S.S. Faisal Hassan trained That’s My Class (Top Clas-Bella / Mukteshwar Stud) showed plenty of it while trouncing the opposition in the Sri S. Ramakrishnam Raju Memorial Cup on Sunday at Hyderabad. The gelding was installed as the favourite at 2-1 for the 1400metres contest and jockey Akshay Kumar who is having a dream season settled the gelding in mid-field while Prince Caspian set the pace. As they got into the final 400 metres Prince Caspian was still in the lead but That’s My Class began to raise a fluent gallop when brought out from the wide outside and stretched out impressively. Prince Caspian was tiring out nearing the post and lost the second place to Aragonda Princess. Ans Ans Ans completed the frame.

Trainer Arjun Anne who is gunning for the championship saddled a double with Gunner and Exclusive Symbol to bridge the gap to Laxman Singh who is presently at the top of the tally. The 6 year old Gunner (Sharp Attack-Golden Shadow) carried the top weight of 60 kilograms to a start to finish win over the 1400 metres in the Attractress Plate and complete a hat-trick. Magna Carta was in chase of Gunner right from the start but lost out the runner-up berth to the race favourite Sunday Carnival who started to pick up speed only in the last 100 metres. Mighty Swing finished fourth.

Arjun had two fancied runners Yanga and Exclusive Symbol in the Pleasure Hunt Plate. While the firm favourite Yanga was looking to score an encore, the second in command Exclusive Symbol (Dancing Forever-Secret Path / Hazara Stud) was still in pursuit of a maiden win. Charlie Brown was up in the lead right from the start and was looking good as they came into the final furlong. Exclusive Symbol racing in about seventh till rounding the final bend rushed through the opening along the rails on entering the straight and slipped in to get the better of Charlie Brown. Escobar was all through in the reckoning and finished in the money. Dancing Away finished fourth and the fancied Yanga was a tame fifth.

L.D’Silva schooled Barnabas (Chinese Whisper-Feet Of Flames) was given a confident ride by Akshay Kumar to come out of its maiden ranks in the division I of the Mir Fazilath Hussain Memorial Plate. The youngster was smartly out of the gates and got to the front. Jo Malone was on the haunches of the leader and the duo was clear from the rest by almost four lengths as they turned for home. Inside the last 300 metres Barnabas started to break away and drew away by an impressive margin. Jo Malone managed to hold on to the second place from Wings Of Eagles.

L.V.R Deshmukh trained Golden Fortune (Sedgefield-Fabulous Fortune) in only its second start, score impressively in the lower division of the race for maiden 3 year olds. Racing a handy fourth Golden Fortune improved gradually to be close to the quarters of Nazariya and once in the straight, jockey Fergus Sweeney just reminded the youngster of his task and the bay colt drew away from the rest. Mark My Word finished second and further behind was Aflatun. Vashishta completed the frame.

Game galloper Palisades Park (Phoenix Tower-Sunshiner / Manjri Stud) was ridden to victory by Arshad Alam in the division I of the Makalu Plate. Arshad had Palisades Park in second last among the eight runners while Southern Crown went on a start to finish bid. As they straightened up for the final run the path along the inside opened up and Palisades Park sneaked in through the inviting gap and strode out with a resolute gallop to scuttle the strong bid of Newport by a neck at the finish. Southern Crown finished third followed by Star Gazer.

Trainer K.S.V. Prasad Raju and apprentice Kunal Bunde packed a double punch in the opener and the concluding races of the day. Celtic Queen (Total Gallery-Celtic Rose) won the opener, the lower division of the Makalu Plate. Racing a handy third till entering the straight, Celtic Queen started to challenge Takisha and surged ahead without much fuss. While Celtic Queen stretched out to extend the margin, Desert Moon got to the runner-up berth. Takisha held on in third followed by Texas Rodeo.

The ‘Even money’ favourite Gladstone (Chinese Whisper-Feet Of Flames) trounced the field in the Nelston Plate. The gelding won the start from an outward draw and maintaining a steady lead till into the straight, started to draw away from the pack and drew clear by seven lengths. Vijays Delight, Good Taste and Aalishan filled the frame in that order.