S.A.Shehzaad Abbas schooled Aphrodisiac (Royal Gladiator-Persian Conquest) powered her way to victory in the Speaker’s Cup, at Hyderabad. A packed field of eighteen runners lined up for the six furlongs sprint event which featured the nine races card at Hyderabad. Among them, Windsor Manor, a classic hope from Sathyanarayana’s stable was widely expected to land the spoils.  

Windsor Manor in her customary fashion got to the front as the field was dispatched and set her own pace. Entering the home stretch Windsor Manor was still in front and kept the lead till the last furlong but failed to kick on from there and surrendered meekly. Aphrodisiac was racing in about tenth position as the field traversed the final bend and Imran made a swift move to improve Aphrodisiac along the inner ground and the five year old responded brilliantly to score over the quality field. The top weighted Guiding Light also moved fast from the rear but P.S.Chouhan had maneuver his way through the traffic and lost the race by a neck. Windsor Manor disappointed by finishing fourth behind Alexander Square.

Imran Khan was in the limelight, riding home four winners. Imran gave a power packed ride on Shehzad’s Angelica (Terrell-Speciallittleangel) to lift the Osman Sagar Cup. Miss Watermelon got past Russian Rhytham inside the last 400 metres and the rider Chouhan was in full flow on the filly. Angelica rallied alongside and a fierce battle ensued between the top two jockeys in the last 100 metres. Angelica travelled the better to spare a length at the wire to Miss Watermelon.

Royal Craft and Rajkumari were the other two winning mounts of Imran Khan. D.Netto trained Rajkumari (Rebuttal-Kabubina) stretched out stylishly to complete an encore, in the lower division of the Onnu Onnu Onnu Plate. Sun Strikes streaked towards the inside to snatch the second place from Best Pal. Hidden Destiny finished a close fourth after leading till the last 150 metres.

Zoheb Shaikh’s Royal Craft (Black Cash-Passion) responded well when given a reminder midway up the straight, to lift the lower division of the Corden Rouge Plate. Transition, Foudre Rouge and True Scholar followed the winner in that order. Anupam Sharma’s Brahmani (Hymn-Jukebox) with the benefit of a run lifted the higher division with ease. The race favourite, Mr.Glorious came into contention late to take the runner-up berth ahead of the long time leader Enamour.

Front Line (Ikhtyar-Safe Haven) from the stables of Laxman Singh won the Chirala Cup in a close finish from Lake King and Green Gift. After tracking the leader Indian Warrior till the 800 m board, apprentice Harinder Singh decided to take Front Line to the front. Green Gift and Lake King came charging towards Front Line inside the last 150 metres but failed to get the better. Lake King took the second spot ahead of Green Gift.

Part Time Lover was on a start to finish bid in the lower division of the Hi-Tech Plate but was denied a win by Faisal Hassan’s Princess Jaanu (Case Law-Applause). Part Time Lover was racing in front followed by Kohinoor Glory and Princess Jaanu. Moving inside the final furlong, Chouhan started to work his way on Princess Jaanu and the filly devoured ground towards the closing stages to snatch the victory in the shadow of the winning post. Geography covered plenty of ground from the rear to finish a close third.

Chayanandan (Eljohar-Mama Mia) slipped in along the inner rails and warded off the late bid of Buck Knife in the higher division of the Hi-Tech Plate, the opening race of the day. Chamatkar started to drift out on entering the straight after leading all the way and stumbled 300 metres from home dislodging the jockey. Classic Dancer who was running just behind also lost balance and dropped the rider.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Celtic Rose (Alnasr Alwasheek-Aureus) justified the favouritism with a pillar to post victory in the division I of the Onnu Onnu Onnu Plate, the last race of the day.