The three-year old bay gelding Siddharth received a superb ride from champion jockey Akshay Kumar which enabled him to claim the B. Marideshwara Rao Memorial Cup by defeating Strauss in a thrilling finish. Akshay settled the Srinivas Reddy-saddled Siddharth behind N R I Sport, Team Player and Hard To Toss as the field of eight took off for the seven-furlong journey. Strauss, ridden by B. Nikhil in place of DS Deora and who raced alongside Siddharth, made a quick forward move to join the front-runners as soon as the heads turned for home. With about two furlongs left for the winning line, Strauss was in the pole position and was soon joined by Siddharth after Akshay brought him through the shortest route. In the ensuing battle, Siddharth and Strauss went stride for stride in the last furlong. Strauss failed to raise a fluent gallop yet fought a grim battle to retain the supremacy. Akshay’s superior skills tilted the scales in favour of Siddharth (Excellent Art – Lavender Brown), who prevailed over Strauss in the bob-of-the-head finish. Barbet had a lot of money riding on her chances but the Laxman Singh mentored filly gave an inexplicable show and ran a pathetic fifth, over a distance behind the winner. N R I Sport faded out to finish a faraway third ahead of Just Incredible.
 
Despite the carrying a heavy impost of 60kg on his back, Akido proved too good for his rivals in the Belmont Prince Plate run over nine furlongs. Yesterday was taken to the front by Trevor with favourite N R I Superpower chasing him. S, Saqlain-partnered N R I Superpower tried to collar Yesterday when taking the final turn but she failed to accelerate. Meanwhile Akshay-ridden Akido (Outstrip – Gift Wrap) entered the fray with a powerful surge and went sailing past Yesterday and N R I Superpower. The threat to K. Satheesh-groomed Akido came from unexpected quarters with Morior Invictus producing a brilliant run in the straight. Akido however kept going and hit the wire before Morior Invictus could cause any damage. Yesterday finished third ahead of City of Blessings while RH Sequeira’s ward N R I Superpower finished a dismal sixth.
 
Earlier in the day, Satheesh led in rank-outsider Exponent, who humiliated favourite Anab e Shahi with a brilliant effort in the hands of jockey Surya Prakash. With the withdrawal of Honey Girl, the race appeared to be at the mercy of Anab e Shahi from Sequeira’s yards though Grand Duke also received inspired support in the betting ring. Mr Perfect headed the field shortly after the start and refused to buckle under pressure when Saqlain-steered Anab e Shahi tried to overhaul him in the straight. Exponent (David Livingstone – Elle Et Moi) meanwhile gathered momentum to storm into the lead in the last furlong. Exponent, who was driven vigorously by Surya Prakash, found his way to the winner’s enclosure after a gap of over two years as Anab e Shahi plodded on to finish runner up ahead of Mr Perfect and My Way or Highway. Grand Duke, the well-fancied stablemate of the winner, ran like a dud throughout.
 
MS Parmar-trained Deccan Spirit, who had run an encouraging third behind Happy Soul a week ago, was installed as the even-money favourite to win in the maiden set contesting for the lower division of the Northern Dancer Plate. But the DS Deora ridden Deccan Spirit found the public’s purse too difficult to carry on his back. G. Shashikanth-groomed Colt Pistol (Saamidd – Faustina) flourished under Akshay’s guidance and lasted out to win from the late-finishing Fly Me. Debutant Callison shot into the lead as the starter’s flag came down with favourite Deccan Spirit and second-in-demand Colt Pistol in close attendance. Akshay brought Colt Pistol into contention as soon as the field entered the straight and drove him out to take charge of the running. Deccan Spirit refused to put his best foot forward allowing Colt Pistol to steal a march which put him beyond the reach of his rivals. Fly Me’s late flurry fetched her the second spot ahead of Callison and Bold Beauty.
 
With Veneno out the way, the task of favourite D Right Time was rendered easy and the A. Vatsalya nursed filly duly obliged. Ajeeth Kumar astride D Right Time kept his cool after a lethargic start and showed positive intent in brushing up his mount to be within striking distance of the leaders, That’s My Love and Flashing Memories. D Right Time (Knight’s Tour – C Eleven) was then hard-ridden by Ajeeth to quell That’s My Love’s resistance and drew away once he assumed command. That’s My Love kept the runner up slot and was followed home by Great Combo and Mix The Magic.
 
Splendour on Grass, who was lesser fancied than only Sweet Dancer, delivered the goods for his connections in the five and half furlong scurry. Mohit Singh had the KSV Prasad Raju-saddled Splendour on Grass (Kingda Ka – Bullseye) close on the heels of the leader Divine Connection and soon pounced upon her when they turned for home. Splendour on Grass shifted in when overtaking Divine Connection but went ahead smoothly to land the spoils. Despite all the antics Ajeeth Kumar had on display astride Sweet Dancer, it was clear that the favourite was not going to oblige. Splendour on Grass won by little over a length from Sweet Dancer at the wire with Divine Connection in close tow. D Minchu settled for the fourth place after running prominently with the front-runners early into the straight.
 
The last of his seven assignments this week at Malakpet ensured that Trevor Patel didn’t go home empty-handed. Trevor tasted his solitary success after taking Baisa on a pillar-to-post mission. The speedy mare hailing from Laxman Singh’s barns came well from the wide draw to seize the initiative and was never headed thereafter. Baisa (Declaration of War – Firebird) won easing up from Cabello, See My Spark and Laurus.