D Netto trained Always Bullish (Storm Trooper-Blue Sonata) lifted the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup, a mile race for horses in the highest category which featured the day’s card on Sunday at Hyderabad. The 4 year old chestnut gelding from Netto’s yard had won its previous two starts but this one which earned it a hat-trick was rather special as it beat the seasoned campaigner Kohinoor Wish in doing so.

 Six runners lined up for the mile race and of them Kohinoor Wish which is the highest rated one at this centre at 118 was installed as the firm favourite.  Golden Queen set the pace followed by Always Bullish, Kohinoor Wish, Vijays Pride, Vijays Champ and The Leader, with the field covered within five lengths. Almost the same order prevailed till turning for home. Inside the last 400 metres Always Bullish geared up well to challenge Golden Queen and forged to the front. Kohinoor Wish did well to come up with a strong challenge but the back breaking weight of 63 kilograms proved to be the stopper and the 6 year old ended up as the runner-up. Vijays Pride which was the beneficiary of a ‘gift race’ in its last outing finished a tame third.

On a day when only three firm favourites made it to the winner’s enclosure out of the nine races, S.A.Shehzad Abbas trained Perceptions (West Minister-Premier Perception) recorded a facile win on debut in the Chaitanya Ratham Plate, a 1200 metres sprint for 2 year old maiden horses. Being the first crop of West Virginia, the victory of Perceptions brought joy to the Nakul Stud camp where the bay colt was bred. Perceptions settled well in second behind Nano Class after a good start. Nearing the final bend Altruist started to improve on the outside and the three came into the straight close to each other. Nano started to lose momentum midway up the straight and Perceptions picked up speed readily when urged by A Aashhad Asbar and shot to the front. Altruist made its bid strongly towards the last 100 metres but Perceptions was home and dry without being extended. Nano Class finished third. Jockey P S Chouhan had his left leg off the stirrup within the first 100 metres after the start on the favourite Rosemonde and the filly was pulled up by the rider. The stewards have reportedly opened an enquiry into the incident.

Kohinoor Thunder (Epicentre-Gracious Bay) from the stables of Sk Kassam was ridden in copy book fashion by Nilesh Rawal to upset the applecart of the favourite Ray of Hope in the higher division of the Andhra Sub-Area Cup. Laurel Canyon set out in front over the 2400 metres distance followed closely by Ray of Hope. Greek Star raced in third followed by Kianoosh, Symbol of Victory, Kohinoor Thunder and the rest. Approaching the half way mark Kohinoor Thunder moved up by one place to run fourth. As they came in for the final straight Ray of Hope took charge and tried to kick on but Kohinoor Thunder gained ground steadily and surged ahead inside the last 100 metres to spare a length an three quarters over the favourite. Greek Star and Golden Rule filled the frame in that order.

The short priced Roses in Bloom (Multidimensional-Roses in the Snow) from the stables of S A Shehzad Abbas scored a thumping win in the lower division. Having won two successive starts before finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas, Rose in Bloom bounced back in style to give the trainer and jockey A Aashhad Asbar combination their double for the day. Ice Barrier set off on a start to finish mission and the favourite was held back to run in about sixth position. Nearing the last 800 metres Asbar started to make his move on Roses in Bloom and joining the leader round the bend, went clear on the straight. Ice Barrier did well to be the runner-up ahead of Montauk.

 D Netto and Kuldeep Sing who had won with Always Bullish continued their act on Travaldo (Midtown-Forest Green) in the Zoom Zoom Plate. Tracking the leader A Horizontal Urge till the last 250 metres, Travaldo picked up speed to surge past near the distance post. Ice Rain on a futile chase in the last 200 metres finished second from the late finishing Chayanandan. The favourite Smashing Beauty lost all its chances at the start after being sluggish and losing over a distance. Rohini Star was planted in the gates.

K S V Prasad Raju trained Golden Missile (Gaswar-Blue Sonata) a failed favourite in its last essay won the Ballo Plate. Sent in as the favourite for the six furlongs sprint, Golden Missile improved to be a close second behind the leader Trustful and forged ahead to win comfortably. Trustful finished second in front of Flower Drum.

Twinklingofaneye (Ikhtyar-Queen Victoria), a 3 year old filly from Zoheb Shaikh’s yard, which had shown lot of promise in its debut win last winter, justified the favouritism in the lower division of the Starry Scene Plate. Chasing Dakshayani early in the race, Twinklingofaneye went to the front crossing the 800 metres board and stretched out well on the straight. Rock Heights and Allianz Arena finished second and third respectively beating Dakshayani to the fourth position.

The first and the second divisions of the Tribute Plate, being the opening and concluding races of the day respectively were bagged by rank outsiders. Anupam Sharma trained Khalis Gold (Sharp Attack-Chivas Gold) scored its maiden win in the higher division, paying a dividend of Rs.427 on a fiver at the totalizator. Improving steadily along the rails Khalis Gold was pulled out to be given a clear run approaching the distance marker. Khalis Gold got stronger with every stride inside the last 200 metres and forged ahead to spare half a length to the favourite Sharp Victor after a keen tussle.

S S Faisal Hassan trained Great Guns (Mr Mellon-Halos And Horns) which had not placed in its eight runs, finally came good to score its maiden win in the lower division. In about fifth position as the field turned for home, Great Guns came up with a terrific turn of foot on the extreme outside to flash past the front runners and pull away by three lengths. Arriviste, Hard Hit and Amrapal filled the frame in that order.

 For the professionals, the combinations of S A Shehzad Abbas, Ashhad Asbar and D Netto, Kuldeep Singh scored a double each.