A total of 52 horses ran in a small card of seven races on Saturday at Hyderabad. The G. Sudhakar Reddy Memorial Cup, run over a metric mile, was the main event of the afternoon. Five runners took the start and as the field approached the final bend, Royal Embassy was in front, followed by Firebird, Pleasing Display and Strategic Command with Zambo Anga tailed off last. Entering the straight Royal Embassy started to kick on. Jockey P.S. Chouhan on Strategic Command (Flitch – Tololing) found it prudent to take the gap between Royal Embassy and the inner rails but to his dismay found the gap tapering. Chouhan pulled his mount out and made his bid from the outside and although Strategic Command covered ground, Royal Embassy went past the winning post first, a neck in front.

Chouhan lodged an objection against the rider of Royal Embassy for closing the gap and crossing which cost him the race, was upheld and the original order of placing was revised with Strategic Command being declared the winner.

Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju pulled out a double, winning the opening and the concluding races. Star Prospect (Sussex – Belper) lifted Blue Ice Plate, to start the day. As the field entered the straight, Easy Touch, Star Prospect and Victotrous Sally were huddled close to each other. Star Prospect took charge in the final 300 metres and won convincingly while King Size moved to finish second ahead of Victorous Sally and Easy Touch.

Indian Epic (Epicentre – Cosmic Swirl) was a well-calculated gamble, which paid off in the lower division of the Hovercraft Plate. Eloquence and Splendid Show made the initial running in front with Indian Epic following them about three lengths behind. Inside the final 300 metres, Indian Epic got a wide opening which he took without any fuss and steered clear. Splendid Show, Zulu Punch and Eloquence filled the frame.

Jockey A. Aashaad Asbar, who had ridden Star Prospect to victory, rode Kohinoor Aditi (Conquering Hero – Aspiration) to notch a double. Moving well from a striking position, Kohinoor Aditi surged ahead and drew away. Victory Signal flashed on to be second while Tiara looked to be contended with a third.

Leo D’Silva led in two winners, both with apprentice riders. Sun Strikes and Chayanandan made the running in front, with the rest almost eight lengths behind, in the Nalagonda Plate. Entering the straight, Sun Strikes (Itaquere Power – Waggamama) always held his position in front ahead of Chayanandan and finally came out of her maiden ranks. Chayanandan raised an unsuccessful objection against the winner for taking his ground. Genius Empress came up with striking speed near the distance post, almost collided with Chayanandan and dropped the rider.

Ace High (Ontario – Indira) with apprentice Kuldeep Singh lifted the lower division of the Star Of Stars Cup. Utilising the five-kilogram allowance, Ace High set out on a start-to-finish mission and held on from Miracle.

Trainer Faiyaz Shaik’s True Star (Young Senor – Sanguine) was the biggest upset of the day, winning the higher division of the Hovercraft Plate. Although Regal View made a bid in the last furlong, True Star kicked on gamely to pull it off.