J.Silvester trained Devil’s Advocate (Serious Spender-Frequency) reproduced her brilliant turn of foot, to score an encore, winning the Forest King Cup, on Saturday at Hyderabad. The seven furlongs race had sixteen runners lined up for the start and Santro from Sathyanarayana’s yard was the raging favourite, closing at ‘even money’. It was Paris Time and Striking Gold who were locked in a duel passing the distance marker, while Devil’s Advocate was just beginning to move up from the rear along with Fopping. In a jiffy, Devil’s Advocate accelerated to pull away from the pack and register her second successive success. Fopping followed the winner to the post while Striking Gold finished third ahead of Steel Breaker. The favourite Santro raced in the rear and never raised hopes throughout the trip. It was a memorable Saturday for apprentice G.Sai Vamshi returning with remarkable figures of three wins, to take his individual tally to double digit.

The other two wins of Vamshi were Askioz and Kohinoor Magic. M.V.Narayana Rao trained Askioz (Hymn-Skipperess) racing in about sixth position as the heads turned for home moved strongly on the extreme outside and flashed past Kansas City Mac, in the Div.I of the Prince of Berar Trophy. Vijaykeerthi made a late attempt to take the third spot in front of Star Prospect.

The lower division generated immense interest with three runners heading together to the finish. Craven Cottage in front, from the start, was not showing any signs of tiring out and the race favourite Bloody Mary was fighting strongly to get past. The Leader (China Visit-Lei) was racing a length behind along the inner rails and jockey Imran Khan realizing that he would be denied a clear path, pulled his mount out and once shown the daylight, The Leader quickened gallantly to get past the fighting duo and win by half a length. Bloody Mary was never able to get past Craven Cottage and finished third.

G.Sai Vamshi started the day by winning the opening race of the day, the Nizam Sagar Cup, on Anupam Sharma’s Kohinoor Magic (Epicentre-Picture Me). Out of the six runners, Dance Baby Dance and Kohinoor Magic had pulled away and although the latter took some time to get into rhythm, beat Dance Baby Dance quite convincingly.

Trainer Ananth Vatsalya pulled off two winners, both at lucrative odds. Green Thumb (El Johar- Whirl Wind) moved strongly on the home stretch to get the better of the front running Bold Brigade inside the last 100 metres and win by a length and a half. Sharp Single came up late to take the second place, beating Bold Brigade. The second win for Vatsalya was on the top weighted Kohinoor Mystic (Young Senor-Undoubted), in the Malvado Plate. The five furlongs sprint for horses in the highest category had nine acceptors. Notredame was the fastest to jump out of the starting gates and set out in front, followed closely by Kohinoor Mystic. Entering the final furlong Notredame was desperately looking for speed and surrendered meekly to Kohinoor Mystic, who slipped in and drew away by a clear three lengths.

The Madanna Plate, a 1100 metres sprint for maiden three year olds was divided into two races. The lower division was won by L.D’Silva trained Sea Runner (Inhabitant-Haynes Park), who managed to shed his maiden ranks in his fifth attempt. Sea Runner was tending to lug out on the home stretch and jockey A.Ashhad Asbar had to work hard to get him on even keel and head past Prasad’s Dazzling Princess in the last 50 metres. Star Saloni, who was sluggish at the start made her move on the very wide outside as the field rounded the final turn and ended up fourth behind Euphonic.

The lower division was won by M Sathyanarayana trained Major Luck (Emerald Cat-Silver Star). Backed to the exclusion of the other runners, Major Luck had to fight out with Vijaysheel before emerging victorious. Major Luck was running a bit green, tending to move right and getting close to Vijaysheel. Jockey Vivek had to use his riding skills to keep the filly away from the other horse and surge ahead.