Racing went on smoothly for followers of form with well-backed favourites obliging in most of the races on Monday, at Hyderabad. Leo D’Silva-trained Walnut Creek (Captain Rio-Ghay), carrying the top weight of 62 kilograms in The Wanaparthy Cup, was backed to the hilt, winding up at 11 to 10, after a lung opener in the Stewards Cup a week ago. Positioned prominently in the early part of the six-furlong trip, Walnut Creek quickened well with 300 metres left on the straight, to open a three-length leeway over the nearest challenger. Jewel In The Crown came menacingly in the last 150 metres and Imran Khan had to work really hard to keep Walnut Creek stay ahead. Walnut Creek was indeed lucky as Jewel In The Crown started to veer out under pressure towards the closing stages and with the assistance from the saddle being feeble, Narayan Rao’s filly missed collaring the favourite by the shortest of margin.

Zero Tolerance (Survivalist-Tarq Asmi) pulled off a sensational victory over the more favoured stable companion Valentine, in The Astronomic Cup. Jockey Nirmal Jodha kept Zero Tolerance in front while the race favourite Valentine raced on her heels till straightening up for home. Once on the straight, P.S. Chouhan started to work hard on Valentine but Zero Tolerance looked to be in galloping mood and held her position to emerge a winner by half a length at the finish. Toli Toli Toli braced the wrong end for most part of the race and moved to finish third after the two in front had passed the post.

Trainer L.V.R. Deshmukh and P.S. Chouhan combined to complete a popular double through Spanish Conquest and Super Duper. Spanish Conquest (Byron-Set The Mood) lifted the opening event, The Own Opinion Plate from Westminister. Major Luck showed plenty of speed to lead with Girnar and Star Engagement in tow while Spanish Conquest raced in fourth for the first five furlongs of the mile trip. Making a swift move three furlongs out, Spanish Conquest shot ahead and won with plenty in hand, even as Westminister made a vain bid before settling for the second place.

Super Duper (Kaltos-Supercal) at an unbackable price won the lower division of The Dashmesh Stud Plate, the concluding race of the day but not before giving some anxious moments to his connections. River Side leading the field on the straight kept to his task, not showing any signs of weakening, while Super Duper looked to be lazy and had to be given a few hard backhanders to raise a gallop. Once Super Duper started to get up to River Side, the winner was spotted and the victory was far easier than the verdict of half a length suggested.

The higher division was won by Genius Empress (Royal Gladiator-Loud Water), owned and trained by Faiyaz Shaikh and ridden by Ch.K. Chary. The favourite Golden Palace surged ahead passing the distance post but could not hold on when Genius Empress joined from behind and fought a fierce battle in the last 100 metres to emerge three parts of a length better at the finish. Power Colors was hampered for a clear run on the straight and finished third. This was the second win for Ch.K. Chary in the day, having ridden S.A. Shehzad Abbas’s Tico Tico (Greensmith-Romanza) in The Indiscretion Plate. Prince Of Habashe jumped out rider-less and bolted before the start could be given and was withdrawn after being apprehended. The race started after a slight delay and Tico Tico raced close to the leader till the final bend and surged clear, showing a clean pair of heels to his nearest rival First Spot.

J. Silvester-trained Tillcowscomehome (Diffident-Time And Time) came with a strong challenge on the straight to diminish the lead opened by Queen Of Court and move ahead by a length clear at the finish, in the lower division of The Rave Review Cup. The higher division was won by rank outsider Royal Sword (Royal Gladiator-Crystal Clear) in a blanket finish involving the first five horses. Sprint Champ took charge and looked to make it safely to the finish 50 metres from home but the complexion of the race changed all of a sudden with four horses, Carson Troy, Bharatanatyam, Flashy Conquest and Royal Sword rushing towards the leader. Royal Sword, under veteran Laxman, leapt forward to beat Sprint Champ on the post and the others ending up in a close finish.