L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Machiavellianism (Jazil-Empress Jessie / Hazara Stud) scored a thrilling victory in the inaugural edition of the Telangana State Formation Cup. Three horses lined up for the mile race but it emerged to be a match race between Machiavellianism and Acclaimed following the third one Kohinoor Wish being pulled up approaching the 1100 metres after being in front till then. Machiavellianism having criss-crossed  major racing centres in the country, was looking for an encore at his home centre. Western India based Acclaimed from the stables of Pesi Shroff had won the Colts’ here last year and gone on to win all his next three starts, the latest being the Gr.3 Southern Command Gold Trophy at Pune a fortnight ago.

After Kohinoor Wish packed up near the 1100 metres board Machiavellianism took charge with Acclaimed traveling easily about a length away. Inside the final furlong jockey P.Trevor went for the whalebone and Acclaimed began to close up with a strong challenge. Jockey P.S.Chouhan on Machiavellianish was also in full flow and the two matched strides inside the last 100 metres and went past the winning post locked together. Machiavellianism had scrapped through by the proverbial whisker.

S.A.Shehzad Abbas trained Carlton (Diffident-Celestrella / Kunigal Stud) who had finished fourth to Bold Majesty in the Colts’ Championship Stakes was sent off as the short priced favourite in the Raja Mehboob Karan Memorial Cup. The 3 year old bay colt justified the strong support with an effortless win. Held back in mid-field early on, Carlton made headway gradually to track the leader Whats Up nearing the bend. Once into the home run, jockey A.Imran Khan let Carlton take over and the youngster did well to draw away from the field. Alameda and Symbol of Victory fought for the minor places and finished in the same order with a ‘head’ separating them.  

Trainer Donald Netto had a profitable day winning three races. Power Drive, Sterling Finish and Parushram were the victors from his stables. Power Drive (Ajaad-Desert Flame) won the Charminar Trophy in the hands of A.Imran Khan.  Baazigar set the pace early followed closely by Power Drive, Hidden Power and Aventus. Turning for home Baazigar started to weaken and Power Drive moved ahead to lead the pack. The favourite Aventus in the meanwhile improved from behind to be second and when asked for an effort failed to get to Power Drive. Hidden Power finished third with Baazigar falling back to end up last of four runners. Power Planet was withdrawn before the race.

Parushram (Equitable-Knight Vision) who had not finished on board in its three starts came good to shed its maiden ranks in the Adilabad Plate, a seven furlongs race for three year old maiden horses. Jumping out smartly from the outermost draw, Parushram settled well to be a handy third behind Vista and Italian Cypress. Approaching the distance marker Parushram moved fluently to surge ahead of the two in front and stretched out to spare four lengths to Visa at the finish. Upon A Star improved late to be third.   

Sterling Finish (Tejano-Camarioca) scored her maiden win in the Red Surprise Cup as the firm favourite. Princely Right led the field till the last 400 metres and gave up. Machintosh and Sterling Finish made their move at the same juncture and came away from the rest. The two matched strides for a short while and Sterling Finish traveled the better from the outside to spare three parts of a length at the finish. Just Once and Sonic finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey Kuldeep Singh who rode Parushram and Sterling Finish had in between piloted Shamsuddin’s Lady of Grace (Mr.Mellon-Amplitude) to a popular win in the higher division of the Sweet Memories Plate to take his tally up by three. Tracking the early leader Phirouz till entering the final straight, Lady of Grace moved forward with a fluent gallop and stretched out without any fuss. Golden Flash was in a futile chase in the last furlong. Sprint Saloni finished third.

K.Satheesh trained Happy Guy (Slicky-Ladyfisher) scored an encore in an authoritative fashion in the Epsom Plate. Kianoosh was in the lead from the start and came into the straight almost three lengths ahead of the nearest challenger. Happy Guy started to bridge that lead effortlessly and surged past with the rider Deep Shanker not having to move a muscle. Wedding Gift warmed up late to beat the rest for the second place. Westminister was third.

Jockey Deep Shanker rode Laxman Singh’s Vijay’s Grandeour (Ace-Pride / Greenfield Stud) to a stunning upset in the Fire And Arch Plate but this time he had to work hard to get it. Racing in mid-field Vijays Grandeour moved steadily to challenge Mount Titlis inside the last 300 metres. The two were being ridden out inside the last 100 metres and Vijays Grandeour traveled the better to surge ahead. Nano Dame came flying in to finish a close second in front of Mount Titlis.

For the professionals’ trainer D.Netto and jockey Kuldeep Singh scored a treble each while jockeys A.Imran Khan and Deep Shanker rode a brace each.