The 20 to 1 longshot Magnum from S. Sreekant’s yard shocked his eleven rivals with a start to finish dash in the Mirza Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup, Monday’s main event run over seven furlongs. Afroz Khan-partnered Magnum found himself in the front as the gates opened and the bay gelding bowled along merrily to record an upset win. Top-weighted Maverick made a strong bid in the home stretch to topple the winner but in vain. Fly Tothe Stars, who had finished runner-up a day earlier, ran on late once again to finish third, a nose behind Maverick. Toffee ended fourth. Favourite Reigning Beauty was up with the front group till shortly after entering the straight but failed to improve thereafter and faded out gradually and beat just one home, Dali’s Destiny.

Many race-goers were of the opinion that the six-furlong trip for the T. Chandrasekhar Reddy Memorial Cup (Div-I) would be sharp for the Hilton Sequeira trained filly She Can. She, however, proved all the doubting Thomases wrong by proving her mettle over the sprint. She Can raced unconcerned in the rear bunch as Blissful showed the way to the field in the early stages with Baisa, Thanks and favourite Beauty Blaze in close attendance. As the field headed by Blissful entered the straight, Baisa tried to tackle the leader with Thanks and Beauty Blaze also trying to make their presence felt. Meanwhile, She Can improved towards the rails to be in striking distance of the leaders as they turned for home. She Can (Win Legend – Masquenada) showed a splendid turn of foot when alerted to her task by Hindu Singh and went surging clear in the last furlong and half. The chestnut filly romped home with Miss Little Angel taking the runner-up berth, a nose ahead of Mysterious Angel, who lacked adequate support in the saddle and the trip too short for her liking. Beauty Blaze was unsuccessful in gathering steam and ended a close fourth.

The six-year old grey Best Buddy showed plenty of early speed to hit the front in the T. Chandrasekhar Reddy Memorial Cup (Div-II) and went on to carve a narrow win over Kenaf and favourite Brilliant Star. K. Satheesh-groomed Best Buddy (Planetaire – Change Tack) seemed to be shortening his strides when Kenaf made her move as also favourite Brilliant Star, who was gradually warming up to his task. Sensing the danger looming behind, apprentice pulled out his whip in the last furlong and half to keep his mount going and staved off the threat posed by Afroz Khan-piloted Kenaf and Brilliant Star, who was partnered in the saddle by P. Sai Kumar. Ekram used his whip far in excess of the permitted number to score by a head over Kenaf, who was a neck away. Kingston ran on to be fourth.

Trainer LVR Deshmukh led in two well-fancied winners – Final Judgement and High Command, who were both entrusted to Ashhad Asbar. It was a case of third time lucky for Final Judgement, who had finished second in both his appearances this season. Backed to the exclusion of his rivals, Final Judgement raced within the striking distance of Ambitious Star and Lights On, who made the initial running. Asbar brought Final Judgement into contention when the heads turned for home and started to gain ground on the front-runners. Meanwhile, Lights On surged ahead and was within kissing distance of the post when Final Judgement (Planetaire – Landmine) was ridden with a positive intent by Asbar, which enabled the favourite to swoop down on the leader a few strides before the winning post arrived. Ambitious Star managed to finish third, a neck ahead of D Battle.

High Command, who had failed to enter the winner’s circle after reeling off a hat-trick at the start of his career a year ago, registered a gratifying win in the Pocharam Plate. Asbar held High Command on the leash as the colt was too keen initially and wanted to streak ahead of N R I Sport, who showed the way to the field over the nine-furlong trip. High Command (Leitir Mor – Heiress) was given his head by Asbar as the field approached the final turn and the colt assumed control of the running at the top of the home stretch. The bay colt was ridden all out to keep his rivals at bay including Great Guns, who came with a flourish to finish second. Enabling raised some hopes when she tried to tackle the winner along with favourite Shadow Of The Moon and Delhi Heights. She failed to accelerate and ended a fair third ahead of Shadow Of The Moon, who was clearly done in by the imposing weight he carried on his back.

KSV Prasad Raju-nursed filly Cherish The Stakes, who is bred as half-sister to High Command, had gained enough experience from her two previous runs which helped her to shed the maiden ranks in the opening event. P. Sai Kumar kept her close on the heels of Lady Jane, who seized the initiative and was in no mood to give up as Cherish The Stakes and Peppi challenged her in the final furlong. A resolute ride from Sai Kumar astride Cherish The Stakes (Excellent Art – Heiress) allowed the filly to snatch a neck verdict over Lady Jane and also keep Peppi, who ended half-length behind the runner-up, at bay. Ariette, who languished in the rear till the final turn, improved in the straight to finish fourth.

The other three winners during the day were well supported in the betting ring and they duly obliged. The first one was Nkalanzinzi from Sreekant’s yard, who finally tasted his maiden success in the hands of apprentice Ajay Kumar. Nkalanzinzi (Top Class – Magnolia) raced well up with the leader Stoli and allowed Muaser to go ahead before turning for home. Muaser snatched the lead from Stoli in the last two furlongs with Nkalanzinzi making steady progress on her outside. Both fought a fierce duel and it was the latter who gained the upper hand close home. Desert Sultan was hard-ridden to finish third ahead of Special Effort.

Jasbir Singh-saddled Samrat succeeded in landing the spoils after two successive failures. Ridden by Mohit Singh, Samrat (Saamidd – Joleene) raced in the mid-bunch as Golden Forza assumed his customary front-running role and finished on with a flourish in the straight. Samrat took control of the running with a hundred metres to go for the wire and scampered home for a comfortable win over Classy Dame, Deccan Ranger and Club Queen, who finished in a huddle and ended thus behind the winner. Club Queen was the best of the beaten lot.

Noble Heart from D. Netto’s string, who was improving with each run recently, struck immediately on relegation to the lowest class. Noble Heart raced in close attendance of Chica Bonita and Glimmer Of Hope till the final bend and launched his assault when the field straightened for home. A. A. Vikrant-ridden Noble Heart (Top Class – Golden Queen) faced tough resistance from Chica Bonita which he overcame close home. Soorya Vahan and My Way Or Highway finished on late to be second and third respectively with Chica Bonita retiring to be fourth.