Winner of a ‘Million’ race on debut, Plenipotent (Iffraaj-Beldon Hill) from the stables of L.V.R.Deshmekh repeated the performance with a smashing victory in the Pratap Stud Darley Arabian Million – Grade III, which featured Saturday’s races at Hyderabad. The six furlongs trip which boasts of a Grade III status attracted a small field of four runners but with the presence of Bangalore challenger, Cirque Du Soleil, a keen contest looked to be on the anvil. The same enthusiasm was reflected in the betting ring as well, with Plenipotent and Cirque Du Soleil sharing the favouritism during race time.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan took Plenipotent to the front from the start and was in total control throughout the race. Cirque Du Soleil was in second all the way and when asked for an effort on the home stretch just could not match the strides of Plenipotent. Cirque Du Soleil held on to the runner-up berth from Montpelier, who was finishing on towards the closing stages.

The combination of Deshmukh and Chouhan pulled off a treble with one of them emerging in the steward’s room. Ache For Love had beaten Castle Town on the track, in the higher division of the 1 EME Centre Rolling Trophy. P.S.Chouhan, the rider of Castle Town raised an objection against the winner for interference and the stewards upheld the objection thus reversing the original order of placing. Castle Town (Midtown-Canaletto) was declared the winner. Ache For Love had shifted out slightly inside the last 250 metres and had got close to Castle Town who was being ridden out by Chouhan to get past. The two continued to fight till the finish and Ache For Love held on by a ‘head’ at the finish.

It’s a welcome sign to see that the Stewards of Hyderabad Race Club have opened their minds to look into objections with all seriousness but the infringement in this case was not that serious to warrant a reversal. The verdict of a ‘head’ was in all probability the deciding factor in awarding the race to Castle Town.

Rapture Of Victory (Alnasr Alwasheek-Raptures) raised a resolute gallop to lift the T.Chandrasekhar Reddy Memorial Cup. Tracking the early leader Royal Shaan till the top of the straight, Rapture of Victory readily obliged when Chouhan asked for an effort. Genius Empress rallied in second while Kohinoor Wish failed to quicken on the straight and finished third.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Cannon Jet (Royal Gladiator-Persian Conquest) upset the apple cart of Twentyfivepips in the lower division of the 1 EME Centre Rolling Trophy. Twentyfivepips took charge from Phenomenal Speed and Bright Spectrum 300 m from home and was looking to justify the strong support. Cannon Jet who raised a gallop under relentless pelting by the rider N.Rawal started to bridge the gap and snatched the race on the last stride. Extreme finished a faraway third.

Prasad Raju had earlier saddled Royal Turn (Quest Star-Chivas Gold) to a start to finish win in the lower division of the Next Move Plate. Moment of Roses made a vain bid throughout the home stretch while the favourite Art Dealer did not find foot and finished off the frame.

P.A.Culhane rode Laxman Singh trained Sheikh’s Emperor (Placerville-Singita) to victory in the Pocharam Cup, the opening race of the day. Travelling well off the pace in second last till the last 800 metres, Sheikh’s Emperor worked his way up to join Silver Lid inside the last furlong and surged ahead. The favourite Danny finished a tame third behind Silver Lid.

Ananth Vatsalya’s Nano Desire (Ivory Touch-Romanza) produced a scintillating run on the home stretch to score her maiden victory in the Step Aside Plate. Travelling in about seventh position approaching the final bend, jockey Carlos Henrique nursed Nano Desire to get into striking position around the field and rode out to get past Pakat Pakat Pakat and win. Turf Attack rallied late to finish second ahead of Pakat Pakat Pakat. The favourite Racing Tycoon was very fractious near the starting gates andwas withdrawn before the race.

Apprentice A.K.Pawar who had lost a race in the steward’s room made amends while riding Anupam Sharma trained The Himalayas (International-Small Virtue) to victory in the Common Land Plate. The Himalayas prevailed over Petradura and Pluto Queen in a close finish.

L.D’Silva’s Grande Comore (Case Law-Starissima) got her rhythm right to score her maiden win in the higher division of the Next Move Plate, the concluding race of the day. Slipping in along the inner rails Grand Comore surged ahead of Rohini Star. Slam Dance fought on to be third.