A change in name brought about a change in fortunes for S.A. Shehzad Abbas trained Nerves Of Steel, ex Silver Phantom (Verglas-Flamands / Capricon Stud). The 4 year old grey colt won the Sri A.S.Krishna Memorial Cup, a 2200 metres race for horses in the highest category. Six horses faced the starter and the betting mainly revolved around the 2000 Guineas winner Dare To Dream and Veloz, both stable companions. Greek Star, another stable-mate of the favoured runners set the pace followed by Veloz, Dare To Dream, Nerves Of Steel, Sweet Candy and Vijaykeerti. Entering the home stretch Greek Star was still in front and jockey Louis Beuzelin brought out Nerves Of Steel quickly with a run from the outside and headed past with a furlong left. Greek Star held on gamely from Veloz and Dare To Dream.

K.Satheesh trained Super Falcon (Rock Of Gibraltor-Walk Beside) returned to the winner’s enclosure in the higher division of the G.V.Rao Memorial Plate. The second in demand at 2-1, Super Falcon was ahead of the rest within the first furlong and then held forte till the winning post. Green Jewel chased the winner all the way to be second while the on-money favourite C Eleven came under pressure when asked for an effort on the straight and ended up third.

The lower division was won by Anupam Sharma trained Symbol Of Choice (Roi Maudit-Silver Grey). Symbol Of Choice rushed to the lead from the widest draw and brought the pack into the final straight. The favourite City Of Dreams started to challenge strongly but Symbol Of Choice continued to kick on easily under P.Ajeeth Kumar and spared a length at the finish. Dad’s Dollar held on to the third place from Montauk.

Trainer Ananth Vatsalya scored a one-two in the Nilgiris Plate, a 1000 metres dash for maiden 2 year old horses but the result was probably not as was expected by him. Tinsel Town pulled off an upset, beating her short priced stable companion Golden Angel. Green Striker led early with Golden Angel racing alongside. Golden Angel took charge passing the 600 metres board and was looking good with jockey P.S.Chouhan astride on entering the straight but came under pressure when Tinsel Town decided to raise a gallop and succumbed finally by three parts of a length. Pamella and Poll Promise filled the judge’s frame in that order. Princess Hina and Kohinoor Flare were non-starters in the race.

Trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju was the most successful professional on the day with a treble. Sprint Legend, Proud Image and Golden Adagio were the victors from the stable. While the first two named were hot favourites, the last one was a stunner which paid a whopping Rs.560 for a fiver.

Sprint Legend (Street Boss-Tafcar) justified the cramped odds with a pillar to post victory in the Step Aside Plate. Speedy at start Sprint Legend took up the running quickly and showed a cleen pair of heels to Angelina who raced second all the way. Save The Nation and Amazing Power finished third and fourth respectively.

Jockey David Bruex had to work hard to get his mount Proud Image (Gaswar-Anna Purna) to raise a gallop and get the race on the last stride in the lower division of the Sweet Girl Plate. Amazing Weapon and Rob Roy were fighting it out over the last 300 metres and Proud Image in was looking to be struggling in third. The 5 year old got closer with David using all the skill under his sleeve and just about pipped Amazing Weapon and Rob Roy in a three way finish.

The 7 year old Golden Adagio (Major Impact-Midnight Venture / Hazara Stud) raised a stunning gallop inside the last 100 metres to down Rajkumar in the higher division. The favourite Kianoosh raced in front followed closely by Rajkumar. Inside the last 200 metres Rajkumar forged ahead of the tiring Kianoosh and was looking good when Golden Adagio picked up speed and flashed past to pull off a stunning upset by three parts of a length.   

D.Netto trained Net Champ (Burden Of Proof-Sunny Clime) scored an encore in fine fashion in the Running Flame Plate, the opening race of the day. Tracking Red Rambble till entering the straight, Net Champ surged ahead effortlessly and lengthened the margin of victory to over four lengths. Red Rambble finished second in front of Spanish Conquest.