Genius Empress (Royal Gladiator- Loud Water), trained by Faiyaz Shaikh was ridden to victory by P.S.Chouhan in the Star of Gwalior Cup, the main event of Monday’s races at Hyderabad. Enchantment was in front till the final bend and Vijay’s Conquer was the first one to take the initiative on the home stretch. Genius Empress moved with a sustained run inside the final furlong and went past Vijay’s Conquer to be a clear two lengths at the finish. The favourite Suchiman managed to finish third after being policed by Pavan throughout the race.

It was an eventful day at the races, with the Stewards of the Hyderabad Race Club cracking the whip on erring professionals. The Stewards decided to withdraw the license issued to jockey R.Umesh for a period of three years for not permitting Royal Bird to run on merits. Apprentice J.Vikas was stood down for a period of one year for not permitting Girnar to run on merits. The trainer M.Sathyanarayana was fined Rs.25,000 with regard to the running of his charge Girnar.

K.Satheesh, P.S.Chouhan and A.Ashhad Asbar were the professionals who scored a brace each on a day dominated by horses at longer odds. Chouhan completed his double through Deshmukh trained Vijaykeerti (Aussie Rules-Cielovodkamartini), in the Cyndy Plate. Nano Storm cut the pace as the nine runners set out over the 2000 m trip. Vijay’s Jet surged ahead with 200 m left in the race and the favourite Vijaykeerti looking to be under pressure and having to do some hard task in third position. The 4 year old responded to Chouhan’s urgings and took off brilliantly to fly past and win by a length at the finish. Vijay’s Jet and Nano Storm took the minor placing.

Trainer K.Satheesh picked up a back to back double in the first two races of the day. Sporting Star (Alydeed-R Valid Girl) came out of his maiden ranks in the lower division of the Wishful Thinking Plate. The favourite Girnar was running prominently in front till approaching the final turn but started to go wide for no apparent reason as they took the turn and landed close to the outer rails to finish out of the money in fourth. Indian Warrior and Merry Maid finished second and third respectively.

While Sporting Star paid a handsome dividend, Scamper (Eljohar-Crystal Beauty) pulled off a popular victory in the higher division of the Amaravati Cup. Jockey B.Dileep took Scamper to the front from the start and was never headed. Bang On Target and Grey Shot towed on behind the winner in that order.

Ananth Vatsalya’s Kohinoor Victory (Inhabitant-Red Hot Babe) won the lower division despite drifting out alarmingly towards the closing stages. Tico Tico finished three lengths adrift in second spot.

Jockey A.Ashhad Asbar recorded a double through Confidential and Odalis, both at nourishing odds. Sk.Kasam trained Confidential (Black Cash-Serious Trouble) quickened to register a maiden win, in the lower division of the Olympic Flame Plate but not before getting the feel of over a dozen hard cracks from the rider on the home straight. The favourite Santro who lost the lead to Confidential took the second spot ahead of Castle Rock.

J.Silvester’s Odalis (Hymn-Sublimely Single) showed tremendous acceleration while lifting the Romantic Fantasy Plate. Rustic Gal rallied late to take the second spot ahead of Dazzling Prince.

Rank outsider Classic Crown (Tirol-Ahliyat) trounced the field in the higher division of the Wishful Thinking Plate. Royal Bird moved to the second position only after Classic Crown had gone clear.

Shehzad Abbas trained Star Value (Diffident-Star Role) stole the show in the higher division of the Olympic Flame Plate, the concluding race of the day. A winner in her previous start which was ten months ago, Star Value opened at a short price but started to drift out towards race time. Imran moved Star Value to a handy second as they approached the final turn and quickened well to score an emphatic victory. Cannon Ace and Moment Of Roses finished second and third respectively.