Laxman Singh trained Golden Queen (Ikhtyar-Killarney) won the Basalat Jah Memorial Cup, a 1600 metres race for horses in Category I, which featured the small card of six races at Hyderabad on Sunday. A small field of five horses lined up for this mile race. Golden Queen was the fastest out of the gates, led for a short distance and then settled well in second when Vijayshaurya moved forward to go to the lead. Inside the last 400 metres Golden Queen took charge and kicked on gamely. The favourite Vijaykeerti was under pressure when asked for an effort and settled for the second place. The Leader was third another length away.

The highlight of the day was a double by the trainer jockey combination of L.D’Silva and Suraj Narredu. The first winner came with Goldie (Opportunist-Ferrari) in the Own Opinion Plate, a five furlongs sprint for maiden 3 year old horses. The favourite Fair And Square showed plenty of early speed and shot into the lead. Goldie chased the leader right from the start. Approaching the last 400 metres Fair And Square had a lead of over three lengths from Goldie. As they neared the distance post Goldie was responding to Suraj’s urgings and had inched closer. With about 100 metres left from the finish Goldie surged ahead of Fair And Square. Rock Heights flashed on late to finish second just a ‘neck’ behind the winner. Fair And Square ended up third.

The duo earned their second win with Santa Monica (Rebuttal-Belinda) in the very next race, the Grand Parade Cup. The 3 year old filly which was summered at Bangalore scored an encore in fine fashion. Santa Monica was held back in sixth position while Big Boss, led the field followed closely by Sweety Girl, Sheridan, Street Magic and Lovely Angel. Inside the last 300 metres Santa Monica rushed through the front runners and skipped away to win easily. The filly looks to be in rousing form and a third win looks very bright. Yet Again rallied well to finish second ahead of Lovely Angel.      

Anupam Sharma trained Symbol Of Victory (Sedgefield-Broken Silence) rallied well under G.Sai Vamshi to lift the Regency Cup. After a good jump, Symbol of Victory settled well in second when Killer Instinct went to the front. Chocolate Soldier was brushed to get to the lead near the 800 metres and Sai Vamshi also urged his mount to be in second. Inside the last 400 metres Symbol of Victory shot ahead easily and kept up the pace all the way to the finish. Golden Flash which had moved to be second on top of the straight finished in that position. Par Excellence beat the other two to finish third.

S.S.Faisal Hassan trained Star Engagement which had finished down the field in its previous outing was sent in as the favourite with jockey P.S.Chouhan astride in the Vijayanagaram Plate. Taking off well from draw 12, the chestnut filly settled in about fourth or fifth with Mukhtar, Yours Truly and A Horizontal Urge clustered in front. Into the final run Mukhtar moved forward and was quickly joined by Star Engagement. Yours Truly also began to force its way along the rails. With 200 metres left Star Engagement took the lead and Star Experience came with a fast run from behind, bridging the gap rapidly. Chouhan rode out strongly and Star Engagement passed the winning post a ‘head’ in front of Star Experience. Mukhtar and Yours Truly finished third and fourth respectively.

In Reality (European-Grand Destiny) from D.Netto’s stables completed an encore in fine fashion in the Xisca Plate, the concluding race of the day. Tracking the early leader Classic Emerald till rounding the final bend, In Reality was taken to the front swiftly and was never in danger thereafter. Allendale was in futile chase all through the last stretch while Nano Desire ran on, wide outside to be third.