M.V.Narayana Rao trained Molecule (Rebuttal-Anacita) scorched the track en-route to a sizzling win in the Gajasimha Rao Memorial Cup, which was the main event of the nine races card at Hyderabad on Monday. Molecule who holds the course record for the five furlongs sprint at this track, which was set a year ago in her earlier identity as ‘Grand Connection’, almost bettered her own record, finishing fractionally slower. The daughter of Rebuttal now has an amazing statistics of six wins from twelve starts. Molecule has missed being in the money only on two occasions.

The speedy Molecule settled quickly in third behind Kohinoor Supreme and the favourite Rajkumari. Entering the home stretch, Kohinoor Supreme was out of steam soon and Rajkumari headed to the front and jockey D.K.Ashish was quick to get Molecule alongside. Approaching the distance post Molecule took off like a torpedo and widened the margin. Indian Epic warmed up late to be the runner-up ahead of Rajkumari. Twentyfivepips finished another length adrift and lodged an unsuccessful objection against the second placed Indian Epic.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan rode a brace of winners to cross the 900 mark in his career. Military Cross and Azaiba, the winning horses are both under the tutelage of M.Srinivas Reddy, who was licensed recently at this centre. Military Cross (Eljohar-Star Devine) was an overwhelming winner on debut, beating its only two rivals, in the Salute Her Plate. Military Cross waited behind Lavish Gift and Coral Springs till rounding the final bend and as they took the turn, Lavish Gift shifted left and Chouhan went for the wide opening along the rails to stretch out effortlessly. Kintyre Princess and Musk Melon were withdrawn near the gates.

Azaiba (Rebuttal-Queen Consort) won the opener, the Running Flame Plate. Starting out from the outermost draw, Azaiba was quickly holding the fence in front. On the straight Crimson Look moved along to apply pressure and kept up the fight till the last 50 metres from where Azaiba travelled the better under Chouhan’s urgings. Fortunate moved late to take the second place ahead of Crimson Look in the dying moments of the race.

S.S.Faisal Hussain trained Mr.Khoasteep (Quest Star-Dancer’s Qiuz), who has found the right foot, scored his second successive victory, in the Hussain Sagar Cup. Fighting for the lead with Kathakali right from the start, Mr.Khoasteep shot ahead inside the last 400 metres and was never in any threat from the rest. Chayanandan was holding on in second for a long way on the straight but surrendered that place to Apprise in the last few strides. The favourite Bound for Glory was a tame fourth.

L.V.Deshmukh’s Vijay’s Jyothi (Alnasr Alwasheek-astana) was another one to pull off an encore in the Windscale Plate. Western India based A.M.Tograllu who has been retained by Deshmukh to ride for his stable was assigned the job of guiding the fortunes of Vijay’s Jyothi. The well backed favourite was racing towards the wrong end, in the packed field of 13 runners till the top of the straight. Tograllu made his move on the filly from the extreme outside and Vijay’s Jyothi was sighted a winner even before she could pass half the field. Emerald Reef finished second, ahead of Star Striker and Midnight Beauty.

All Pepper (Gaswar-Cats Whiskers) went on a start to finish bid in the higher division of the Blue Bird plate and held on gallantly by a length at the finish to complete an encore. Apprentice Kiran Naidu did well to ride All Pepper in check despite the 5 year old showing all keenness to go free and started to let go only in the last 300 metres. Combined Force fought on along the rails to finish second while the favourite Illustrator and Kohinoor Victory were the fastest finishing towards the closing stages but could only finish third and fourth respectively in a close finish with the runner-up.  

 Ananth Vatsalya’s Da Xia (Epicentre-Undoubted) was ridden out by Ajit Kumar to keep at bay the strong challenge of Ruffiano right through the last furlong and win the lower division. Da Xia’s last win was almost 15 months ago but with the right money coming on the 5 year old,was sent into the race as the favourite. Tracking the leader Ashleen State closely till rounding the final bend, Da Xia rushed to take up the lead with 400 metres remaining from the winning post. Ruffiano put pressure strongly and bridged the gap but fell short by a ‘neck’.

Trainer D.Netto added one more win to his tally, with the 3 year old filly Over Shadow (Royal Gladiator-Shadow Dancing) scoring her maiden victory in the higher division of the Sangam Plate. Racing closest to the fence in front, all the way from the start, Imran Khan started to ride out in the last 300 metres and extended well. Merry Maid rallied on the inside to take the second spot while Prayer Call and Sugar Deal finished third and fourth respectively.

S.Habeebullah trained Pussy Galore (Hymn-Wonder Wings) shed her maiden status in her seventeenth attempt, in the lower division. Accelerating well in the last 150 metres, Pussy Galore sped past the front running Deccan Queen. Novaya Zemlya came in late to get the better of Deccan Queen close to the winning post.