L.D’Silva trained Palm Springs (Placerville-Shalaya / Poona Stud) just managed to scrape through from Desire in the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Memorial Cup, a 1200 metres sprint for horses in category I, that featured Sunday’s card at Hyderabad. Palm Springs whose last win was fourteen months ago was sent in at 15-1 among the fourteen runners. Desire and Cornwallis almost shared the favouritism.

Palm Springs was taken to the front very early by jockey Akshay Kumar and led with Parade Queen being the closest pursuer. On entering the straight Palm Springs was still in front by a clear two lengths while Desire raced in about sixth position close to the rails. With 300 metres left from home Desire began to make her bid along the shortest way and was closing up the gap. Palm Springs stayed stubbornly ahead even as Desire was being hard ridden and held on by the proverbial whisker at the wire. Desire which had found one better in her previous three starts thus finished as the runner-up for the fourth time on the trot. Policy Maker got the better of Blossom towards the closing stages for the third place. 

It was a good gesture on the part of Hyderabad Race Club to frame a race in memory of veteran trainer M.B.Mangalorkar. The seven furlongs race for 3 and 4 years old horses in category 2 was won by Donald Netto trained Net Champ (Burden Of Proof-Sunny Clime / Kunigal Stud). Net Champ had won two successive starts but had not raced for nearly ten months after being found to be lame and withdrawn early this year. The gelding was neglected in the betting, sent off at 10-1. Net Champ turned out to be fine and fit and tackled the opposition with a pillar to post victory. Net Champ had established a long lead on the straight with Deepak Singh on the saddle and Kimono despite charging down from the rear could only manage to beat the rest while the winner galloped four lengths clear. Brilliant Twist and Fabulous Jewel finished third and fourth respectively. Kolors was a non-starter in the race.

Anupam Sharma schooled Ashwa Raftar (Sedgefield-Slam Strike scored an impressive win on debut in the Recommender Plate. Montana Sky, Euro Zone and Mary Rose raced close to each other in that order with Ashwa Raftar about four lengths away in fourth as they turned for home. Inside the last 300 metres Montana Sky was busy trying to keep Euro Zone at bay and Ashwa Raftar was pulled out to make a bid from the wide outside. Jockey K. Mukesh Kumar started to urge the youngster and Ashwa Raftar picked up momentum and sped past to win by 3 ¼ lengths. Euro Zone finished second ahead of Montana Sky.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Rebellion (Dancing Forever-Offshore Anna) made it easily to the winning post in the Srinivasa Sadagopa Sharma Memorial Cup. Only three favourites obliged in the day and Rebellion was one among them. Dolce showed plenty of early speed to get to the front from the inner most draw and was well ahead as they turned for home. Rebellion racing in about fifth or sixth till the bend started to cover ground from the outside and with the leading pro Trevor in full control sped past and drew clear by four lengths. Undhu Undhu Undhu came in late to edge out Dolce for the second place. Buckshee was withdrawn near the starting gates.

Jckey A.M. Tograllu timed his final assault to perfection on Zoheb Shaikh’s Egyptian Wind (Equitable-Alam Jehan) in lift the Bhadrachalam Cup. Having signed off the monsoon season on a winning note Egyptian Wind was sent off as the favourite at 5-4. Symbol Of Honour set the ball rolling and Egyptian on her quarters all the way. On entering the straight Symbol Of Honour tried to kick on and Tograllu still waited on Egyptian Wind. Inside the last 100 metres Tograllu started to ride out and Egyptian Wind responded readily to flash past to score an encore. True Pearl came flying to beat Symbol Of Honour for the second place.

Netto and Deepak Singh combined to pull off a double for the stable through Fresco (Dancing Forever-Aldora) in the Hidden Bloom Plate. Fresco, still a maiden from 17 starts was backed to the exclusion of the other runners, sent off at 10-8 ‘on’. Gradually improving t be on the haunches of the leader Fashionista approaching the last 600 metres, Fresco surged ahead readily on entering the straight and stretched out easily to extend the margin. Upon A Star and Sea Change warmed up late to finish second and third respectively beating Fashionista.

M. Sathyanarayana trained Exclusive Monarchy (Varenar-Native Quest) pulled off an upset win in the opener of the day, the Kinnerasani Plate Div.II. Yes Baby set off in front from the word ‘go’ came in first on the final straight. Exclusive Monarchy improved gradually and closed up to move alongside from the outside. The two fought out the last furlong and Exclusive Monarchy got her neck in front in the shadow of the winning post. Legend was third in front of Golden Angel.