It was a day of favourites on Monday at Hyderabad much to the delight of railbirds. The top two riders Suraj Narredu and P.S.Chouhan hogged the limelight with four and three winners respectively. Among the trainers L.D’Silva saddled a treble while L.V.R.Deshmukh returned home with a brace.

D.Netto trained Chal Bhai Chal (Green Smith-Racing Dream) was ridden out by A.Imran Khan to stay well ahead of Aegis in the Nawab Khaja Moinuddin Khan Memorial Cup, a category II race which was the main event among the day’s card of nine races. Naughty Gal set out in front from the start and had established a lead of over five lengths as the neared the last 600 metres. Jockey Imran Khan sensing the need moved his mount swiftly to be a close second as they straightened up. Chal Bhai Chal took over the running from the tiring Naughty Gal in the last 300 metres. Aegis started to gallop strongly but the winner stayed well to be a length and a half in front at the wire.

Kallu Mama (Aussie Rules-Khalimia) a winner over 1400 metres exactly a fortnight ago won in spectacular fashion over an extended trip of nine furlongs in the A.Krishnaswami Memorial Cup. Bound For Glory, Symbol of Victory, The Challenge and San Ramon formed the front group as they approached the last 600 metres while Kallu Mama followed them easily in fifth position. Chouhan waited with Kallu Mama along the rails for an opening and as they straightened up the front runners shifted out offering a wide gap along the rails. Kallu Mama made a swift move to rush forward and stretched out effortlessly to win by a distance. The Challenge and Symbol of Victory ended up second and third respectively in a close finish.

Jockey Suraj Narredu started off with a win in the opener, the Diablo Plate, a 5 1/2 furlongs dash for maiden 3 year olds. The race favourite Ein Ein Ein and Riverdale were the smartest out of the gates and disputed the lead till the final furlong. Suraj then picked up the stick and when given a couple of hard backhanders, Riverdale started to get stronger and forged to the front. Just Once picked up speed towards the finish but could only beat Ein Ein Ein for the second place.

Suraj was astride the winner Sherman Oaks (Multidimensional-Amstel) in the very next race, the Ongole Plate. Kohinoor Thunder and Looking for Love raced together in front with Sherman Oaks held on a tight grip in third. Entering the final straight Suraj released the grip and D’Silva’s trainee spurted in a trice to shoot ahead and win. Kohinoor Punch covered ground from the last position to finish second. Kohinoor Thunder and Looking for Love filled the frame in that order.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Dandelion (Gaswar-Blue Grass Gal) gave Suraj Narredu an arm chair ride en-route to a runaway victory in the higher division of the Blue Max Cup. Showing plenty of speed at start Dandelion set out in front and came into the home stretch three lengths clear of the rest. In the last 400 metres Dandelion lengthened the margin without being extended. Ziv was the best of the rest in second place.

L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Musical Note (Whipper-Russian Muse) made every post a winning one in the lower division of the Blue Max Cup. Showing plenty of speed at start Musical Note was taken to the front by P.S.Chouhan. Kohinoor Desire chased Musical Note all the way but came under pressure when asked to quicken and ended up second. Royal Bird was withdrawn before the race.

Merry Maid (Don Micheletto-Golden Tinsel) from Sk Kassam’s yard, the oldest of the eleven runners in the Scenic Royale Plate was installed as the favourite with P.S.Chouhan declared to ride. The 6 year old had remained a maiden even after 32 runs but its last run just a week ago where it had finished second to Sugar Deal within a length was indicative of its fitness. Merry Maid running in about fifth position on entering the straight started to get stronger widest of all. Guiding Spirit also weaved its way from the inside to get into contention. The two headed past the front runners, Grenada and Camacho Speed together. At the finish it was Merry Maid which edged out Guiding Spirit by quarter of a length. Grenada finished third in front of Camacho Speed.

Apprentice Abhishek S Pawar rode out M.V.Narayana Rao’s Hidden Power (Mull of Kintyre-Cozumel) to beat Marquise in the shadow of the winning post in the higher division of the Starsky Plate. Marquise was on a start to finish bid with a three lengths lead as the field approached the last 400 metres but wobbled slightly a lost a few precious strides. Hidden Power got stronger in the last 200 metres and inching closer went past Marquise in the dying moments of the race. Asta La Vista Babe was withdrawn before the race.      

L.D’Silva’s Coral Springs (Ace-Orient Dance) was ridden to an encore win in the lower division, the concluding race of the day. Coral Springs was travelling well in fourth behind Power Planet, Nano Belle and Fairy Boy as they showed up on the home stretch. Power Planet and Fairy Boy rushed forward together fight out and Suraj started to ride out Coral Springs from the outside. Coral Springs travelled the best and hit the winning post half a length ahead of Power Planet. Fairy Boy was third another half a length away.