Always Bullish (Storm Trooper-Blue Sonata / Chhatari Stud) whose winning streak was broken nearly 20 months ago struck form to lift the Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Bahdur Memorial Cup, division I. Donald Netto’s trainee was held back towards the rear in about sixth or seventh initially and gradually improved after passing the 600 metres board. On top of the straight Shamrock Lady in front was being challenged by Ocean Side and Winjoy when Always Bullish came up with a challenge from the outside. Jockey Deepak Singh pulled the stick on Always Bullish and the 6 year old picked up speed readily to storm ahead. Happy Guy was getting stronger and looking to be the main threat but the rider lost his whip when he pulled it out and finished to be the runner-up. Shamrock Lady was third ahead of Ocean Side.      

In the lower division jockey Deep Shankar had to ride out relentlessly atop Tejaswini (Princely Heir – I Have a Dream) who was backed down with confidence to run the race time favourite. Palm Springs, who also had a good share of supporters, swung into action early and shot into the lead. She had Vijays Triumph for company and was soon joined by Tejaswini and these three were well ahead of the rest as the turned the bend.

Vijays Triumph edged past Palm Springs and that put pressure on the latter. Tejaswini quickened to take the lead with about 300 to go. Vijays Triumph ran out of gas past the distance post as Tejaswini was kicking on gamely. Palm Springs arrived with a second run to get past the tiring Vijays Triumph to take the second spot as Tejaswini had the momentum going all the way. The one to note is Ashok Chakra who improved position to end an effortless third. My Star too did well to finish on the board, and close to the top finishers despite getting off to a bad start and languishing in the rear until the turn. 

Jockey Deep Shankar notched up a lucrative double on the day. King of Pop (Noverre – Atmosphere) from trainer K Sateesh’s yard sat well up in front, just behind the early leader Green Striker, with favourite Advocate General not too far behind in the S.N.Reddy Memorial Cup.

Deep Shankar made his move seemingly at the right juncture, as he got King of Pop move into the lead approaching the home turn.  King of Pop led them into the straight and Deep Shankar got the Dr MAM Ramaswamy owned gelding to accelerate to establish a handy lead. With a furlong and half to go, Green Striker started to rally along the rails with Advocate General and Eternal Gift charging alongside. King of Pop had to use up all his reserves as the trio behind was getting closer with every stride. The winning post finally arrived and it was not a bit too soon for King of Pop who held on to win by a narrow margin. Green Striker ran on to grab the runner-up berth from Advocate General, who didn’t really quicken the way he should have. Eternal Gift ran a good race ending in line to catch the slot in the frame, alongside the top three finishers.  

Classic Emerald (Royal Kingdom – All Dancing) had a lot of catching up to do all the way in the homestretch to pip Exclusive Lady on the post in the P.V.G.Raju Memorial Cup.  Exclusive Lady, on a start to finish mission, stormed further ahead in the straight. Classic Emerald, a close third until the turn, got past Khalis Gold in the straight to set about the chase. Exclusive Lady looked good to last it out coming into the final furlong. However, jockey Kiran Naidu’s persistent urging and more than a few cracks got Classic Emerald going. The L D Silva ward surged ahead and his final dash did Exclusive Lady in, Kiran Naidu rewarded for his constant effort. Classic Emerald got the long-time leader on the wire to score in a thriller. 

Trainer L D Silva sent out another winner in Majorca (Arabian Gulf – Thundering Power) who picked up her maiden win on her seventh start in the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Cup. The Manjri Stud bred filly Majorca galloped at a good clip to shoot past Mount Tallis soon on start and led all the way. She drove the initial advantage home as she had a good three lengths lead on straightening up. Majorca galloped on gamely and looked the winner coming into the final furlong. Mount Tallis ran on without ever looking threatening. Oathofyourdaughter covered good ground at the business end to finish the fastest, beating two on her way to the winning post. Although she finished on close behind Majorca, she never looked like beating the winner, who won easing up. However, she showed good finishing spurt and she could have her day soon.    

Trainer Netto had pulled off an upset through Flower Roll Up (C P west-Arikana) in the Jatprole Cup. The filly shot to the lead as they set off for the seven furlongs trip and held that advantage till the end. Red Express was ridden hard to bridge the gap on the straight with Sensei also making its bid but Flower Roll Up held on gamely by half a length from Sensei who managed to edge out Red Express for the second place. 

Gayle Force (Gaswar-Calliope) won the Raja Saheb of Challapalli Memorial Cup with a measure of comfort. K.S.V. Prasad Raju’s trainee raced handily in about third till turning for home and made a swift move to take it up from Dolce. The 4 year old got stronger under Nilesh Rawal and drew clear by four lengths at the finish. Ryuzaki and Shivalik Bird finished second and third respectively while Dolce filled the board.

K.R.K. Raju’s bay gelding Commanding Boy (Royal Gladiator-Think Of Us) won the higher division of the Gajwel Plate, a 1100 metres scurry for maiden 3 year old horses. In the lead right from the word ‘go’, Commanding Boy made every post a winning one. Finding Comanding Boy drifting out under pressure inside the last 100 metres, Tricky Star tried to sneak in along the rails but the ‘Boy’ was safely home by a length ad three quarters. Sketch of Beauty finished a close third. 

K.Satheesh schooled Moon Walker (Noverre-Special Quest) justified the short price in the lower division. Showing plenty of speed as the gates opened, Moon Walker rushed from 12 draw to get to the lead along the fence. Staying in front all the way the bay colt started to draw away from the rest and score by a widening margin. Awesome Show, In Command and Sol Invictus filled the judge’s frame in that order.