L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Racing Ahead (Shamardal-Rah Wa / Hazara Stud) lifted the Ghulam Ahmed Memorial Cup, the main event ofSunday’s races at Hyderabad. It was the second time in three weeks Racing Ahead managed to prevail over Always Bullish. In the last run over seven furlongs Racing Ahead had justified the favouritism. This time out Always Bullish ended up as on-money favourite but failed again to beat Racing Ahead over the mile.

The 4 year old dark bay gelding settled well to chase the leader Always Bullish right from the start. As they moved into the last two furlongs Racing Ahead began to get closer from the outside and at that moment it looked as if Always Bullish was weakening. Racing Ahead moved alongside nearing the distance post and Always Bullish started to gallop with renewed effort and the two fought for their heads till the last 100 metres, wherefrom Racing Ahead travelled the better under jockey Akshay Kumar to spare a length at the finish for its second successive win. Brahmani who raced in third position from the beginning, stayed to finish in that slot among the five runners.

Jockey Asshay Kumar was the only professional to score a brace on the day. He had to work hard to get to the winning post first on the favourite Power Planet (Epicentre-Classic Award) in the first race of the day, the Gajasimha Rao Memorial Cup. With Winds And Waves and Dance To Destiny being starters, Power Planet was sent off as the favourite at 10-9 ‘on’ among the remaining four for the seven furlongs trip. Aventus led from the front followed by Santa Monica, Power Planet and Sherman Oaks in that order. On the final straight Akshay Kumar began to ride out Power Planet from the outside and with Aventus being relentless Aventus had to ride hard to finally manage to have its nose in front at the wire. Santa Monica and Sherman filled the frame in that order.

M.Sathyanarayana schooled Island Bird (Varenar-Metalique) scored in the Chaitanya Ratham Plate, a 1200 metres sprint for maiden 2 year old horses. After being prominent in the first furlong, Island Bird fell back to run fourth while Legend led the pack followed by Tinsel Town and Ice Crystal. Inside the last 300 metres Legend lugged out from the rails and jockey Kurshad Alam guided Island Bird through the gap and the filly responded with a fluent gallop to take charge and stretch out well. The well backed Princess Rose warmed up late to finish ahead of Legend for the second place.

Fairy Emperor (Hymn-Sasken) from trainer Anupam Sharma’s stables bounced back to winning ways in the Andhra Sub-Area Cup. Fairy Emperor raced third early on and gradually moved to track the leader Silver Cruise as they passed the 1400 metres board. Nearing the last 600 metres Fairy Emperor was up with the leader and then forged ahead to take charge on top of the straight. Westminister started to challenge strongly from the outside and Fairy Emperor had to be driven hard by J.H.Christopher to pull it off by half a length. Ice Barrier finished third with its stable-mate Star Player finishing a tame fourth as a favourite.     

Sk Kassam trained Green Olive (Sussex-Sara Jahan) upset the apple-cart of the piping hot favourite Print Legend in the higher division of the Zoom Zoom Plate. Rounding the final turn Sprint Legend moved nicely from the outside to get to the lead. Green Olive, racing along the fence till entering the straight was pulled out by K.Mukesh Kumar to challenge from the outside. Moving closer to Sprint Legend, Green Olive fought a keen battle for a short distance and then stretched out well to finish three parts of a length in front at the winning post.

K.Satheesh’s ward Always Together (Noverre-Racy Description) scored her maiden win in the lower division of the Zoom Zoom Plate. Racing in front from the start Always Together went five wide between 800 and 600 metres, taking out Eva who was on the outside. Apprentice N.S.Rathore brought the filly back towards the inside. The filly had a useful lead on the home stretch and despite veering out of the straight course, kicked on by a good margin. Wind Zoom beat Eva for the second place.

The Tribute Plate, a seven furlongs race for horses rated upto 25 was run in three divisions. The winners of all the three divisions were getting there for the first time. T.Srinagesh trained Strides Of Luck (Curule-Stroke of Luck) justified the favouritism in the first division. Leading the field from the start with Pirouz in close attendance till the bend, Strides Of Luck opened a good lead on the straight and stayed well from the late finishing Danielle. Pirouz finished on being third ahead of Royal Gold.

L.D’Silva trained Concours (Epicentre-Sabakh) who was winless from seventeen starts just managed to scrape through from stable companion Classic Emerald in the second division. Concours went on a start to finish bid, travelling easily with a good lead till mid-way up the straight. The lead began to diminish inside the last 100 metres with Classic Emerald finishing with a flourish from the inside and Well Wisher charging from the outside. The winning post came to the rescue of Concours who held on by quarter of a length from Classic Emerald with Well Wisher a ‘neck’ away in third.

Sonic (Carnival Dancer-Three In One) from K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s stables was ridden to victory by P.Sai Kumar in the third division. Racing a handy third, close behind Golden Phoenix Tower and Hard Hit, Sonic ranged from the outside and with a sustained gallop surged ahead to win by a length. Oathofyourdaughter came in late to finish second in front of Baba’s Gift and Golden Phoenix.