the race. This performance earns her a spot in the 1400-meter Kuntala Plate, a race specifically for horses rated between 40 and 65.
Trevor Patel had Top Contender in a prime position to strike during the final stretch, and for a moment, it looked like the win was secured as they took the lead in the last furlong. However, NRI Symbol fought back tenaciously, snatching the victory right at the finish line. Vancouver followed behind to claim third.
In the 1600-meter Ch V Lakshmi Prasad Rao Sirdesai Sircilla Memorial Cup (for horses rated 60 to 86), jockey Akshay Kumar—fresh off success in Mauritius—delivered a stellar ride to beat the previous winner, Nayadeep, and secure another trophy.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed.