Jockey A.Imran Khan hogged the limelight at Hyderabad on Monday, booting home four winners in a card of nine races. Two of his winners, The Leader and Dark Avenger were from trainer S.A.Shehzad Abbas’s yard while the other two, Sprint Saloni and King’s Cruise came from the stables of Donald Netto. Trainer M.V.Narayana Rao and apprentice G.Sai Vamshi also teamed up to pull off a back to back double through Greek Star and Inspiring Tunes. Leading jockey P.S.Chouhan, who rarely goes without a win at this centre, drew a blank.

The Leader (China Visit-Lei) came up with a dazzling gallop down the home stretch to win the Jockey Purtu Singh Parmar Memorial Cup, which was the main event of the nine races that were run at Hyderabad on Monday. Racing in about sixth as the field rounded the final turn, The Leader was pulled out to be given a free run, away from the traffic in front. When Imran set alight on the outside, The Leader flashed on instantly to take the lead and race away to the winning post. Lumiere Blanche, Rosemead and Ruffiano went past the winning post in that order, in a close finish for the minor places.

 Dark Avenger (Don Micheletto-Royal Shine) romped home in the very next race, the Satavahana Cup. In about third position till the final bend, Dark Avenger moved closer to the front running Rocking Racer and when Imran Khan asked the gelding to quicken, he surged clear with ease and left the rest of the field cold.

M.V.Narayana Rao trained Greek Star (Sedgefield-Maid of The Mist) nailed the favourite Kohinoor Punch on the last stride of the Own Vision Plate, a five furlongs dash for maiden 2 year olds. Kohinoor Punch was sluggish at start and lost considerable ground but recovered quickly to be alongside the leader Rock Heights by the time the field showed up on the straight. With 300 metres left from home, Kohinoor Punch surged ahead and opened a good lead of almost four lengths over the nearest horse. Greek Star started to gather speed in the last 100 metres and with a flourish went past the winning post locked together with Kangaroo Punch. The magic eye gave the verdict in favour of debutant Greek Star. Fair And Square was third another two lengths adrift.

Rao and G.Sai Vamshi teamed up in the lower division of the Crack Regiment Plate, to pull off a back to back double with Inspiring Tunes. Young Power was in front on the home stretch and Inspiring Tunes took the gap along the inner fence and slipped through. Deccan Queen came up with a strong challenge, getting closer with every stride but Sai Vamshi kept riding out and stayed well to win by a short head. Young Power ended up third while the favourite faded out after running second till the last 250 metres.

Netto and Imran started the day with Sprint Saloni (Epicentre-Premier Thrill) in the higher division of the Crack Regiment Plate, the opening race of the day. The 3 year old filly, who had not figured on board in all her four starts, came quickly from an outward draw to lead the field. Imran started to ride her out and the filly kicked on to hold on by a neck from the fast finishing Classic Crown. The favourite Sushen finished third another two lengths adrift

D.Netto’s King’s Cruise (Eljohar-Bon Apetit) who hadn’t seen the winning post for over a year, got into a fine gallop under Imran Khan to win the higher division of the Haridwar Plate. Racing at a striking distance with the front bunch till the top of the straight, King’s Cruise moved fluently to hit the front 250 metres from home and went clear. Alberton Star was finishing on towards the closing stages but the top weight seemed to be a stopper and fell short by half a length at the finish. Young Sapper and Kohinoor Victory fought out the last 100 metres to finish third and fourth respectively.   

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Montego Bay (Sussex-Acaress), who had finished in the money in her last three runs was well supported and was sent in as the firm favourite in the Anmol Taran Plate. Transition hit the front with Inner Strength running a close second. A couple of lengths behind was Exclusive and Montego Bay was up on the outside. Nearing the distance post, Inner Strength grabbed the lead and Montego Bay was still in fourth about five lengths behind. Jockey Nilesh Rawal went for the stick and kept pounding the filly till she covered the leeway and sped past, in the last few strides, to earn her maiden win. Inner Strength held on to finish second in front of Exclusive.

Winning Strides (Eljohar-Fourty Winks) from R.H.Sequeira’s yard, a winner in its last outing less than a month ago in the lower class was completely neglected in the betting. The 6 year old was towards the rear till entering the home stretch and weaving his way through the field, rushed to take the lead inside the last 300 metres and kicked on to score an encore. Divine Ganges kept Fine Racer at bay to take the runner-up berth. The favourite Arabian Dancer tried to slip in along the rails but could not quicken and finished off the board.

L.V.R.Deshmukh’s Vijay’s Winner (Shirocco-Suta), a failed favourite last time out over 2000 metres, won the nine furlongs Zarbaran Plate. Jockey A.M.Tograllu decided to take Vijay’s Winner to the front on approaching the 1200 metres marker and was ridden out to thwart the late effort of Green Bay and Great Warrior.