Donald Netto trained Amazing Response (Lord Shanakill-Zing Wing) was given a confident ride by Fergus Sweeney to lift the division I of the M.C.E.M.E. Rolling Trophy at Hyderabad on Sunday. The chestnut gelding who was looking to get back to winning terms was sent off as the favourite at 7-4 among the fourteen contenders for the sprint event. He was settled nicely in about fifth or sixth while Southern Crown won the start and led till into the straight. Approaching the last 200 metres Amazing Response was alighted to the task by Sweeney and the response was brilliant by the gelding to settle the issue well before the winning post.  Champion Bull warmed up late to neck out Southern Crown for the second place. Newport completed the frame.

In the lower division of the race, L.V.R. Deshmukh trained Warrior Supreme (Diffident-Encouragement) made it comfortably by four lengths. Racing a handy third behind Takisha and Symbol Of Gold till the last 300 metres, Warrior Supreme gathered momentum and stretched out to gain the lead and extend it without any fuss. Shandaar warmed up late to take the second spot ahead of Symbol Of Gold and Takisha.

Jockey Akshay Kumar who is well ahead of the closest competition in the tally for the season’s championship added another four winners to the tally to get closer to the half century mark. Trainer Arjun Anne also saddled a treble to level up with Laxman Singh at the top. Laxman Singh is under suspension and cannot add to his tally while Arjun has one more day of racing to take his count forward. The three winners from Arjun Anne’s stables, Baashagar, Real Champ and Yanga were all ridden by Akshay Kumar and the young lad added That’s My Class to the list.

Baashagar (Kingda Ka-Le Reve), a 15-1 shot pulled off an upset in the division I of the Telangana Plate. The 7 year old was taken to the front in the early part of the 1400 metres journey and was joined by Dream Girl from the inside. The two matched strides till into the last 300 metres and the fight intensified from thereon. Ridden hard by Akshay Kumar, Baashagar went slightly ahead as the winning post approached but had also to thwart the late effort of Leading Legend. Zelus finished fourth.

S.S. Faisal Hassan trained That’s My Class (Top Class-Bella / Mukteshwar Stud) justified the strong support to score an encore in the lower division. The favourite was held back in second last while Surprise Party went on a start to finish bid with the eight runners covered in just about four lengths. Surprise Party was still gamely in front passing the 300 metres and That’s My Class started to rally strongly from the outside with Sea Castle and Kalinga also making an effort between them. That’s My Class travelled the best among them to hit the winning post first a length in front of Surprise Party doing well to stay in second. Sea Castle and Kalinda finished third and fourth respectively.

Yanga (Mull Of Kintyre-Michele Maroeci) made a remarkable return to the winner’s circle, winning the Capachino Plate by a lengthening margin. The filly raced a handy fourth or fifth till turning for home while the top weighted Wannawin called the shots and once on the straight she burst into the lead and extended it to 6 ½ lengths. Citi Colors, Prep One and Lady Admiral completed the frame in that order.

Real Champ (Varenar-Queen Victoria) was another one to score impressively. The youngster in only his second start romped home in the field of a dozen maidens in the div.I of the Nawab Mir Mushtaq Ali Khan Memorial Plate. Real Champ showed plenty of early speed to streak to the front and brought the pack into the stretch with Secretary in chase all the way. Real Champ extended the lead in the straight and Secretary stayed on to finish second. Evon Von Brando finished third followed by Shiloh.

In the lower division of the race for maidens, K.V. Srinivas trained Big Brave (Western Aristocrat-Daily Edition) almost made every post a winning one. Winning the early fight for the head, Big Brave settled in front to lead. Once in the straight Big Brave kicked on gamely even as Tokyo Jam shifted to take the gap along the rails and rallied in second. Once More and Wings Of Eagles filled the frame in that order. Ursula was withdrawn near the gates just before the start.

K. Satheesh trained Patron Saint (Mull Of Kintyre-Spirit Of Chester) was sent off as the favourite at 5-2 for the concluding event of the day, the Hussain Sagar Plate and the 5 year old gelding ridden by apprentice C.P. Bopanna won the 1200 metres sprint unchallenged. Patron Saint got to the front of the fourteen horses field within the first furlong and enjoyed the lead all the way to the winning post. Wood Bridge finished second, followed by Carnival Express and Aalishaan.