Vijayrath, trained by L.V.R.Deshmukh won the Wanaparthy Cup, the feature event of Monday’s races at Hyderabad. Carte Blanche brought the seven horse field into view on the straight closely followed by Power Play, Green Haven and Nano War. Roopesh brought his mount Vijayrath around these runners and in a swift shot ahead and in the process tightened the ones on his inside. Carte Blanche finished second and Nano War had to wait for the traffic to clear before he could push himself to the third slot.

It was a double for Deshmukh, having led in Mayfair girl in the Own Opinion Plate. Arvind Joshi guided Mayfair Girl out of her maiden ranks with a start to finish effort, the rest of the field in futile chase throughout the race. The objection raised by the rider of fourth placed Democracy, against the rider of third placed Style Ikon. didn’t seem to have any substance and was overruled. The field had got reduced to five runners with Flying Phoenix being withdrawn on veterinary grounds.

Trainer Leo D’Silva who has been going great guns this season dazzled again with a treble. The winners, Above the Line, Menlo Park and Gallant Prince were all summered at Bangalore  It has been time and again mentioned in these columns that it pays to follow such horses. Above the Line had finished third to Zycon in his earlier run but many failed to notice that the saddle had slipped during the race. Zycon who was favoured more in the betting made a start to finish bid and Above the Line creeped upto the leader and grabbed the race in the last 50 metres. Al Fatha caught the eye when he covered almost seventy metres, from a last position, to finish a close fifth. This lung opener in the six furlong race should help him in his future runs over a longer trip.

Gallant Prince who had won in the lower class on the opening day, made light of his penalty with a gusty performance, to relegate the odds-on Music Valley to second place in the lower division of the Dashmesh Stud Plate.

Menlo Park, running for the first time this season, sat well up in front with Cicilia till the final bend and shot ahead to take a clear advantage over Kohinoor King in the higher division of the Astronomic Cup. India Gate finished third.

The higher division saw a three way fight between Kings Cruise, Fire Blaze and Global Emperor. The odds-on Kings Cruise got to the winning post first with some hard riding by P.S.Chouhan. Fire Blaze and Global Emperor followed the winner in that order. Trainer D.Netto who trains the winner pulled out one more through Ruby Rouge in the higher division of the Rave Review Cup. It was again the strong handling of P.S.Chouhan which helped Ruby Rouge get past the speedy China Pearl.

The lower division of the Rave Review Cup was won by the top weighted Hospitality who got the better of the well backed Deccan Passion. Spectacular Hero and Deccan Passion began to fight out within the final furlong when Hospitality poked through the gap in between to grab the race. Classic Dancer came in late to take the third spot ahead of Spectacular Hero.

With two runs in the higher class, Narwhal readily showed a clean pair of heels to win the Indiscretion Plate. Blue Magic could just get to the shadow of the winner and the other nine runners in the race were of no threat to Narwhal.

D’Silva topped the professionals on the day, while Deshmukh, D.Netto, P.S.Chouhan and Harish got their share of two wins each.