Kohinoor Wish (Gaswar-Blue Sonata) got back to winning ways after losing two successive starts this season, both to Rapture of Victory. Having moved to trainer Anupam Sharma’s stables recently, Kohinoor Wish was entrusted to apprentice G. Sai Vamshi in the Indian Navy Rolling Challenge Trophy, the main event of Sunday’s races at Malakpet.

The top weighted Iaepetus garnered maximum support in the betting and ended up as the favourite in the race. Imran Khan rode him to the front from the start and was being closely followed by El Paso, Rapture Of Victory and Kohinoor Wish as the field of eight rounded the final turn. Approaching the last furlong Kohinoor Wish rushed along the inner rails, forcing his way in between Iaepetus and Rapture Of Victory to draw clear and register an overwhelming victory. Iaepetus held on to finish second ahead of Rapture Of Victory.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan was in rousing form, punching home five winners out the seven mounts he rode on Sunday. Grand Connection, Ashwa Shakti, Vijaysheel, Spanish Conquest and Vijay’s Dhara were the winning horses.

M.V.Narayan Rao’s Grand Connection (Rebuttal-Anacita) scored an emphatic victory in the lower division of the Trade Fair Plate beating Slam Dance for the second time this season. Chouhan settled Grand Connection in second behind Slam Dance till the last 300 metres and surged ahead to draw clear.

Three of Chouhan’s wins were from the home stable of L.V.R.Deshmukh. The most impressive was Ashwa Shakti (Rebuttal-Speedwell), in the Soviet Star Plate. The son of Rebuttal settled on the haunches of Elegant Approach till the last furlong and moved in splendid fashion to win as he liked, on debut.

Spanish Conquest (Byron-Set The Mood) upset the apple cart of the favourite Invincible India in the Bhagmati Cup. Spanish Conquest raced with the front bunch till the final bend and swiftly moved to second as Invincible India surged ahead to lead on entering the straight. Imran Khan had the favourite racing about three lengths ahead on heading for the last furlong but Spanish Conquest galloped resolutely to diminish the margin and get the better by a ‘neck’ at the wire. All The Fun finished a far away third.

Laxman Singh’s Vijay’s Dhara (Tirol-Madamoiselle) justified the favouritism in the lower division of the Red Orchid Plate, the concluding race of the day. After winning two races on the trot, Vijay’s Dhara found the classy Pedalo too hot to handle in his last run. Vijay’s Dhara improved around the field as they took the home bend and galloped with a spirited run inside the final 300 metres to register a fine win.       

L.D’Silva’s Garcia Marquez (Quest Star-Friendly Type) completed a hat-trick, winning the higher division of the Red Orchid Plate. Mark Gallagher made a swift move near the 1000 metres marker to get Garcia Marquez to race behind the leader Crown Crystal. Inside the last 300 metres, Garcia Marquez came alongside Crown Crystal and surged ahead as they passed the distance post to pick his third straight victory. Vijaykeerti picked up momentum late and moved fast but fell short by a neck at the finish. The favourite Transformation finished third another length behind.