Leo D’Silva’s Above The Line struck again, now in the highest category, claiming the Speaker’s Cup, the feature of Sunday’s race at Hyderabad. After a rousing performance in Monsoon, where the progeny of Steinbeck was declared as the horse of the season, along with stable mate Clever Ploy, the three year-old filly held out Crocodile Hunter by a whisker, in a breathtaking finish. Jockey Harish, who knows this filly best, took her to the lead on entering the straight and continued to be in full flow, although he had established a two length advantage. Crocodile Hunter made his move through the rails and raised hopes in the last 50 metres getting closer with every stride but was unlucky as the winning post came to the rescue of Above the Line.

Trainer M.V. Narayan Rao led in a popular double, his colours of ‘light blue, dark green V’ winning back-to-back races. Rao’s nursery has been the most successful this season, his two year-olds winning three out of the five races, so far. Guiding Light was placed a handy third, till the final bend and slipped through the wide gap along the rails as the heads turned for home to claim the Soviet Star Plate with a measure of comfort. Yakshagana drifted out alarmingly on the straight and finished second.

Jockey Vivek, who has partnered successfully with Rao, brought out King of Court in the Bhagmati Cup. Proviso had steered clear on the straight and looked to wrap up the race when King of Court responded gamely to Vivek’s strong urgings and flew, in the final 50 metres, to get the race in the shadow of the winning post. Arya and Flying Phoenix fought out for the minor placing.

Trainer Prasad Raju continued his dominance, winning both the divisions of the Trade Fair Plate. Royal Tune produced a fluent gallop to win the lower division. Tristar and Atahualpa began to fight out on the straight as Royal Tune was readying himself for a final assault when Shaikh Sharook on Victorous Sally tried to veer his mount out from the rails, clipped on to Atahualpa and was dislodged. Sharookh tried his antics where there was no room and his dangerous riding could have resulted in a serial mishap.

Another piece of dangerous riding by jockey Lakshmikanth resulted in Vikram Walkar being thrown out of his mount. The race, the higher division, was won by the public choice Alberton Star. As the field was passing the 600 metres post, Trigger Happy moved in towards the rails all of a sudden and the stablemate Queen of Habashe was literarily pushed over the false railings, resulting in the jockey Vikram Walkar being dislodged. A refresher course for the local lads and stringent punishment for dangerous riding should bring in more discipline as such cases are on the higher side at Hyderabad.

Jockey Stephen Carson will be seen in action this season, riding primarily for the stables of Laxman Singh. The 30 year-old Irishman has over 200 career wins against his name. Vendetta was his first ride on Indian soil and he finished second behind Kings Cruise. Pradeep Chouhan rode with grit to win the race from Vendetta who was finishing on in the final stages. Stephen is still not exposed to Indian riding patterns and this loss should be a good lesson. The boy was probably quick to learn and he rode Imaan to victory in the lower division of the Brave Dancer Plate, the concluding race of the day. Settling well behind Pampering till the top of the straight, Imaan surged ahead and went clear with Boyance chasing him on the straight. Pampering burst her blood vessels and tapered out to finish last.

Ring Master beat the favourite Amber Rose in the higher division, the opening race of the day.

A win for Greek Fire was due and the three year-old justified in the higher division of the Red Orchid Plate. Greek Fire had settled behind the leader Combined Force and decided to take over near the 300 metres. Grand Rapids and Pythagoras began to raise a gallop in the last 100 metres but had to finish behind the winner.