L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Advocate General (Stern Opinion-Ashatamasha / Lumbini Stud) scored a facile victory in the S.S.Card Master Memorial Cup that featured Friday’s races at Hyderabad. The grey gelding showed plenty of early speed to rush to the lead from the outermost draw among the packed field of 14 runners. Jockey P.S.Chouhan had Advocate General travelling well in front and had to just niggle to have him going easily in front on the straight. There was absolutely no threat emanating from the rear and Gayle Force beat the rest to be the runner-up. Tinsel Town and Eternal Gift filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Trainer Laxman Singh who had saddled a double on the opening day reaped rich with a treble. Top Contender, The Healer and Agusta Bombshell were the victors from the stable. The Healer (Lord Shanakill-Brutta E Cattiva) just managed to get the race in the shadow of the winning post in the C.R.Bhoopal Memorial Cup. The Healer was backed to the exclusion of the other runners for the 1200 metres sprint. The Healer was a bit lethargic at start but soon recovered lost ground to race a close fourth while Shamrock Lady went start to finish. Inside the last furlong the leader was still going well and The Healer took some time to warm up but once he did, closed the gap quickly and forged ahead close to the winning post. Commanding Boy finished third and Sketch Of Beauty fourth.   

 Top Contender (Top Class-MIzzna) was ridden hard by P.S.Chouhan to win the Nirmal Plate, the opener of the day. Without Makeup went on a start to finish bid followed closely by Top Contender. Dragonstone raced third followed by the on-money favourite Sweet March. On the straight the favourite was going nowhere and the fight looked to be between Without Makeup and Top Contender. The two went all out and the strong riding of Chouhan enabled Top Contender to head past with 100 metres to go. Magna Carta finished third and Sweet March was only fourth.

Agusta Bombshell (Admiralofthefleet-Sea Gazer / Kunigal Stud) scored a maiden win in the Agostini Plate. Hot favourite Gorgeous Lady was withdrawn after dislodging the rider near the gates and bolting away. Surprise Party brought the reduced field of six into view on the straight but was soon overtaken by City Of Wonders. Gangadhar joined City Of Wonders in the last furlong and was looking good when Agusta Bombshell who was improving gradually galloped resolutely between horses to settle the issue. City Of Wonders was third behind Gangadhar.

Trainer L.V.R.Deshmukh and jockey P.S.Chouhan had earlier in the day succeeded through Paprika in the higher division of the Nizamabad Plate, a 1200 metres sprint for maiden 3 years old orses. Paprika (Tariq-Encouragement) who’s only run was in the Japan Cup at Chennai during the Invitation weekend scored a resounding victory over the sprint. The chestnut filly was taken to the front by P.S.Chouhan as the gates opened. Leading all the way Paprika stretched out effortlessly on the straight and won unchallenged. Batur rallied on to be second. Patron Saint and Shandaar filled the frame in that order. Monte Rosa was withdrawn before the race.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Ruby’s Gift (Ontario-Ruby Queen) that was knocking at the doors in its last four starts having finished in the money finally came good in the lower division. Sent off as the second in demand Ruby’s Gift was off to a quick start from draw one and set off to lead the field. The on-money favourite Nazailla settled to chase the leader. Inside the last 200 metres Ruby’s Gift continued to kick on and won comfortably from Naizalla. Queen To Rule finished third ahead of Golden Image.

R.H.Sequeira trained Bouquet (Hurricane State-Alflora) just managed to pull off a victory in the higher division of the Subash Chandra Bose Plate. Bouncer set off on a start to finish bid and was relentless even as Bouquet began to creep up in the last 200 metres. Racing Ikon was pulled on the outside and Satheesh’s trainee was covering ground. The three headed towards the finish line almost together and Bouquet managed to poke through in the centre to get the nod. Racing Ikon was second a ‘head’ away with Bouncer taking the third place.

Trainer Anupam Sharma’s ward Symbol Of Pride (Hymn-Page Three) bounced back to winning ways in the lower division. Symbol Of Pride, a 8-1 shot set off on a start to finish bid with the favourite Wind Zoom in chase. Inside the last 200 metres the two began to fight it out and Symbol Of Pride prevailed in the end by a ‘head’. Trustfull finished third. Aware had jumped out from the gates with the blind folds on and lost considerable grounds. The Stewards held an enquiry into the incident and decided to declare Aware as a non-starter.

 M Sathyanarayana trained Gun Barrel (Tariq-Count The Stars) that was a maiden from ten starts finally came good in the Fond Hope Plate. Into the last furlong Hunter’s Pride had taken charge but began to drift out. Gun Barrel began to cover ground from the inside and surged ahead to spare two lengths at the finish to Hunter’s Pride. Dorian and Brioni finished third and fourth respectively. There was an accident near the final bend involving Man Of The Series, Steyn Memories and War Dancer. The riders all of them freshly licensed apprentices were dislodged and are reported to have escaped unhurt.