After the D-day excitement, racing on Friday failed to generate much interest among the railbirds who chose to discuss the chances of contestants in Hyderabad Derby on Sunday and talk about what’s in prospect  for the Mumbai Indian Derby scheduled to be held on first Sunday Of February.  

Arjun Mangalorkar- trained Downton Abbey confidently supported by her supporters  won the upper division of the Racing Patrons Trophy, the plum event  run over a sprint despite not being favourably placed at the top of the straight. Super Success did well to gain the runner-up spot in the hands of apprentice jockey Darshan.

 After Silver Chieftan bolted like a scalded cat before he went out of gas in the final furlong, John packed punch on Downton Abbey  to  storm ahead and snuff out the challenge of Super Success.  Ace Badraan ran on well to save place money ahead of Areca Wonder. Calico Jack it appeared was never in the hunt .

 The lower division of the race saw Padmanabhan schooled Lord Darlington in no mood to get into the gates and when the handlers did manage to push him in, the public choice decided to sit before he got up only to take a lot of good money down the drain. It is learnt that Lord Darlington burst a blood vessel during the race. Side Wonder who had won three of his last four outings led from the start and comfortably held off the late rally of Tzar. Siobhan who raced up with the pace, failed to quicken when the race came on the boil and finished a tame third ahead  of  Cool Baby.

Emperador  who was touted as one horse who would be hard to down in the eight-event card performed below par finishing a poor third in the Bharachukki Plate run over a mile.  Srinath found it tough to settle the favourite early on in the race and even though the public choice hit the front approaching the distance post it looked clear that he would get beat and that happened in the final furlong when Imran Khan drove home the Prasanna-trained Rare Rhythm  to a smart win edging out the belated effrort of Summerhill. Rare Rhythm who completed a hat-trick of wins this season is in fine form and is in line to emerge the horse of the season.

Owner Chandrashekar Rai while lauding the effort of  Imran Khan revealed that he was most satisfied with the two winners he led in during the Derby week-end. “We fancied Fire Glow strongly and he scored and next day we were also confident that Rare Rhythm was in with a definite chance and I’m happy  that she recorded a hat-trick .” said Rai.

Imtiaz Khan- trained Masada recorded an encore in the  Smt Saraswati Sajnani Memorial Trophy edging out the front runner  Amazing Skill.  Secret Pursuit was seen finishing on purposefully at end and is one for the notebook.

The concluding event, the upper division of the  Talakaveri Plate  saw Better Than Ever prevail in a tight finish from the favourite  Just Fabulous.

 Better Than Ever led from the start with Just Fabulous in chase. The experience of Ramu tilted the scales  in favour of  the lesser fancied winner. Fractals showed the desired spark to finish third and it will not be long before this Mahesh ward earns her cornbill.

Rajesh Narredu- trained Super Smart strongly piloted by brother Suraj Narredu edged out the favourite Chloe at the shadow of the winning post to claim the Forever Elegance Plate. Winsomeness was withdrawn at the gates.

Lokanath trained long shot Slightly Blonde opened a useful lead in the final furlong and hung on grimly to win the  Lalitmahal Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class from Splendid Brave whose late rally went in vain.