D. Netto trained Kalinda (Gaswar-Kilspindie) won the Raja Mehboob Karan Memorial Cup that featured Monday’s races at Hyderabad. Columbus was off to a good start and got to lead the field early. Kalinda ran in mid-field till approaching the final bend and started to improve position gradually. Inside the last 400 metres Columbus was first challenged by Strengthandbeauty but the mare was finding it hard to head past. Kalinda looked for a run between the two but finding the gap narrowing down was pulled out by Deepak Singh and once given a clear run on the outside the 5 years old responded with a quick gallop to down Columbus in the shadow of the winning post. Strengthandbeauty stayed on in third followed by Little Smart Heart.

In the supporting event of the day, the Hyderabad Veterinary College Diamond Jubilee Cup Sk Waseem Ahmed trained On The Fire (Sedgefield-Buenos Aires / Jai Govind Stud) was driven home convincingly by apprentice Rafique Sk. On The Fire gave company to stable mate News O’ Star till entering the straight and went for the charge with two furlongs left. Ashka Ashka Ashka was up with a strong challenge but On The Fire travelled the better to wrap it up. The on-money favourite Vancouver finished third in front of Gladstone.

M. Sathyanarayana trained Pentagon (Varenar-Hi Fi) slammed the opposition in the Karimnagar Plate. Pentagon showed plenty of early speed and shot to the front from draw one. On turning for home Pentagon had a lead of over four lengths and that came in handy towards the finish with Vallee Sceptre ridden hard but falling short by three parts of a length. Celtic Queen was third another length away followed by Royal Dynamite.

After finding one better in the last two runs Ravinder Singh trained Royal Green (Ravel-Cindy Lou Two) came good to open her account in the division I of the Malvado Plate. Passing the 400 metres board Aerofil and Rose Petal were up in front. Royal Green started to move up from the outside and with a fluent gallop surged ahead even as Takisha tried to make a race of it. Cymbal came up late to edge out Takisha for the second place. The race favourite Wannawin finished fourth. Thundering was a non-starter in the race.

In the lower division of the maidens’ race K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Starlight (Royal Gladiator-Rainbow Fog) pulled off an upset win in its 13^th attempt over the favourite Limousine. Turning for home Limousine moved ahead to grab the lead and was well in the lead. Starlight who raced in about eighth position till entering the straight started to pick up momentum from the wide outside and ran the better to head past the favourite. Good Strike after making a vain bid settled for the third spot in front of Turf Legend.

M.Srinivas Reddy trained Heaven Can Wait (Eljohar-Hava Nagila) scored an impressive maiden victory in the Riyal Tern Plate. Racing in about fifth or sixth till entering the home stretch Heaven Can Wait came charging towards Pride And Joy who had gained the lead and drew clear. Vallee Peaks and Yes Baby filled the frame in that order.

Jockey Akshay Kumar rode out S.S. Faisal Hassan’s Valee Tiger (Whatsthescript-Reflectance) to stretch out from Shivalik Arrow in the Ballo Plate. As the field of eight runners headed past the halfway stage of the 2200 metres trip Penumatcha’s Pride had got to the lead followed closely by Valee Tiger. The two travelled together into the straight and Valee Tiger took over soon without any fuss and thwarted the late bid of Shivalik Arrow. Royal Hero finished on in third spot and further away was Penumatcha’s Pride.