After spending more than a year for her second success, RH Sequeira trained Show Me Your Walk finally came good when she scored an emphatic victory on Monday. Show Me Your Walk, entrusted to 5kg-claimer Ajay Kumar on this occasion, took off smartly when the starter’s flag came down and the five-year old mare was winner at every post. Char Ek Char, who was second-in-demand, ridden by Akshay Kumar failed to improve or raise any hopes after being prominent in the early stages of the race and faded out to end a poor fifth. Though another fancied runner Painted Apache ended runner up, he appeared beaten long before he could warm up to his task. Hard-ridden Southern Act and Indian King both ran on to finish on the judge’s board. Indian King bears watching from hereon.

Show Me Your Walk was not the only winner to live up to the expectations of punters on a day when horses, which attracted maximum support in the betting ring were in an obliging mood. The biggest successful punt of the day came through Srinivas Reddy owned and trained filly Fara in the second division of the Wolf777 Plate. The smart money that rode on Fara’s chances exceeded what was carried by ante post favourite Warwick as also Commanding Knight and Queen Empress, who were widely expected to dominate the finish. After showing the way briefly, Ashhad Asbar astride Fara (Declaration Of War – Five Satins) let Warwick call the shots while the rest struggled to keep pace with them. Ashhad got busy atop Fara when the field straightened for home and though she took some time to warm up, the bay filly tackled Warwick and forced her into submission once she got into her stride. Queen Empress ended a faraway third ahead of Barchetta, who produced a late run to figure in the frame.

The first division of the Wolf777 Plate was claimed by A Sandesh-partnered on-money favourite Reigning Beauty. The L D’Silva mentored grey filly pursued leader Bold Beauty and Colt Pistol from the gates and made her bid in the straight. Sandesh had to ride her all out before she could collar Bold Beauty in the closing stages of the race and beating her by three-parts of a length. Colt Pistol, who had a good educative outing, ended a game third ahead of Alcahol Free. 

The four-year old maiden Black Eagle provided both Sandesh and Srinivas Reddy their second winner of the day. Making his first appearance on the Malakpet track, Black Eagle (Excellent Art – Classic Sky), who was backed to the exclusion of his rivals, gave Sandesh an armchair ride as he made mincemeat of his seven opponents with a successful pillar-to-post dash. Plethora, the runner up, was in futile chase throughout and followed the winner home along with Divine Destiny and Eastern Blaze. 

Jasbir Singh schooled Pinatubo (Corporate Jungle – Shivalik Stone) was also a recipient of sustained support in the betting arena and the six-year old gelding duly obliged. He was settled close behind Classical Music, who led the field from the barriers, and Sandesh-piloted ante post favourite Varenna and improved gradually when alerted by P Sai Kumar. Pinatubo was required to be ridden flat out to overhaul Classical Music, who fought gallantly before being tamed. Saint Emilion appeared on the scene when it hardly mattered and finished third ahead of Fresh Hope. Classical Music gave a noteworthy performance and should be in the news sooner rather than later.

Stoic Hero from Anant Vatsalya’s string was largely expected to defy the penalty incurred for his previous win and the Ajeeth Kumar-ridden went on to register an encore, though narrowly. Ridden off the pace as Sound Echo called the early shots, Stoic Hero (Declaration Of War – Flotus) unleashed a powerful run in the straight to initially tackle Vision Of Rose and then swooped down on Happy Go Lucky, who shaped like a winner after taking charge from Sound Echo. The winner ended a head better of Happy Go Lucky, who can be expected to make amends for this failure soon. Sound Echo ran a fair third with Sally close behind. Vision Of Rose, who ran far below expectations, and the other contestants especially Sally, Divine Connection and Nucleus seemed content in keeping a low profile. 

Despite being beaten for early speed and being overtaken initially by Golden Forza and later by Picture Me, favourite High Reward gave a gutsy show to overwhelm them both in the closing stages of the sprint event. Apprentice Ekram Alam kept his cool when changing lanes in the straight and then putting his head down to purposefully drive the favourite High Reward (David Livingstone – Ultrasonic). K Satheesh-saddled High Reward gained the upper hand over Picture Me and Golden Forza in the last 100m to eventually score a half-length victory. An identical distance behind came the fast-finishing Indradhanush and not too far away were Mr Perfect and Golden Forza.

Good Tidings and Blast In Class, the two five-year old equines trained by SSF Hassan and KSV Prasad Raju respectively, were among the six winners who tasted their first career success. Mohit Singh-ridden Good Tidings (Lord Admiral – Rising Rainbow) provided some respite to the beleaguered bookies as she overshadowed the fancied trio – Life Is Good, Black Opal and Silver Lining. With the fancied runners nowhere in sight in the vicinity of the winning post, Good Tidings grabbed the lead from Jack Daniel and then drew away for an easy win over Life Is Good, who was ridden gingerly by Md Ismail. Silver Lining and Good Day followed them home.

Having reached the lowest class, Blast In Class (Speaking Of Which – Brushed Aside) was backed down to favouritism and the bay just lasted out to win from Sorry Darling. Blast In Class, with apprentice Santosh Raj in saddle, was in chase of Gusty Note for most of the journey before overhauling the tiring leader in the last 100m. He won warding off the late bid of Sorry Darling, who had Sweet Melody rallying behind to take the third spot ahead of Gusty Note. The rest were simply out for an airing.