The six-event card on Friday ended on a happy note for punters as two well-backed on-money public choices found the winning post without much ado. The first of these was Rajesh Narredu -trained Global Influence (Roderic O’Connor-She) who lifted the seven-furlong sprint for The Hyderabad Race Club Cup without being stretched. Saqlain enjoyed an armchair ride as the sprinter left the field standing in the straight to win by over five lengths from top-weight King’s Retreat. The chestnut colt incurred a heavy 7.5kg penalty but may nevertheless win again over asprint whether it’s a terms or handicap race. In the last race of the day, public fancy Mathangi from Anil Kumar’s stable made amends for her last narrow failure. The filly by Sedgefield out of Colombianaprincess was given a copybook ride by A Ashhad Asbar to land the spoils. She took over the running in the straight to win from Superlative and Zucardi – both of whom should be followed.

The ‘trainer of the afternoon’ was undoubtedly B Rajender Reddy who led in a well-supported brace without big names astride his wards – for that he most definitely deserves a pat on the back. The first of his wards wasLucky Nine (One Lucky Dane-Influence) who made every post a winning one in the mile-and-half race for the Angelo Handicap with low weight rider R Manish in the saddle. Ante-post favourite Felix  followed the five-year-old all the way and is surely one for the notebook as he was conceding 7kg to the winner who was actually 1.5kg out of the scale. The winner was penalised 6.5kg which effectively works out to 5kg – thus he may well win another long distance race in this class with an apprentice claiming an allowance.

B Rajender Reddy’s next winner was a stunning victory by recent western India import Vincent Van Gogh who was piloted by Tejeshwar in the absence of the originally declared jockey Mukesh Kumar. The six-year-old bay gelding by Multidimensional out of Irisesmoved with a splendid run along the rails to edge out Sativur and Main Street who were fighting for supremacy. It may be noted that had Sativur not drifted out, as he is wont to do, he would have undoubtedly bagged the mile event.  Then again, that’s a part of this game of chances. All credit to Tejeshwar for grabbing the opportunity to bring home the bacon.

The afternoon commenced with Vikash Jaiswal-trained speedster Indian Tiger closing as the 16/10 favourite.The eight-year-old gelding however ran out of steam in the straight as both Lucretius and the winner Memphis (Dreamland-Cinch) were travelling better than him from the distance post. R Vaibhav rode the Javed Khan ward and now heads the Jockeys Championship table with 12 wins – a far cry from his performance last monsoon. A truly amazing feat as his confidence level has shot up this season to considerable heights – kudos to him!

Jockey Imran Chisty Rode a power-packed finish astride Rutherford Alford-trained No Worry in the mile race for The Credit Squeeze Handicapto win it  from Annette and Suparakiga. This was the maiden victory of the four-year-old gelding by Dali out of Allee Bleue. The favourite Oh My Sweetheart burst her blood vessels and dropped back to the rear of the field.