M.V.Narayana Rao trained Guiding Light (Itaquere Power-Courbette) vanquished the opposition in the Sri.A.S Krishna Memorial Cup, a six furlongs dash for horses 4 year olds and upward, which was the main event of the nine races card on Monday, at Hyderabad. Guiding Light, whose last win was over a year ago had shown its return to fitness by finishing a notable second to the speedy Windsor Manor, a week ago. Days Of Thunder led the field of thirteen and brought them into view on the straight. Vijay’s Conquer picked up speed approaching the last furlong and surged ahead as the leader started to tire out. Guiding Light, who had moved steadily to be in mid-field, close to the inner fence, was brought out to make a run around the field as they rounded the final turn. Jockey Dashrath started to ride out Guiding Light and the mare responded brilliantly to cover ground at a rapid pace and sped past Vijay’s Conquer 20 metres from the winning post. Genius Empress came up late to finish third, close behind the runner-up. Surya Lakshmi was withdrawn after being troublesome near the gates.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Aerosmith (Rebuttal-Shantay), a hat tricker this season had gone down as a favourite in its last essay over 2000 metres. Pitched over a mile in the G.V.Rao Memorial Cup, Aerosmith bounced back with a splendid gallop to win the race. In about seventh position as the field took the final turn, Aerosmith was guided along the inside by Nilesh Rawal and sneaked in to take it up in the last 100 metres and spared a length at the finish. Bound For Glory charged in late to get the better of Stylish Chieftan for the second place. The favourite Toli Toli Toli was fourth another length away.

The Galactica Plate, a five furlongs sprint for maiden 3 year olds was divided into two races. Jockey Ch.K.Chary rode the winners in both the divisions. Zoheb Shaikh schooled Twinklingofaneye (Ikhtyar-Queen Victoria) made an impressive debut in the higher division with a pillar to post victory. Beau Ideal was in chase all through but was no match when Twinklingofaneye decided to quicken inside the last furlong.

Shehzad Abbas’s’ Skylight Express (China Visit-Chanteline) won the lower division by a lengthening margin. Tracking the early leader till mid-way up the straight, Skylight Express surged ahead and drew away from the field. Goldie, Star Wings and Golden Art filled the frame in that order.

Anupam Sharma trained Molla (Case Law-Windermere Star) who has hit a purple patch, completed a hat-trick in fine fashion, in the Musical Morn Plate. Moving swiftly from an outward draw, Molla hit the front at start. Continuing the forward run into the home stretch, the filly kicked on gamely when Vijays Best applied pressure in the last 200 metres. Rustic Gal warmed up late to get the better of Vijays Best for the second position.

Shehzad Abbas pulled off a double through the short priced So Super (Don Michelletto-Super Swift) in the higher division of the Nilgiris Plate. Jockey A.Imran Khan had to work hard to get the better of Exclusive after a fierce duel right through the last 300 metres. So Super just about moved ahead by a ‘head’ in the shadow of the winning post. Any Given Time and Pussy Galore finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey Dashrath Singh scored his second win with Srinivas Reddy trained Pacific Star (Hymn-Mazzal) in the lower division. Quick at start, Pacific Star went into the lead early and made every post a winning one. Montego Bay, Silver Arnage and Kohinoor Destiny filled the frame in that order.

Maid For Love (Quest Star-Bells Of Holland) from the stables of J.Silvester shed off her maiden status in the Concordial Plate. Shooting into the lead as the field approached the last furlong, Maid For Love kicked on and held on from the fast finishing Bernabeu. Dartos The Muscle ended up third in a close finish after chasing the ‘Maid’ all the way in the last 200 metres.

L.D’Silva’s Perfect (Cool Creek-Leading Prospect) scored her maiden win in the Pocharam Cup, a 2400 metres test of stamina. Jockey Imran Chisty took the filly into the lead from the start and was almost eight lengths ahead of the nearest rival Amber Flame. Towards the closing stages, Perfect was out of steam and beginning to shorten her strides at a fast pace. Amber Flame inched closer and Shades Of Victory was coming with a flourish but the winning post came to the rescue of Perfect and they had to settle for the second and third place respectively.