The spectacular transformation recently witnessed in the ability of the four-year old filly Sugar gives an impression that trainer Hilton Sequeira probably has an invisible magic wand with him. If not, it is difficult to comprehend that a horse, which finished fifteen lengths behind the winner in a Class III race last month, can reel off two successive wins in the higher class. Ask any punter and he would retort: It’s an inexplicable performance. Interestingly, although the terms were not in her favour in the PVG Raju Memorial Cup, Sugar beat a superior set of rivals including D Minchu and Hugh Capet, who would have been in receipt of 9.5kg and 10kg from the winner in a handicap event according to their current rating. But, despite horseracing being considered as a mug’s game, the outcome of the Sunday’s main event would have left studious punters with a wretched feeling for sure.
 
Be that as it may, Proud Mary and Reigning Beauty disputed the lead as the seven-horse field started its seven-furlong journey with Sugar and Hugh Capet close on their heels. Meanwhile, Kings Best, who had lost considerable ground at the start, was brushed up to join the front pack at the halfway mark. As the front-running pair swung into the home stretch, Afroz Khan and Kuldeep Singh (Sr.) made their move simultaneously astride Sugar and Hugh Capet respectively. The familiar hard-luck story, which racegoers often come across, was repeated in Hugh Capet’s case too. It was related to the traffic mess Kuldeep got into when making his move between Sugar and Kings Best at the two-furlong marker. While Hugh Capet was in the process of regaining his poise, Afroz beckoned Sugar to overhaul the leaders and gained the upper hand in the final furlong whilst Kuldeep, in his desperation to catch the filly, made improper and excessive use of the whip. However, Kuldeep’s effort came to nought as Sugar (Dreamfield – Conceptual) eluded him by a neck. Ajeeth Kumar-piloted D Minchu appeared as if he had just woken up after being in deep slumber at the wrong end of the field when he tried to forge ahead in the final run-in. He could only finish third, a nose in front of Detective. The jockeys plying their trade at Malakpet should consider themselves fortunate that the stipes turn a blind eye towards their infraction and the animal welfare volunteers do not come to witness the sport. Else, they would think twice before making merciless use of their whips.

The first flop show of the day was enacted by Warwick, who was well-fancied to claim the Maj. Gen. Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup (Div-II). By accident or design, the winner turned out to be the Sequeira trainee NRI Sport, who had never won over six-furlongs and was piloted by HM Akshay, who had drawn a blank in his fifty-three rides this season. Great Giver seized the initiative at the start with NRI Sport joining him on the outside as Dyanoosh and Only My Way followed them whilst Rival, Warwick and Sopranos raced behind like backbencher students in a classroom. With about a furlong and half left for home, NRI Sport (David Livingston – Maid of Artois) tackled Great Giver and soon quickened under the whip to frustrate runner-up Dyanoosh, who too was a victim of excessive whipping from apprentice Kuldeep Singh (Jr.). Great Giver retained the third spot ahead of Warwick, who never seemed to be in the hunt irrespective of how hard the mare was belted by Ajeeth Kumar to demonstrate his intent.
 
Having last seen the winner’s enclosure a thousand days ago when running as Bangor On Dee and then not living up to his rechristening as Runlikethewind last year, Leo D’Silva’s ward decided it was high time to make it to the headlines. Entrusted to 5kg-claimer Sonu Kumar, Runlikethewind (Roderic O’Connor – Strawberry Fields) took off smartly from the blocks and showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the Maj. Gen. Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup (Div-I). Laxman Singh-saddled Baisa, who was running on relegation, was the on-money favourite but the Gaurav Singh-ridden mare refused to put her best foot forward, no matter how callously she was struck by her rider for the optical effect and could only reduce her margin of defeat. Federer and Catchme If You Can ran on to be third and fourth respectively after Sangreal and High Reward, who were next in demand after Baisa, preferred to retire as spectators to the favourite’s rout.
 
Laxman’s first runner of the day was Certanity, who was backed as if defeat was out of question in the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Cup. The juvenile filly emerged as one of four winners, who caused no heartburn for the punters in the seven-race card. Certanity ran true to her name as she tracked her erstwhile owner-mate Opera Queen till a furlong and half before the destination where Ashhad Asbar released the brakes on her. Certanity (Sanus Per Aquam – Moon River) then cantered away to register an encore. Authoritarian finished far back to finish second ahead of Opera Queen and Cherish The Lady.
 
Pride Aside was fancied once again in anticipation that the Ravinder Singh-schooled filly will make amends for her failure in the Raja Saheb of Challapalli Memorial Cup and the filly did not let them down. Jockey B. Nikhil held back Pride Aside as Whistledown tried runaway tactics over the mile journey with La Fleuriere and La Quinta in pursuit and brought her into contention at the top of the straight. Pride Aside made steady progress with every stride to join the battle with Whistledown and La Fleuriere, who were disputing the issue inside the last furlong and half. A vigorous effort from Nikhil saw Pride Aside (Sedgefield – Cerrado) soon quell the front-running pair’s resistance as she went on to graduate from the maiden ranks. La Fleuriere stretched out to deprive Whistledown the second spot whilst La Quinta, after a minor wobble, finished with a flourish to be a close fourth.
 
The four-year old filly Cape May received enthusiastic support in the SN Reddy Memorial Cup against an opposition which was far from intimidating. Cape May (Oiseau De Feu – Geirangerfjord) duly obliged and registered her maiden success as she came from way behind with a sparkling run to mow down Ilene, who brought the field into the home stretch but strayed from a straight course under pressure. NRI Star ran prominently behind Illene before finishing third with Deccan Ranger following her home.
 
D'Silva completed a treble in the concluding race when heavily-backed Romantic Grey gave a resolute performance in the Maj. Gen. Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup (Div-III). Romantic Grey (Dali – Eternal Spirit), though keen in the early stages of the sprint, waited for his turn as stable-mate Pontefract and Shadow Fax headed the field with Bold Beauty in close tow. Shadow Fax wrest the lead shortly after the heads turned for home but failed to sustain as Afroz Khan-driven Romantic Grey ranged alongside to assume command and then won warding off the threat posed by runner-up Clefairy in the final stages of the race. Pontefract and Shadow Fax finished a shorthead and head behind Clefairy.