El Paso, after his splendid victory over Alacrity at Bangalore, was widely expected to complete the formality in the S.Malakonda Reddy Memorial Cup, the feature of mid week’s racing at Hyderabad. Even the cramped odds offered by the bookmakers supported the popular notion. El Paso who had relished cutting the wind, in front, at Bangalore, was ridden off the pace and never impressed at any part of the race, finishing off the board to the dismay of racing pundits. A few may argue that El Paso could not get a clear run on the straight but in a small field of nine runners there should be no hard luck stories and jockey Harish was using the stick freely and was running all over the track on the straight. Dr.Vijay Mallya’s Copertina meanwhile did everything right, jumping out well, staying in touch with the leader and sped past on the straight to win well. The flamboyant Shehzad Abbas who trains the winner was all too pleased to lead.

D’Silva missed the feature but picked up three races in a card of eight races. Mighty Prince who had placed third twice at Bangalore, made amends and won the Aristocracy Cup. Going into the race as the firm favourite, Mighty Prince took a good jump to be well with the front bunch and on entering the straight shot ahead to build a big leeway which ultimately came to his rescue as Music Valley came menacingly from way behind to get within a length of the winner at the finish. There was some spirited betting on Jia Yoh Jia Yoh but all the money went down the drain as she was lethargic at the gates and never proved her money’s worth at any part of the race.

Leo’s other two winners were at nourishing odds. Pacific Groove slipped through the shortest way to win the Star of Stars Cup convincingly from Madho and Deccan Passion. With the exception of the winner, the other ten runners were seen to be plodding and didn’t seem to be ‘racing fit’. Essence won the concluding race, the lower division of the Kalamaris Plate from Green Vision. The well backed Mr.Chief could not find speed on the straight and surrendered the lead to Essence and Green Vision who were the only two in the race with a run benefit this season. Mr.Chief lives to fight another day.

Trainer Laxman Singh along with J.H.Christopher led in a popular double. Vijays Famme made it start to finish in the opening race, the Guntur Plate. Style Ikon braced the rear for most part of the race and was seen finishing on in the last 100 metres to take the runner up berth. The duo combined to lift the higher division of the Kalamaris Plate through Caligatae. Chamatkar jumped out well in the five furlong race to be quickly joined by Caligatae. These two came away from the pack and on passing the distance post, Christopher gave a few cracks to Caligatae who responded readily to win.

Ananth Vatsalya’s Kohinoor Diamond drifted out to 14 to 10 from 10 to 8 on at the bookmaker’s ring but gave no anxious moments in the race as she slipped through the rails and sped away to a convincing five length victory in the higher division of the Rani Laxmi Bai Plate.

The well supported Cool Spice finished second to Taste of India on the track but clinched the race in the steward’s room. Taste of India made his move from fifth position to hit the front rounding the final bend and in the process treaded across sharply onto Cool Spice’s path when she was just ready to strike. Jockey Ch.K.Chary had to stop riding and brought the filly back with a gusty run to finish a ‘head’ behind Taste of India. Chary’s objection in this regard was rightly upheld by the Stewards and the race was awarded to Cool Spice relegating Taste of India to second place

Five firm favourites obliged out of eight races. L.D’Silva improved his position on top with a treble. Laxman Singh and Christopher teamed up to complete a double.