L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Super Duper (Keltos-Supercal) came with a sustained gallop in the last 150 metres under wet conditions to wrap up the A.P.Race Horse Owners Association Trophy, a mile race for horses in the highest category, which featured the day’s card on Monday at Hyderabad. It started to rain as the eleven runners reached the starting gates for the mile trip and intensified further as they began to race. Sheer Genius rushed from an outward draw to hit the front and set the pace. Indian Epic, Snow Bird and Golden Queen were in tow, followed by the favourite Super Duper running about three to four off the fence. As they turned for home Sheer Genius and Golden Queen were joined by Super Duper on the outside. Jockey P.S.Chouhan started to ride out Super Duper vigorously and the grey colt after a little hesitation picked up speed to forge ahead and return to winning ways. Sheer Genius and Golden Queen finished second and third respectively, with just a short head separating them. The Leader finished fourth.  

Dazzling Empress (Case Law-Access Speed) from the stables of S.S.Faisal Hassan continued to display speed in abundance while stretching its winning streak to four, on the trot. The 4 year old filly with a hat-trick under its belt was sent in at a short price of 10-8 ‘on’ in the lower division of the Blue Ice Plate. Showing plenty of initial speed Dazzling Empress headed to lead the field, followed closely by Bold Attack and Yours Truly. Into the home stretch the rider P.S.Chouhan started to urge the filly and the ‘Empress’ spurted brilliantly to leave the field cold. Ace Star, Golden Palace and Marquise filled the frame in that order.

Faisal Hassan saddled a double, having won the higher division with Camacho Speed (Epicentre-Look at Venus), beating the favourite ‘Fair And Square’. The filly having shifted to Hassan’s yard at the beginning of the monsoon season scored its first win under the new trainer. Fair And Square went to the front early followed closely by Camacho Speed. The two moved away from the rest as they came into the home stretch and it was clear that the race was between them. Inside the last 300 metres Camacho Speed moved alongside Fair And Square and responded well to the urgings of apprentice Akshay Kumar to surge forward and win by nearly four lengths. Fair And Square finished second while Goldie and Chayanandan ended up third and fourth respectively.

Beau Ideal (Don Michelletto-Shades of Beauty) which had finished off the judge’s frame on only one occasion in its seven outings, easily outclassed the five opponents in the opener, the P.Pratap Reddy Memorial Cup. Leo D’Silva’s filly was sent in as the ‘on money’ favourite, jockey Suraj Narredu settled the filly well to track the early leader Nano Belle. With a furlong left from the finish Beau Ideal moved forward to take over the lead fluently and spared a length and a half at the wire. Black Bolt rallied along the rails to snatch the second place from Nano Belle.

It was the lesser fancied Kohinoor Adhira (Epicentre-Mikado) from Ananth Vatsalya’s stables which upset the apple cart of stable mate Kohinoor Revanta thus denying the favourite a hat-trick in the Mystical Cup. Kohinoor Revanta which was on a start to finish bid was joined by ‘Adhira’ in the last 200 metres. Kohinoor Revanta tried its best to hold on to the lead but Kohinoor Adhira travelled the better to score an upset. Roma Rouge rallied strongly from behind to finish second ahead of Kohinoor Revanta. See My Style was a non starter in the race.

The 4 year old gelding Komo Komo Komo (Ivory Touch-Primera) from R.H.Sequeira’s stables completed a fine hat-trick in the higher division of the Blue Ice Plate. Tracking the leader till approaching the distance post, Komo Komo Komo took charge readily under apprentice B.H.Prashant and staved off the late challenge of Twentyfivepips and Prince Prashant. The favourite Rocking Racer lost about five lengths at start after ducking down and was never in the hunt.

Go For Gold (Rebuttal-Noorani) from the stables of K.S.V.Prasad Raju justified the favouritism en-route to a maiden win in the lower division of the Bhagat Singh Plate. Amazing Weapon set off in front on a start to finish mission. Concours and Trustful raced together about two lengths behind the leader and Go For Gold was further four lengths adrift in fourth as they headed past the 600 metres marker. Amazing Weapon had the lead into the last furlong and Go For Gold improved along the rails to move to second. Inside the last 100 metres Prasad Raju’s filly quickened nicely to fly past Amazing Weapon and win. Itsy Bitsy and Architect filled the judge’s frame in that order.   

Trainer K.Satheesh saddled a brace of winners through Deal Maker and Ice Rain. Deal Maker (Juniper-Start Gold), which had scored an upset maiden win in its last start won the lower division of the Perceived Value Cup to complete an encore. The 3 year old bay gelding closed as the favourite at less than evens. Taking a good jump from an inward draw Deal Maker hit the front and made every post a winning one. Aryan, True Friend and Ziv were in chase but could not get to the leader. Chief Executive and Crimson Look rallied late from the rear to finish second and third respectively. Ek Ek Ek was withdrawn before the start.

Ice Rain (Hurricane State-Ardous) relished the wet underfoot conditions to win the higher division of the Elite Zone Plate, the concluding race of the day. Attenborough and Mukhtar disputed the lead from the start till entering the final straight. Ice Rain tracked the duo about two lengths behind. On entering the straight Attenborough faded out gradually and Mukhtar took charge quickly. Ice Rain was pulled left by K.Anil for a clear run and the filly galloped merrily in wet going to win comfortably. Bernabeu came with a late run to snatch the second place from Mukhtar near the winning post.           

For the professionals trainers S.S.Faisal Hassan and K.Satheesh scored a double. Jockeys P.S.Chouhan and K.Anil also scored a brace each.