Ave Maria (China Visit-Prevalence) showed plenty of improvement on her way to clinching The Raja Bahadur Venkatram Reddy Memorial Cup, the feature of Friday’s races at Hyderabad, run over 2,200 metres. Of the seven runners in the race, six of them had raced together over a similar trip earlier this season, the odd one being Sparks. Clever Ploy had kicked on to win that race after setting the pace while Ave Maria and Davenport had dead-heated for the second place.

Ave Maria was set to carry a back-breaking weight of 62 kilograms even after claiming an allowance by apprentice Kiran Naidu and this was reason enough to send Davenport as the first favourite in the betting followed by Ave Maria. Going into the race, Orochi, Clever Ploy, Vijay Dhanush, Ave Maria, Sparks and Davenport were closely huddled in that order, as they rounded the final bend while La Lapitus trailed the field. Vijay Dhanush was quick to surge ahead on the straight but started to drift out alarmingly, moving over to the stand-side even as Ave Maria joined the fight on his outside. The two fought tooth and nail till the end with Ave Maria producing that extra, close to the winning post. Davenport was third way behind the first two.

Kiran Naidu pulled off a double in the very next race, the lower division of The Krishna Cup. J. Silvester-trained Invincible Genes (Case Law-Summer Wind) was the winner beating Geography and Sugar Baby. Geography tried to slip in along the inner rails but was no match to Invincible Genes, who came with a flourish to poke through. Sugar Baby came with a late flash to finish third, a whisker behind Geography. M. Sathyanarayana’s Seno Rita (Hymn-Chocolate Chip) was hard ridden by S. Shoban Babu to bag the higher division, after a gruelling fight with Overtaker, in the final furlong of the race.

Noor Ulain matched strides with the two for some distance on the straight but faded out to finish third. Jockey P.S. Chouhan came in late as his flight was delayed and Shoban Babu got to ride his mount, Intrepid Warrior (Hymn-Bright and Cherry), in the first race, The Silky Baby Plate. Shoban took the J. Silvester trainee to a start-to-finish victory. Illustrator came in late to finish second ahead of Afficionado. The Loveable Princess Plate, for maiden three-year-olds was divided into two races. Both the divisions were bagged by Anupam Sharma-trained youngsters.

The lower division was wrapped up by Ache For Love (Black Cash-Calliope), ridden by A. Ashhad Asbar. The eight-horse field was reduced to five before the race. Speed Striker was withdrawn on veterinary grounds before the start of the day. Castle Rock was withdrawn after he refused to move into the gates and the favourite Secret Burden was pulled out of the race after the rider T.G. Mclaughlin hurt himself when his mount reared up inside the gates and slipped out.

In the race, Ponte Verdi, on a start-to-finish mission was overtaken by Ache For Love mid-way up the straight. Inside the last 100 metres, Ponte Verdi came back with a re-run but found the winning post coming to the rescue of Ache For Love. Westminister improved to finish a close third. Naval Honour (Philanthropist-Lit d’Or) made an impressive debut in the higher division, winning by a clear five- length margin, without being extended by P.S. Chouhan at any stage of the race. A Horizontal Urge was in futile chase throughout the straight.

Shehzad Abbas-trained Al Sarraah (Gaswar-Gatling) registered an authoritative victory in the higher division of The Sweet Girl Plate. Al Sarraah received strong support in the betting, going into the race as an ‘odds-on’ favourite. Apprentice Ajit Kumar rode him in check till the final bend and as the field showed up on the straight, Al Sarraah took charge and beat his opposition comprehensively. Royal Shaan was in futile chase to finish second while Krithiman followed in third.

After his run in the 2000 Guineas, Arya Veer was rechristened as Business Tycoon (Placerville-Imperial Satsuma) and the four-year-old trainee from Laxman Singh’s yard won as he liked, in the lower division. Jewel In The Crown improved to beat the rest and occupy the second place while Star Prospect finished third. K. Satheesh’s Rich And Famous (Emerald Cat-Wine N’ Song) lifted The Treasure Leaf Plate, the concluding race of the day from start to finish, warding off the late effort of Steel Breaker.