Second in demand only to Falcon Edge, LVR Deshmukh trained Fire Power dictated the terms for most of the nine-furlong journey and lasted out to win the Totaram’s Cup by a whisker. The feature event was contested by 6 runners – 3 from RH Sequeira’s string, 2 from Laxman Singh’s yard and Deshmukh had a solitary contestant in Fire Power. 

After a sluggish start, jockey P Ajeeth Kumar brushed Fire Power to snatch the lead from House of Diamonds, who attempted to set the pace for Falcon Edge, after the field of six had travelled just over a furlong from the gates. Throwing a virtual catch-me-if-you-can challenge at his rivals, Fire Power then held sway over the proceedings till Saffron Art overtook House Of Diamonds about 200m from home and challenged his supremacy. Both Fire Power and Saffron Art went stride for stride in the last 300m and the fight went to the wire literally. And just when it appeared that Kiran Naidu ridden Saffron Art would have the upper hand, the gutsy son of Speaking Of Which out of Roses In Bloom dug into his reserves as Ajeeth’s resilience refused to wane. Both Fire Power and Saffron Art were inseparable as they went past the post but the photo finish revealed that the former’s flared nostrils had hit the wire first. Falcon Edge, who was carrying an imposing 60kgs on his back, devoured good ground as he made his bid from the fifth position at the turn. The weight however told on the favourite’s effort and all he could do was reduce the margin of his defeat. Ashwa Raudee, though well placed on handicap, ran in snatches when the race came to a boil and finished fourth.

Falcon Edge may have disappointed both Sequeira and Akshay but duo achieved a double earlier with Princess Daka and Watch My Stride. The three-year old filly Princess Daka (Kingda Ka – Shenliyka) successfully tackled the mile and quarter trip for the Asif Jah VII Memorial Cup. Akshay settled the favourite in the fourth position as the field of seven led by top-weighted Skipton was strung out in a single file. AA Vikrant astride Icicle made his move at the bend and joined Skipton when the field had straightened for home. The grey filly overpowered Skipton after a brief tussle but couldn’t breathe easy as Princess Daka was set alight by Akshay and the juvenile crept closer with every stride. Icicle however desperately latched on to the slender leader and it took some hard riding from the champion rider to snuff out the resistance offered by D Netto’s ward. Wallop And Gallop ran third, well ahead of Just Incredible.

Making his first appearance at Malakpet after his failed mission to Delhi, Watch My Stride (Whatsthescript – Flamingo Fan) was tuned to the moment by Sequeira and he justified the favouritism by unleashing a brilliant run. The bay gelding was the last to enter the home stretch and shortly found Suraj Narredu astride Stunning Force overtaking Bandit King, Trump Star and Soloist. Akshay drove Watch My Stride in his trademark style and finished on with a rattle to whizz past Stunning Force and won easier than the official verdict suggests. Soloist, the winner’s barn-mate, was hampered for when coming through the shortest way home and ended third ahead of Trump Star. Peaky Blinders found it difficult to shoulder the 60kg burden on his back.

K Satheesh trained and Nakhat Singh ridden grey colt Best Buddy (Planetaire – Change Tack), who failed to maintain a straight course which cost him a two-day suspension for apprentice RS Jodha in the race won by Pleroma, gave his supporters a major scare in the Makalu Plate. Backed down to favouritism in the seven horse field, Best Buddy brought the field into the home stretch and drifted out alarmingly to race on the extreme wide outside. Best Buddy dropped back to be last from pole position in the closely bunched field but Nakhat didn’t let his guard down. He used his whip to correct Best Buddy’s drift and drove him out aggressively. Best Buddy was so far superior for his rivals that he hunted them out including Flytothestars, who had slipped into the lead and was shaping like a winner. Southern Act rallied late but his weight told on his effort and he could only finish third ahead of Team Player.

The unfancied 20 to 1 longshot Shah Of Iran (How Your Halo – Dancing Farha) showed a clean pair heels to his rivals in the Chaitanya Chakram Plate run over seven furlongs. P Sai Kumar hit the front with the Raza Shehzad trainee and won well despite the challenge posed by runner up Mr Perfect close home. Favourite Humanitarian appeared to be in need of this run and ended third on debut ahead of Resurgence. The Thriller returned home lame and finished second last. 

The last two events of the day were claimed by Flamingo Fame and Black Onyx, who received enthusiastic support in the betting ring. N Rawal schooled Flamingo Fame (Burden Of Proof – Flamingo Fan) came from the wide draw to settle behind leader My Master, Red River and Horse O’War. Suraj Narredu brought Flamingo Fame into contention at the bend and was hard-ridden before he could wear down My Master. Horse O’War finished in the money ahead of Sea Of Class. Second favourite Good Tidings failed to reproduce his last outing brilliance and ended sixth. 

Black Onyx (Stardan – Dancing Dame) from Magan Singh Parmar’s yard jumped out smartly from the gates to grab the rail run and made every post of the six furlong trip a winning one in the hands of Dhanu Singh Deora. The Sensation, Battle Ready and Hot Seat were all in futile chase all throughout. Essential ran on from tail end in the straight to finish a faraway fifth.