Monday’s races at Hyderabad did not spring any big surprises and horses in the betting performed to expectations. Six firm favourites and two second favourites obliged in a card of eight races. The one to carry home the day’s honours was jockey Dashrath Singh who cleared half the card. Two of his winners were for trainer Srinivas Reddy including the main event of the afternoon, the Stewards Cup. The other professionals who scored a brace each were trainers Laxman Singh and L.V.R.Deshmukh.

Reddy’s Desire (Glory of Dancer-Another Star / Shri Ram Stud) proved to be speedy customer while scoring an encore in the highest category in the Stewards Cup. In a packed field of thirteen horses, Palm Springs was the first to take the initiative on entering the straight. Desire began to respond to Dashrath Singh’s urgings and started charging in from mid-field with Policy Maker in hot chase on its haunches. The two set out to fight it out and Desire prevailed by half a length at the wire. Vijay Viraaj beat Palm Springs for the second place.

Srinivas Reddy and Dashrath Singh had earlier in the day scored on Fabulous Jewel (Roi Maudit-Storm Command) in the Noble Quest Cup. Jumping out from the outermost draw, Fabulous Jewel settled nicely in about fourth or fifth initially while Wonder Eye called the shots. Inside the last 400 metres the filly was pulled out and with a strong gallop flashed past before approaching the distance marker. Bellatrix and Wonder Eye finished third and fourth respectively. Sir Legend was a non-starter in the race.

The other two winners of Dashrath Singh were Vijay Vishw and Military Cross. The 4 year old Vijay Vishw (Footstepsinthesand-Westwood) from trainer Deshmukh’s yard who was on her second start of its career scored an impressive victory in the Kalamaris Plate, the opener of the day. Tracking Vijays Grandeour till the last 300 metres Vijay Vishw forged ahead effortlessly and stretched out to extend the margin of victory. Aggressive Approach was ridden hard but could only be the second best.

Trainer Anupam Sharma’s Military Cross (Eljohar-Star Divine) who found one better in its previous two starts, both this season, bounced back to trounce the opposition in the division I of the Sardar Patel Plate. Smartest out of the gates out of the ten contenders from draw one, Military Cross led the pack right from the start and drew away uncontested in the final furlong. True Friend and Goldie ended up second and third respectively.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Gayle Force (Gaswar-Calliope) who was strongly fancied for the lower division justified the favouritism. Shatakshi set the pace with Western Express and Gayle Force in close attendance while the others looked to be in futile chase even before turning for home. On the straight Gayle Force was set alight from the outside and the 4 year old gelding took some time to gather momentum but once he did, stretched clear to be 2 ½ lengths at the finish. Western Express beat Shatakshi by half a length for the runner-up berth.

Laxman Singh trained King Charles (Kingda Ka-Laserre / Nanoli Stud) who had won two successive starts and in rousing form was surprisingly the second in demand for the P.M.Bokdawala Memorial Cup against Advocate General who garnered the maximum support in the betting. The favourite chased Big Boss till the top of the straight and surged ahead to lead and build a lead of about three lengths. King Charles moved quickly from mid pack and with jockey Kuldeep Singh riding out bridged that gap steadily and got the better by half a length close to the winning post. Escalante and Sensei were third and fourth respectively many lengths behind.

Another star performer from Laxman Singh’s yard, Humraaj (C P West-Samarinda) completed a hat-trick in the lower division of the Pleasure Hunt Plate. Roma Royal showed plenty of speed to lead the field with Humraaj in chase. Inside the last furlong Humraaj too charge without much fuss and won with ease. Blossom finished a clear second ahead of the tiring Roma Royal. Spirit Legend was a non-starter in the race.

L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Vista (Oratorio-Athlone) won the higher division in a close three way finish. Apprentice Abhishek S Pawar took Vista to the front from the word ‘go’ and held the advantage well into the home stretch. Aston Doulton was ridden out to challenge Vista inside the last 150 metres and Red Express came with a flourish towards the closing stages. The three went past the winning post in a close finish and Vista had managed to hold on by a neck from Red Express and Aston Doulton finishing third by a similar margin.