Malesh Narredu trained Quasar (Seeking The Dia-Belle Jour / Hazara Stud) won the prestigious President of India Gold Cup – Gr.I at Malakpet, Hyderabad on Sunday. The 4 year old ‘Champion’ had disappointed his admirers while losing out to Agostini over a similar trip of 2400 metres in the Governor’s Cup at Bangalore on that rainy day but he bounced back with authority to reclaim his position on top.

Five horses lined up for the gruelling 2400 metres trip, two of them from Bangalore, Quasar coming down from Western India and two local contenders. Agostini set off to call the shots followed by Quasar, Toroloco, Dare To Dream and Tintinnabulation. They travelled in an ‘Indian line’ in the same order till turning for home. On top of the straight jockey Yash Narredu loosened the grip on Quasar and the chestnut colt galloped freely to take control. Quasar had the race well sewn up long way from home even as Dare to Dream rallied to take the runner-up berth. Agostini lost out the third place to Tintinnabulation in the closing stages.  

“I am very happy that he has bounced back to top form”, said Malesh after the race. “He didn’t relish the wet underfoot conditions at Bangalore and had also suffered Grade II bleeding.  He was very keen in the race today and Yash had to fight hard to ride him in check. When let free on the straight he was in a different league and won as he liked”.  On Quasar’s next he said, “the Indian St. Leger will be the next assignment for Quasar”.

The speedy Policy Maker (Home Affairs-Admiration / Mebajeona Stud) from trainer Laxman Singh’s stables turned around the result of the previous run while beating Desire in the Soli And Gool Poonawalla Memorial Gold Cup, a 1200 metres sprint for horses in the highest category. Go For Gold and Desire set a fast pace together with Policy Maker racing a close third. Desire surged ahead passing the 400 metres board and Policy maker too moved quickly to challenge. Happy Guy came up strongly from the outside and the fight was clearly between the three. Policy Maker forged ahead by a slender margin with a furlong left and was ridden hard by Deep Shanker to stay ahead by three parts of a length in front of Desire at the finish. Happy Guy finished third a neck away. Dance To Destiny ended up fourth. 

L.D’Silva trained Alameda (Amadeus Wolf-Bombala / Mebajeona Stud) whose only win from 16 starts was almost a year and a half ago, came good to win the Alluri Seetharama Raju Cup. Great Warrior and Flower Roll Up had established a clear lead till approaching the last 600 metres but began to fade out on entering the straight. Alameda improved from behind to get to the front and stretched out easily to extend the lead to over five lengths. Parushram edged out Sherman Oaks for the second place.

Faster That Light (Oath-Fantasia / Pratap Stud) scored an impressive victory over the favourite Advocate General in the Rani Rudramma Devi Cup. Advocate General went on a fast start to finish bid and was in command till mid-way up the straight. Faster Than Light was guided through the shortest way by Akshay Kumar but suddenly found the gap between Advocate General and the fence closing up and was cramped for room. Akshay Kumar pulled out Faster Than Light and the 3 year old flashed on true to its name to wrap it off. Time For Fun and Green Image finished third and fourth respectively. 

K.Satheesh trained Columbus (Gaswar-Stunning Rose) scored an encore within a span of a fortnight in the Half A Crown Cup. Held back to be a handy third in the early part of the race, Columbus moved up to be on the haunches of Dolce rounding the final turn and skipped away passing the 400 metres marker. Vijay’s Harmony was ridden hard in the final furlong but could only finished second ahead of Bon Ton and Full of Life.

T Srinagesh trained Kireeti (Phoenix Tower-Starsinhereyes) scored a stunning upset over the short priced favourite Rock Baby Rock in the lower division of the Golconda Trophy. Rock Baby Rock had taken charge inside the last two furlongs and was looking good when Kireeti began to raise a gallop from behind on the wide outside and sped past to pull it off by half a length. City of Dreams and Crown Royal finished third and fourth respectively.

Arudra (Ivory Touch-Over Power) from Anupam Sharma’s stables beat the stable companion Kintyre Princess in the Madanna Plate. Kintyre Princess had surged ahead inside the last 300 metres and had established a good lead. Arudra got stronger to diminish the lead and sped past to win it by three parts of a length. Goldie was third many lengths behind.