Tintinnabulation was the star performer at Hyderabad on a day dominated by horses in the money. Jockey P.S.Chouhan who was riding for the first time this year at his ‘favourite’ race track scored a back-to-back double with Deshmukh trainees Tintinnabulation and Movie Moghual but not before disappointing in his two other engagements, both raging favourites.

L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Tintinnabulation (Intikhab-Tourmalet) was in a different league while demolishing its five opponents in the Air Command Cup, a mile trip for horses in the highest category which featured the eight races card at Hyderabad on Sunday. The 5 year old gelding, winner of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup in Kolkata last year and third in this year’s edition was the overwhelming favourite with its favourite companion P.S.Chouhan on the saddle.

Chouhan held back Tintinnabulation towards the rear in fifth with the stable companion Plenipotent just ahead for company while Always Bullish headed to lead followed by Azaiba and Snow Bird. Roses in Bloom trailed the field after being slow at the start. Entering the straight Tintinnabulation moved around the front runners and waited for the command to come from the saddle. Just a niggle from the rider was enough for the champion to raise a gallop and that he did with utmost ease to seal the verdict well before the winning post. Roses in Bloom rallied in late to be the runner-up ahead of Snow Bird and Azaiba.  

Movie Moghual (Amadeus Wolf-Mina Girl) who had spent this summer at Bangalore where he won a sprint and then failed to make a mark in the Juvenile Sprinters’ Million was no match for the opposition in the lower division of the Mirza Ghalib Plate. Racing behind the leader Kianoosh till the last 400 metres, Movie Moghual went ahead smoothly and extended the margin of victory to almost a street. Natalia and Travaldo finished second and third respectively, with a ‘short head’ separating them. Cannon Ten and Dare To Dream were non-starters in the race.

The higher division was won by K.Satheesh trained Super Falcon (Rock of Gibraltor-Walk Beside Me). Policy Maker came into the home stretch with Stolen Date and City of Dreams on both side and shot ahead even as the favourite Super Falcon raced behind them in fourth. Jockey Deep Shanker on Super Falcon waited till approaching the distance post to make his move and once he did the 3 youngster quickened nicely justify the short price. Policy Maker finished on being second while City of Dreams and Wedding Gift filled the frame in that order.

The Silverado Plate, a five and a half furlongs scurry for maiden 3 year old horses was divided into two races. Zoheb Shaikh trained Rosemonde (Kheleyf-Miss Langkawi) won the higher division. It was the ride on Rosemonde’s maiden start last December that led to P.S.Chouhan's suspendsion and the legal imbroglio between Hyderabad Race Club and the jockey that ensued later. The filly had two runs after that, once in winter and the latest 9 days ago. Racing in third behind True Pearl and Racing Ikon, Rosemonde slipped in along the rails under M.F.Ali Khan and drew clear to shed her maiden status. Golden Storm rallied on late to finish second ahead of Racing Ikon and True Pearl.

Anupam Sharma schooled Roma Royal (Oath-Think of us) was taken to a pillar to post victory by K.Mukesh Kumar in the lower division. Smartest out of the gates from draw one, Roma Royal brought the field of ten into view on the home stretch and kicked on effortlessly. Red Express and Romantic Fire finished second and third respectively while the favourite Vijay Vaibhav ended up a tame fourth.

Shehzad Abbas trained Silver Phantom (Verglas-Flamands) was ridden out by A. Imran Khan to win the Shivkumar Lal Memorial Cup. The 3 year old grey colt was summered at Bangalore after winning its only start at Hyderabad. Supreme Fairy, another youngster from Hyderabad made her debut at Bangalore and won both her starts there. The filly was sent off as the favourite for the mile trip with the grey second in demand at 3-1. Silver Phantom grabbed the lead from the long-time leader Winjoy as they came in for the last 400 metres and was soon joined by Galiat and Supreme Fairy. Silver Phantom was challenged strongly by the duo but the grey responded brilliantly to Imran Khan’s hard riding to win by a quarter of a length. Supreme Fairy finished second with Galiat ended up third another three parts of a length behind.

Sprint Saloni (Epicentre-Premier Thrill) from the stables of Donald Netto scored an encore in the higher division of the Elegant Plate with jockey Ravinder Singh in command on both the wins. Rushing to the front after jumping out well from the outermost draw, Sprint Saloni led all the way to the winning post. Paying Guest warmed up late to finish second.

S.S.Faisal Hassan trained Care Less Love (Case Law-Capistrano) who was win less from 23 starts finally came good in the lower division. The favourite Over Look and Silver Arnage disputed the lead till entering the straight followed three lengths behind by Care Less Love. Over Look tired out inside the last 350 metres and Care Less Love who surged ahead drew clear to pull it off. Meri Merzi, Gun Stream and Silver Arnage filled the frame in that order.