The Robin Reddy-groomed four-year old gelding Perception continued his winning run and won his fourth race on the trot when claiming the Sikandar E Azam Plate, a mile event for horses in Class II. Placed on the bottom of the scale and entrusted in the hands of jockey P. Sai Kumar, Perception was ridden off the pace as Lucky Zone made the initial running ahead of Ode To Nature and Dapper Look, who took charge soon after crossing the halfway mark. Celestial and Walking Thunder chased Dapper Look but it was Perception, who unleashed a blazing run when brought wide into the straight and shown the daylight by Sai Kumar. Perception (Sedgefield – Providence), who is full brother to Magileto, devoured good ground with every stride and swept past Dapper Look at the hundred-metre marker. Dapper Look ended runner-up, two and half lengths behind, with Celestial finishing an identical distance away in the third spot. Walking Thunder ran fourth. Livermore stumbled probably after clipping the heels of Walking Thunder and ran hopelessly thereafter.
 
Federer, who had run twenty lengths behind the winner in his last start and engaged in the exploring business over different distances this season, produced a brilliant performance to lift the Nawab Mehdi Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup (Div-I). Trainer Ananta Vatsalya’s ward raced in close contention behind leader Divine Connection and was driven vigorously by jockey Ajeeth Kumar to tackle the former about a furlong away from the wire. Federer (Dandified – Let There Be Light) then picked up speed to canter home ahead of favourite Coming Home, who failed to quicken despite being hard ridden by K. Mukesh Kumar. Leather Back woke up when the race was in the safe-keeping of Federer and his late run could only fetch him the third place, a nose behind Coming Home, whilst Divine Connection retired to be fourth.
 
The first division of the Nawab Mehdi Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup saw top-weighted Shadow Fax just scraping through by a short-head from Challenger. Mukesh Kumar-ridden Shadow Fax raced alongside Indradhanush as Challenger hit the front from the barriers. Donald Netto-saddled Shadow Fax (Lord Admiral – Rahuls Pet) responded well to Mukesh’s call and surged past Challenger inside the last furlong and half but the latter put in a renewed effort when motivated by Ekram Alam. However, no damage was done as the winning post had already come to Shadow Fax’s rescue. Sweet Dancer ended up third, a neck ahead of Bold Beauty. Favourite Great Giver was shorn of his initial speed and it seemed that he was in no mood to bring joy for the punters as he raced hopelessly before finishing sixth.
 
The Vittal Deshmukh-schooled filly Tootsie Darling recorded a facile victory enroute her maiden success in the Nizamabad Plate (Div-I), a Class IV handicap race run over six furlongs. Tootsie Darling jumped out smartly from the gates to wrest the lead, though a slender one, and hugged the inner rails as she called the shots ahead of Lady Jane, Roly Poly and the rest. On entering the home stretch, Tootsie Darling (Leitir Mor – Tootsie Wootsie) simply sauntered home when Akshay Kumar released the breaks and saved her rider the trouble of using his whip. G. Naresh-ridden Analysis received enthusiastic support in the betting ring but it turned out that her admirers had overestimated her ability. Analysis drifted out badly in the straight when attempting to overhaul the winner and proved to be no match as she ended up running near the outer rails. Aquatone finished third behind Analysis whilst Nkalanzinzi took the fourth berth.
 
With Diligence out of her way in the Nizamabad Plate (Div-III), the race appeared to be at the mercy of Mexican Wave. But it was no walk in the park for the K. Satheesh-saddled Mexican Wave as she just managed to hit the wire before Feel The Magic could play spoilsport. Earlier, Star Cruise and Faizah, who ran green, showed the way to the field and brought them into straight where Mexican Wave was set alight. It took some reminders from Akshay for Mexican Wave (David Livingston – Daisy Duke) to warm up to her task as she stretched and lasted out to win from Feel The Magic. Photograph and Star Cruise completed the final frame of four.
 
For the first time this season, Leo D’Silva’s ward Dontblockmyway (Shifting Power – Aquitania) seized control of the running as apprentice Sonu Kumar catapulted her to the front in the Nizamabad Plate (Div-II). Once she brushed aside the momentary threat posed by Ilene in the home stretch, Dontblockmyway (Shifting Power – Aquitania) drew away from her rivals to win by a widening margin of over eight lengths. Akshay-ridden half-money favourite Hoping Star flopped badly and could only finish second ahead of Peanut and Most Beautiful.
 
The four-year old Hoping High from trainer Jasbir Singh’s yard tasted his maiden success in the Goodwood Plate, the last race in the day’s card. Gaurav Singh astride Hoping High took matters easy until Secret Option took rapid strides to overtake no-hopers Tupac and City Cruise when negotiating the final curve. Secret Option, sent out by trainer A. Imran Khan, appeared to be cruising at that stage but Hoping High unleashed a powerful run and came through the shortest way home to surprise the favourite. Despite Asbar’s desperate attempts astride Secret Option, Hoping High (Saamidd – Christmas Fever) held on to win by half a length. Muaser ran a distant third ahead of City Cruise.