T Srinagesh trained Fopping (Eljohar-Magic Reef) found speed at the nick of time, to beat Kohinoor Supreme, in the Raja Saheb of Itkyal Memorial Trophy, the feature event of the final day’s races of the Monsoon season at Hyderabad. Kohinoor Supreme was quick at start and set out in front over the 1100 metres scurry and entered the home stretch well in front of his rivals. With 100 metres left in the race, Kohinoor Supreme was still clear by three lengths and the leeway looked good enough to wrap it up. Jockey Ashhad Asbar in the meanwhile was busy on Fopping and the 4 year old son of Eljohar produced a powerful gallop to move ahead and win the race by half a length.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju saddled three winners on the final day to improve his season’s standing. Jockey Nilesh Rawal picked a double for himself through Celtic Rose and Robust, while apprentice P.Sai Kumar booted home Max Baby to victory, in the lower division of the La Tomatina Plate. Al Malawi led the pack till entering the straight and faded out. The Best Man, Ace Star and Max Baby charged ahead together in the last 300 metres in a bid to assume command and it was Prasad Raju’s ward Max Baby, who travelled the best to lift the race by a comfortable length and a half. Sharp Single and Proud Moment moved in late to finish second and third respectively in a close finish. Merry Maid did well to fill the frame after being sluggish at the start.     

Celtic Rose (Alnashr Alwasheek-Aureus) scored an encore with a pillar to post victory, in the lower division of the Blazing Saddle Plate. Sent in as the firm favourite into the race after her win early this month, Celtic Rose came in two lengths ahead of the nearest runner as heads turned for home and the filly stretched out to win by a good margin. Stable companion Aarohan took the runner-up berth while Yippee and Copertina filled the frame.

Robust (Sussex-Celestial Dancer) tracked the front running Yours Truly till the last 300 metres and surged ahead with a sustained run to score his maiden win, in the lower division of the Incubus Plate. The three year old had run nine times without tasting success and the tenth attempt turned out to be lucky for Robust. Yours Truly held on in third while Jaden Gil and Ziv took the minor places.  

Donald Netto trained Home Town (Midtown-Wild Racer) was another who shed her maiden status on the final day. After finishing a close third to stable-mate Rajkumari in her previous run, the chestnut was installed as an ‘odds on’ favourite in the higher division of the Incubus Plate. Emeraldo and Mukhtar raced in front almost together, followed closely by Bribe Madi till entering the final straight. Home Town moved with a sustained gallop under Deep Shanker approaching the last furlong and moved ahead to score by three parts of a length from Zenas. Bribe Madi was third a further half a length adrift.

Ajit Kumar successfully rode Ananth Vatsalya’s The Kohinoor (Epicentre-Okati Okati Okati) to beat the race favourite Days of Thunder in the shadow of the winning post. The Kohinoor having moved to Vatsalya’s yard very recently showed tremendous speed when Ajit Kumar brought the four year old to challenge Days of Thunder in the last 150 metres and asked for an effort. Star Experience was a far away third.

On a day when most of the fancied runners obliged, K.V.Srinivas trained King In The Sky (Sir Bordeaux-Land Lady) pulled off an upset, in the higher division of the La Tomatina Plate. Ridden by R.Umesh, King In The Sky joined the front bunch as they passed the 600 metres marker and surged ahead on entering the straight. Maximum Response tried his best to get to the winner but fell short by a length and a half. Novaya Zemlya and Communicate finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey P.Trevor gave a hard ride on Onera Onera Onera (Young Senor-Okati Okati Okati) to flash past Menlo Park and Divine Ganges and draw away to score an impressive victory, in the Loose Cannon Plate. The six year old who had not seen the winning post for a little over a year now showed plenty of improvement after shifting over to train under R.H.Sequeira. Menlo Park and Divine Ganges followed the winner in that order.

The opening event of the day, the Lost Angel Plate was won by K.Satheesh trained Proviso (Serious Spender-Cool Water). Proviso along the inner rails and Anemometer on the outside raced together till entering the straight and the former stretched clear to register an easy win. Combined Forse managed to get the better of Anemometer to take the second spot.