Horses in the money continued to dominate at Malakpet, Hyderabad on Sunday. Four firm favourites and three well backed horses obliged in a card of eight races. Jockey P.S.Chouhan was the only professional to score a double. 

L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Racing Ahead (Samardal-Rah Wa / Hazara Stud) who was beaten second by Vijays Conquer in its last start made amends while clinching the Sri Shamlal Gupta Memorial Cup, a seven furlongs race for horses in the highest category. With jockey P.S.Chouhan assigned to guide the fortunes, the gelding found popular support once again to be sent off at 100-75 ‘on’. Vijays Conquer set the pace followed closely by Racing Ahead and Palm Springs. Inside the last 400 metres Vijays Conquer was still in front but that was short lived as Chouhan brought Racing Ahead with a strong gallop to take charge. Always Bullish improved from the rear to get past Vijays Conquer but failed to collar Racing Ahead who was safely home.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan had earlier in the day piloted M.Srinivas Reddy’s juvenile Chal Raja Chal (Samhoon-Cornelia) to victory in the lower division of the Golden Plate. Chal Raja Chal was sent off as the piping hot favourite among the seven 2 year olds at cramped odds. After some initial shuffling for positions Lucy Oh got to the front with Bharat King on its haunches and Chal Raja Chal settling well in third. Mid-way up the straight Bharat King took it up from a weakening Lucy Oh. Chal Raja Chal had to be ridden out by P.S.Chouhan to move alongside and finally travel the better to be three parts of a length in front at the wire. Ice Crystal rallied late to finish a notable third. Whispering Pines was a non-starter in the race.

Shamsuddin trained Baashagar (Kingda Ka-Le Reve) took the Trade Fair Plate, the opener of the day in style. The 3 year old chestnut colt who had done well to win two successive starts before having a go in the Deccan Derby was the raging public choice among the five horses in category II for the mile trip. Tracking the leader Ray of Hope at a safe distance till the last 300 metres, Baashagar fluently surged past under Kuldeep Singh and extended the winning margin to three lengths. The youngster is in good nick and it will be wise to follow him next time. Ray of Hope stayed on to finish second while Jerrell who raised some hopes before the final bend ended up third.

D.Netto trained Parade Queen (Captain Rio-Romancing) scored a maiden win in the lower division of the Brave Dancer Plate from start to finish. Supported well in the betting to be the second in demand, Parade Queen was speedy at start to hit the front. Into the straight Parade Queen kicked on with jockey Akshay Kumar riding out and kept at bay the favourite Kireeti  all the way. True Pearl and Scholar Gypsy finished third and fourth respectively.

Save The Nation (Lord Admiral-Lyrical Queen) who was winless from fourteen starts finally came good in the lower division. Royal Glow was in the lead from the word ‘go’ with Save The Nation tracking alongside all the way. With a furlong left from the finish apprentice G.Naresh started to urge Save The Nation and the gelding picked up speed to surge past. The favourite Racing Ikon took time to get into rhythm and by the time she did the race was over for Save The Nation. Royal Glow was third close behind. Rumaiya Vastavaiya was withdrawn before the race.

Laxman Singh trained Great Warrior (Glory of Dancer-Dance n The Stars) rallied strongly in the last 100 metres of the higher division of the Hussain Sagar Plate to pull it off from the favourite Amazing Weapon. Amazing Weapon was well in front from the beginning and had an advantage of over two lengths as they approached the distance post. Great Warrior in chase all the way started to bridge the gap with apprentice S.S.Tanwar riding out and got the better buy three parts of a length at the finish. Flower of Temba and Graceland charged in together towards the closing stages to finish third and fourth respectively.

Trainer Anupam Sharma who had failed to make it with Amazing Weapon in the higher division pulled it off with his filly Amazing Power (Chatham Strait-Yvresse) in the lower division. Stable mate Desert Bloom set out in front and had a clear lead till into the final furlong. Proud Image was trying hard to get closer and Amazing Power making her bid from the wide outside. With 100 metres left Desert Bloom was left with no fuel in the tank and Proud Image forged ahead but only for a few stride as Amazing Power galloped resolutely under K.Mukesh Kumar to fly past and spare 1 ¼ lengths at the wire. The Challenge took the third spot in front of Desert Bloom.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Golden Flash (Black Cash-Slide By) came out of her maiden ranks finally in her 27^th start. The filly raced towards the rear while Nano Class set the pace followed closely by Pure Distance and Junior. Golden Flash was gradually pulled out on the home stretch and the filly improved from the wide outside with Nano Class still holding on to the lead. Towards the closing stages Golden Flash came up fast from the outside and sped past to win by two lengths. Nano Class and Nirvana finished together for the minor places but the former was disqualified after failing to weigh in. Junior and Anangalekha moved up a place to be third and fourth respectively.

TURF NEWS:  

Following an enquiry into the riding of jockey S.John on Kohinoor Thunder in the Cabaret Plate on 17^th November 2014, the Stewards of the Hyderabad Race Club have withdrawn the license issued to S.John till 31^st of March 2015 and further consider him to be disqualified till the 31^st of October 2015. In effect he will not be permitted to ride till the 31^st of October 2015.

It may be recalled that jockey S.John had ridden Anant Vatsalya trained Kohinoor Thunder in the Cabaret Plate on the 17^th of November 2014. He had eased up the horse after tracking the leader for the first 200 metres and finished the course over a furlong behind the rest of the field. He informed the authorities that his mount had returned lame. The horse was kept under observation till the last race of the day and the stewards had assigned jockey N.Ravinder Singh to take it on a fast gallop in the presence of S.John. Kohinoor Thunder went through the lap well and was certified to be fit after the exercise. An enquiry was then opened into the running and riding of Kohinoor Thunder.