Neil Darashah trained Raoyal Sceptre (Ace-Premier Collection / Exhilaration Stud) made every post a winning one in the Raja Bahadur Venkatram Reddy Memorial Cup, that featured Monday’s races at Hyderabad. The Bangalore challenger who is a likely contender for the Derby here on the last Sunday of the month came down for a preparatory gallop over 2400 metres.

Jockey S.Zervan took Royal Sceptre to the front as the gates opened and was clear by over eight lengths as they headed past the half way stage with Tiger being the nearest galloper. Turning into the straight Royal Sceptre came in first but the lead came down to just two lengths with Zervan giving the son of Ace a breather. Passing the 400 metres Zervan got Royal Sceptre to quicken again and the bay colt strode out effortlessly even as Western Wind managed to beat the rest for the runner-up berth. Valerian Steel and Tiger finished third and fourth respectively.

Laxman Singh trained Mirfield (Win Legend-Integrate) won the Sardar Mohan Singh Bagga Memorial Cup. Batur led the pack early but was headed soon by Magna Carta. Mirfield settled nicely in third followed by the rest. Inside the last 400 metres Mirfield tackled the front runners with ease and grabbed the lead. George Cross came with a big challenge inside the last 100 metres with Srinith riding hard but Mirfield reached the post safely by half a length. Magna Carta and Batur were close behind in third and fourth respectively.

Trainer D.Netto and jockey Louis Beuzelin scored a back to back double through Preciosa and Sweet March. Preciosa (Green Coast-Coco Chanel) justified the favouritism in the Might Is Right Plate. Paprika got to the front at start and Preciosa sat on his haunches in chase. Buezelin got busy passing the distance post and the grey filly responded brilliantly to swoop on the leader and hit the winning post a length and a half in front. Seven Colours and Scooby Dooby Doo filled the frame in that order.

Sweet March (Gaswar-Mineta) went on a start to finish bid to score an encore in the Starsky Plate. Rushing ahead from the innermost draw Sweet March led and was about four lengths in front of the nearest challenger as they came into the final furlong. Negress Pearl charged late from the outside but failed to collar Sweet March. The favourite Euro Zone ended up third followed by Palisades Park in fourth.

Beuzelin was earlier in the day hauled up by the stewards for incompetent riding on the favourite Limousine in the lower division of the Roman Beauty Plate and stood down for four race days. Jockey Suraj Narredu took Anupam Sharma trained Top Starchy (Whatsthescript-Tapioca) to the front as they settled down for the six furlongs dash for maiden 3 years old. Limousine was sluggish at start and stayed last with the rider not in a hurry to improve position. Into the straight Top Starchy was clearly in front and kicking on. Limousine started to improve from the wide outside and managed to only land up second. Raajneeti and Jasmine Garden finished third and fourth respectively.   

M.Sathyanarayana trained Lucky Nicky (Total Gallery-Hurry Home) pulled off an upset in the higher division. Tracking Sharp Eye and Cannon Dear closely in third as they turned for home Lucky Nicky slipped in through the gap along the rails as the straightened up and forged ahead. News O’ Star came with a challenge inside the last 150 metres but Lucky Nicky kicked on gamely by two lengths lead. Exclusive Symbol finished third ahead of Sharp Eye.

The speedy Ragas Ajalias (Ontario-Briland) was on target once again in the division I of the Banarsilal Gupta Memorial Cup, to pick up her third win from four starts this season. Jumping out smartly Ragas Ajalias moved quickly towards the rails to lead the pack. The filly came in first on the straight and continued to maintain the lead till the finish. Ikigai came up late to get the better of Born To Do It for the second place. Chinese Thought finished fourth.

S.S.Faisal Hassan trained Platinum (Varenar-Willy Nilly) showed plenty of speed to win the lower division. The filly rushed to the front as the gates opened for the 1100 metres scurry and got to the rails to lead. King David was in hot chase all the way with the rest following them further behind. On entering the straight King David tried its best to get to the leader but Platinum accelerated further to increase the lead and won by a comfortable margin. Matica rallied on in second ahead of Royal Dynamite.

Trainer Anupam Sharma earned the double for the day through Pretty Star (Don Michelletto-Saddlers Star) in the Dark Angel Plate. The bay filly who started her career late as a 4 year old won in only her second outing. Dorian went on a start to finish bid and looked good approaching the last furlong. Dorian racing in about sixth rounding the turn was pulled out and she came with a blistering gallop to swoop on the leader and emerge victorious by half a length.