Laxman Singh trained Vijay’s Dhara (Tirol-Madamoiselle) won the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup, which featured the day’s races at Hyderabad, beating the favourite Nasheeta by a clear margin. Jockey P.A.Culhane kept Vijay’s Dhara towards the rear, in second last position till passing the 1000 metres board and started to move places while Napoleon cut the wind in front. On entering the home stretch, Vijay’s Dhara had moved up to be fifth, still about four lengths behind the leader Napoleon. Golden Queen and Nasheeta joined Napoleon as they came into the final furlong and Vijay’s Dhara was put on top gear on the outside. Napoleon and Golden Queen tired out and Vijay’s Dhara accelerated impressively to move away from Napoleon. This is the second successive win for Vijay’s Dhara and a hat-trick looks bright for this bay colt.

Aerosmith (Rebuttal-Shantay) from the stables of K.S.V.Prasad Raju completed a hat-trick , winning the Andhra Sub-Area Cup. The 3 year old son of Rebuttal has hit a purple patch winning all its three runs this season. Jockey Nilesh Rawal, who is on a high, experiencing the best run of his career was astride Aerosmith in all its victories. Westminister streaked in along the gap on the inside when the horses came on to the final straight and shot to the lead. Aerosmith gathered momentum inside the last 150 metres and quickened very impressively to sizzle past Westminister and win sparing three lengths at the finish. Racing Tycoon and Stylish Chieftan filled the frame sparing a ‘head’ between them.

Trainer L.D’Silva and J.H.Christopher together pulled off a double through Santa Monica and Fighting Fit. The 3 year old Fighting Fit (Hurricane State-Celestial Star) was sent into the race as the firm favourite and he did well to make it a start to finish win in the Ballo Plate. Fighting Fit moved swiftly to the inner rails from the outermost draw to lead the field at start. Our Mascot on its right and Ceremonious on the left put pressure inside the last 300 metres but Fighting Fit quickened readily when Christopher released the brakes and won warding off. Our Mascot and Ceremonious finished second and third respectively.  

Debutant Santa Monica (Rebuttal-Belinda)won the lower division of the Chaitanya Ratham Plate, a six furlongs sprint for maiden 2 year olds. Leading the field all the way from the start, Santa Monica came in to the straight with a two lengths lead and kept kicking on, despite drifting out alarmingly in the last 150 metres. Kohinoor Thunder and Lovely Angel finished together, in that order, for the minor places.

Zoheb Shaikh’s Amazon Princess (Major Impact-Jazzego) was ridden hard by Ch.K.Chary to win the higher division. Coral Springs was up in front from the start and was relentless till the last 100 metres. Amazon Princess had to be ridden hard to raise a gallop and the filly surged ahead inside the last 50 metres. Fairy Emperor was getting stronger towards the finish but fell short by a quarter of a length at the finish.

Chary piloted Sk.Kassam’s Over Taker (Sir Bordeaux-Entourage) to victory in the Zoom Zoom Plate, the concluding race of the day, to earn a double for himself. Over Taker took over the running from the start and Carson Troy was in chase till passing the distance post. As Carson Troy faded out, Palace Affairs covered plenty of ground from behind and came up with a strong challenge but the winner kept going till the winning post and stayed ahead by half a length. Krithiman rallied on to take the third place in front of Carson Troy.

Carlos Henrique gave a confident ride on J.Silvester’s Devil’s Advocate (Serious Spender-Frequency) to win the Tribute Plate. Golden Adagio tried to make it a start to finish affair, with Bang on Target putting pressure in the last 200 metres. Devil’s Advocate, whose last win was almost 15 months ago, came with long strides from almost an impossible position from the rear and swept past the horses in front to get back to winning ways.