The Melbourne Racing Club Trophy, a terms race for fillies and mares, 3 year olds and upward that is customarily run after the Derby at Hyderabad turned out to be a match race between two Bangalore based 5 year olds. Nevertheless the two gave the spectators their money’s worth, ending the seven furlongs trip in a thrilling photo finish.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Downton Abbey (Abbeyside-Windunderherwings / Dashmesh Stud) nosed out Sea Farey at the all important end. Sea Farey set off in front and led by a little over a length from Downton Abbey till turning for home. With two furlongs left Downton Abbey moved alongside Sea Fairey and the two matched strides right down the straight with both Suraj Narredu on the ‘Fairey’ and S.John on Downton Abbey doing their best to stay ahead. It was Downton Abbey in the end who managed to edge out Sea Fairey.

Vijay’s Dynamite (Ravel-Therry Girl), a 12-1 shot from trainer Laxman Singh’s yard made every post a winning one in the G. Sudhakar Reddy Memorial Cup. On a mile trip for the first time in its career, Vijay’s Dynamite slipped in from the innermost draw to get to the front. Tootsie Roll and Mahathi were in tow followed by the rest. Inside the final furlong jockey Kuldeep Singh kept riding out Vijay’s Dynamite and stayed safely in front even as Tootsie Roll made a bid from the outside. Mahathi stayed on in third from Supremo. 

Laxman Singh and Kuldeep Singh had earlier scored through another longshot Dance Oh Dance (Lord Admiral-Dance N Celebrate) in the division II of the Loyal Prince Plate. The on-money favourite Amazing Response set off on a start to finish bid over the sprint trip. Dance Oh Dance chasing the favourite into the straight started to diminish the lead and sped past easily inside the last 100 metres. The beaten favourite stayed on in second followed by Starlight and Jumeira Express.

 R.H.Sequeira trained Ashka Ashka Ashka (Win Legend-Masquenada) won the division I of the sprint. Sweetie Pie in the lead from the start lost the forward position to So Far approaching the last 200 metres. Ashka Ashka Ashka and Marina Del Rey started to gallop strongly from the rear and the first named hit the winning post a length ahead of the other. So Far was beaten third while Sweetie Pie filled the frame.

Bay filly Fashion High (Western Aristocrat-Amber Valley / Capricon Stud) scored a point for trainer D. Netto in the Cordon Bleu Plate. Racing in about fourth till getting into the home stretch, Fashion High was guided between horses along the inside by Akshay Kumar and the favourite Ambitious Approach also came charging from the wide outside. Fashion High travelled the better as the two came away from the rest and spared over two lengths to Ambitious Approach. Southern Promise and Asteria finished third and fourth respectively. Symbol Of Glory was a non-starter in the race.

Another well backed favourite to bite the dust on the day was Exclusive Striker who lost out to City Of Sails in the Prince Regent Plate. City Of Sails (Rebuttal-Christmas Fever) took a smart jump as the gates opened and settled close to the rails in third when Shakesphere and Own Battle headed past. Shakesphere had a lead of over three lengths approaching the last 300 metres but that was cut down by City Of Sails and Exclusive Striker, both of whom came with a fast gallop from behind. City Of Sails surged clear to score a maiden winfrom Exclusive Striker. Handsome Boy finished third and Wannawin fourth.

Anupam Sharma trained Symbol Of Gold (Pinson-Saddlers Star) scored an encore in the Star Of Stars Cup. The 4 years old filly won the start as the 14 horses took off for the 6 furlongs sprint and led all the way. Ikigai got threateningly close towards the finish but Symbol Of Gold held on by a short-head. Magical Skill and Khan Sahib filled the frame in that order.

Horses at longer odds made it in both the divisions of the Top Most Plate. Zoheb Shaikh trained Princess (Stardan-Lake Huron) that had remained winless from 21 starts finally came good in the higher division. General Salute on a start to finish bid was clear by over two lengths and looked good approaching the distance marker. Princess racing in about sixth till the top of the straight made a bid from the outside and the filly spurted away by a clear margin. Icing On The Cake and Prep One finished third and fourth respectively in a close finish.

K. Satheesh’s filly Ice Mummy (Dancing Forever-Princess Yamuna) scored a maiden win as a favourite in the lower division. Zensational in its customary fashion led till approaching the last 200 metres and was out of steam.  Vijay’s Harmony and Ice Mummy went for the charge but it was the latter who picked up speed and drew clear. Monte Rossa just managed to beat Zensational for the third place.