M.Sathyanarayana trained Windsor Manor (Placerville-Amber Windsor) won the A.P.Commemoration Cup, the feature event of Sunday’s race at Hyderabad. The filly races best over seven furlongs and anything above that doesn’t seem to be within her compass as evinced in her earlier runs. Jockey Vivek was quick to take Windsor Manor to lead the field as the gates opened and made every post a winning one. Da Xia tried to raise a gallop inside the last 200 metres but failed to match the strides of Windsor Manor and beat the rest, to finish second. Magic Million, who raced in second for a long time on the straight finished third, ahead of Aloisia.

Close finishes was the order of the day with as many as six races decided in the shadow of the winning post. Followers of form were benefitted with fancied runners emerging victorious in most of the races. Jockey A.Imran Khan who topped the table during the recently concluded Monsoon season booted home four winners. He rode two winners for trainer Prasad Raju and one each for Shehzad Abbas and Zoheb Shaikh, all in close finishes.

Imran started the day with a gutsy win on Prasad Raju trained Castle Rock (Brave Act-Cannon Baby), in the higher division of the Moment Of Glory Plate. Zone set out in front from the start and tried to keep the lead till the finish but Imran worked his way strongly on Castle Rock inside the last furlong and after a keen tussle necked out Zone close to the finish. The favourite Hamilton was third another length and a half behind.

Imran’s next was on Shehzad Abbas’s The Leader (China Visit-Lei), in the Mir Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup, a seven furlongs race for horses in Category II. Of the six horses in fray, The Leader braced the wrong end till entering the home stretch while Yakshagana led with Vijayshaurya and Elzaam making a strong bid. The Leader weaved through the field on the straight and the four year old galloped resolutely to win from Vijayshourya. Genius Empress finished an eye-catching third ahead of Elzaam.

Prasad Raju was the only trainer to score a brace. His ward Transformation (China Visit-Lei), a full sister to The Leader showed plenty of speed towards the closing stages of the race to nail Westminister at the finish. Racing in about sixth position till the last bend, Transformation moved over to challenge Westminister and Sheikh’s Emperor inside the last 300 metres and justify the favouritism

Imran set out on a start to finish bid on Zoheb Shaikh trained Pavan (Emerald Cat-Justicia), in the lower division of the Grand Entry Plate and held on from the fast finishing Arohan. On entering the straight, Pavan led the field with Precisely That and Vijay Kiran trying their best to get to the leader. Arohan in the meanwhile was covering ground from the rear and flashed on in the last 100 metres but failed to collar Pavan by a ‘neck’.

Suraj Narredu rode D.Netto’s Rajkumari (Rebuttal-Kabubina) to victory in the higher division of the Grand Entry Plate. Celandine had a lead of about two lengths as the field showed up on the straight and Suraj brought Rajkumari with a strong gallop and the daughter of Rebuttal quickened in the nick of time to move ahead. Aegis took time to warm up and was the fastest finishing, taking the runner-up place, beating Celandine in a three way finish.

L.D’Silva schooled Montpelier (Ad Valorem-Diarshana) scored an impressive win in the Youngsters Plate. The bay colt moved swiftly under Ch.K.Chary inside the last 300 metres and drew clear for a fine win on debut. Kohinoor Revanta finished second ahead of Fashionesta. Ground Crew was withdrawn before the race while La Buena dropped the rider within the first furlong after brushing against the inner rails and Exclusive went into no mans land in the same mishap before coming to a halt.

K.Satheesh trained The Best Man (Ontario-Bridgeofsighs) finally picked up speed to register his first win. Al Malawi as is her wont led from the start but could not finish it off. Dartos The Muscle flashed on late to beat Al Malawi for the second place.