K.Satheesh trained Snow Bird (Oath-X Factor / Pratap Stud), a proven long distance campaigner won the 2400 metres race, the Deccan Chronicle Gold Cup with a measure of comfort.  Among the four runners in the race, two were from Satheesh’s yard while the other two came from Deshmukh’s stables. Vijays Champ set the pace followed by Snow Bird, Super Duper and Sweet Candy. Vijays Champ had established a sizable lead but that started to diminish nearing the last 600 metres and Snow Bird assumed command on entering the home stretch. The grey Super Duper moved to be second with 400 metres left in the race and the rider P.S.Chouhan started to ride out but Snow Bird was given two taps by K.Anil and that was enough for the filly to stretch out and complete the formality.      

Trainer D.Netto sent out a double, ‘Rolling Up’ the two divisions of the Paradis Plate for maiden three year old horses with a ‘Fruit’ and a ‘Flower’. Fruit Roll Up (C P West-Fabulously Bold) made it almost a start to finish in the higher division. Finding one better in her previous two starts, the filly received strong support in the betting to be the ‘odds on’ favourite among the nine youngsters. Jumping out smartly from the gates Fruit Roll Up rushed to the front to lead followed closely by Always Together and True Pearl in the early stages. Inside the last 400 metres Fruit Roll Up drew clear to dictate terms under A.Imran Khan. Green Olive rallied on to finish second. True Pearl held on to be third ahead of Save The Nation.

Netto used the services of Kuldeep Singh on Flower Roll Up (C P West-Arikana) to lift the lower division. Flower Roll Up also showed plenty of speed at start to get to the front. Salbatore chased the leader till the top of the straight and weakened. The favourite Symbol of Choice headed past Salbatore to make her bid but Flower Roll Up extended the lead to spare 4 ¾ lengths at the wire. Salbatore stayed on in third.

Jack Sparrow (Hymn-Naaina) who had moved under the care of trainer R.H.Sequeira before the start of the monsoon season won the division I of the G.Sudhakar Reddy Memorial Cup. After finishing a notable second to Shamrock Lady in its last run on August 4, the 4 year old was installed as the 8-10 favourite for the sprint. Queen of the Stars called the shots in front and Jack Sparrow traced the leader about two lengths behind. Apprentice Deepak Singh started to work his way on Jack Sparrow and the 4 year old responded readily to take charge with 100 metres left from home and stayed well. Flames of Forest who was toiling hard in third all the way made it to the runner-up berth. Golden Arrow and Aware filled the judge’s frame in that order. Shimmering Ice was a non-starter in the race.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan scored his solitary winner of the day through Sk Kassam trained Lips Locking (Sedgefield-Frequent Flyer) in the lower division. Noble Citizen had taken charge after racing together with Drum Beat till the final bend. Lips Locking gradually improved from mid-field to challenge Noble Citizen with 200 metres left and the two headed towards the winning post together. The stronger finish of jockey P.S.Chouhan enabled Lips Locking to snatch the race from Noble Citizen on the last stride. Joint favourite Montauk was third another two lengths away.

L.D’Silva schooled Romantic Fire (Opportunist-Romance in Rain) pulled off a pillar to post win in the Almanac Cup, a five and a half furlongs dash for three year old horses. The speedy Romantic Fire rushed to the lead under P. Ajeeth Kumar as the race started tracked closely by Royal Glow. The favourite Western Express took some time to warm up from the wide outside and by the time he did, Romantic Fire was safely home by a length. Royal Glow finished third.

Novaya Zemlya (Epicentre-Mia Senora), a veteran of 53 starts with just one win from M.V.Narayana Rao’s stables pulled a surprise in the Kitty Bank Cup. Star Wings led the field from the start followed by Citi Supreme, Novaya Zemlya and the others. Rounding the bend Star Wings was out of steam and Citi Supreme surged ahead. Novaya Zemlya was ridden out by K.Anil to bridge the gap and the 6 year old did well to forge ahead and spare 1 ¼ lengths at the finish, giving the jockey his second win for the day. Perceptions finished third while the favourite Vijay Vaishnavee ended up a tame fourth. Colonels Star was a non-starter in the race.

Anupam Sharma trained Lopamudra (Hymn-Code Red) justified the short priced favouritism in the Red Blaze Plate. Held back towards the rear till passing the 800 metres board, Lopamudra made quick headway to move to second position behind City Tex. The 3 year old filly surged forward to get to the lead even before straightening for the final run and stretched clear under apprentice K.Mukesh Kumar. Transition chased Lopamudra all through the last 500 metres to finish second. Red Rambble and Kohinoor Grace finished third and fourth respectively.

M.Sathyanarayana trained Swift Arrow (Ace-Spectacular Blood) who had remained winless from 12 starts was sent in as the firm favourite at 8-10 in the lower division of the Sweet Memories Plate, the opener of the day.  The 5 year old filly went ahead to lead the field within the first 100 metres and kicked on gamely in the final straight. The Da Vinci Code was in hot chase towards the closing stages but the winner was safely home. Concours and Paying Guest filled the judge’s frame in that order.