Promoted to the highest class following his two victories this season, Donald Netto-trained Corinthian gave a stellar performance to bag the SN Reddy Memorial Trophy on Sunday. Ridden by Afroz Khan, Corinthian was second-in-demand to Cherie Chevalier, who failed to live up to the promise shown in his previous essay. Top-weighted Espionage went to the front as is his wont, while Diablo joined him ahead of Corinthian, who had settled down nicely. As the field swung into the home stretch, Corinthian ranged alongside his stablemate Espionage and assumed command at the two-furlong marker. While his rivals struggled behind, Corinthian (Western Aristocrat – Well Focussed) sailed away to complete a hat-trick in the current season. Black Onyx and Reigning Beauty dead-heated for the runner up spot, while Timeless Vision ran a close fourth after making solid improvement from the last position at the bend. Cherie Chevalier gave a semblance of unleashing a strong run in the straight, however, the KSV Prasad Raju struggled to end in the fifth place, all the money wagered on him going down the drain.
 
Though competing against a set of seasoned campaigners, three-year-old half-money favourite Quattro from Hilton Sequeira’s barns gave no anxious moments to her admirers over the mile contest for the Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Memorial Trophy. Special Star showed the way to the field, while Le Fleuriere, Pride Aside, and Quattro followed her in a single file all the way into the straight. When Ashhad Asbar astride Quattro (Lord Admiral – Couleur Rouge) released the brakes, the dark bay filly lengthened her stride to overhaul Special Star inside the final furlong and a half and cantered home for a facile win. Special Star held on to the second place, while Pride Aside edged out La Fleuriere for the third berth. Racing Ruler warmed up when it least mattered and finished a head behind La Fleuriere.
 
Catch The Worm, also sent out earlier by Sequeira, carved a narrow win in the first race, a six-furlong sprint for the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Trophy (Div-II). No-hoper China Town, having led the field shortly after the start, blew up a little over a furlong from the wire where BR Kumar aboard Catch The Worm tackled the leader and went ahead. However, Catch The Worm (Gusto – Zellers) was required to be hard ridden as Arthisha came with a menacing run but fell short by a neck. Warwick ran third ahead of Rival and second favourite Basilica, all of whom ran gingerly behind. In fact, Ajeeth Kumar received a three-week ban and a cash penalty for his “unsatisfactory riding” on Warwick.
 
James Mckeown-schooled Teak, who finished runner-up on debut at Bangalore recently, left the maiden ranks with an impressive win in the Rajah Saheb of Challapalli Memorial Trophy. Backed down to the exclusion of her rivals, Asbar kept Teak in a handy position behind NRI Sunpower and Grit N Grace and was never off the bridle even though the latter took charge at the bend. Asbar shifted gears on and nudged Teak (Win Legend – Woodberg) slightly in the final furlong and a half and the filly skipped away beyond the reach of her rivals. Evansville took the runner-up spot, beating Speedy Queen by a neck while Grit N Grace finished fourth.
 
The recently licensed rookie apprentice Surendra Singh achieved his maiden win atop Netto-saddled Ayushman in the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Trophy (Div-I). Ek, ridden by another apprentice Swarup Singh, called the early shots and maintained the lead though facing a grim challenge from Ayushman. After going stride for stride in the last furlong, the determination of Surendra paid off as Ayushman gained the upper hand over Ek close home. Grief, done in by the imposing weight on her back, ran third ahead of Lazarus.
 
Last-outing winner Love In Paris from K. Satheesh’s string was fancied strongly by the punters to achieve an encore in the Jatprole Trophy, the day’s concluding event. However, he failed to oblige. Entrusted to rookie VS Shekhawat, LVR Deshmukh-groomed Divine Tiger seized the initiative at the start and came all alone in the home stretch. Although losing pace as the winning post neared, Divine Tiger (Accolade – Vision of Art) was ridden out confidently by Shekhawat as he held on to win by a neck from RS Jodha-ridden Love In Paris, who came with big run from way back, but that effort proved too little, too late. Varada ran third ahead of Power of the Sea who, like Love In Paris, was badly outpaced by the winner.
 
Rank outsider Zorinella (formerly named Kitsune) also outsmarted her rivals by adopting runaway tactics from the word go and went on to score an upset win in the PVG Raju Memorial Trophy, a seven-furlong event for horses in the lowest class. Despite drifting out slightly at the turn, A. Imran Khan-saddled Zorinella (Well Done Fox – Reflections) went on to register her maiden win effortlessly in the hands of AA Vikrant. Apprentice Vikram Singh-partnered on-money favourite Beech Wood finished late to be second, while The Divinely and the winner’s stablemate Exclusive Luck trailed behind.