Leo D`Silva trained El Paso was ridden with supreme confidence by jockey Harish and the progeny of Young Senor recorded a comfortable win in the Sri Shamlal Gupta Memorial Cup, a Category I race, the main event of Monday`s races held at Malakpet.

El Paso was also helped by lack of intent on the part of the rider of Reconnect, Imran Khan, who took things easy, kept his horse way off the pace despite the horse traveling well, took the turn miles wide for no apparent reason and gave the erstwhile Derby winner the impossible task of covering more over 10 lengths on the eventual winner. The fact that the progeny of Gasawar came within striking distance of the winner was a suggestive of a different possibility had the jockey of runner up shown his normal riding capability.

	El Paso (Harish up), winner of the Sri Shamlal Gupta Memorial Cup, being led in by trainer Mr. Leo D`silva & Mr.M.Rama Krishna Reddy

El Paso was backed down spiritedly and the only horse which could have stopped his obvious superiority was Reconnect. The rest of the runners did not have the credentials. Reconnect`s last run suggested that he was getting back to his wonted form of the winter season. Bernardo as usual set the pace, with El Paso settled in mid group while Reconnect was eased into the last slot from a forward position early on. Jockey Imran Khan sat still and having committed to come the shortest way, went wide and lost a possible winning opportunity. Jockey Harish brought El Paso into a striking position at the final turn and had the favourite take charge inside the final furlong. El Paso skipped away from his nearest pursuer Hurricane Bay and won from late rallying Reconnect who should make amends next time out.

A number of favourites obliged for the second day running, with punters reaping a rich harvest following these horses which had been on weight shedding mission in the previous season.

Prasad Raju trained Dancing Touch looked a cinch in the Time And Place Plate (Div I) as the distance of five and half furlongs was tailor made for her style of running. Dancing Touch led all the way and held off the late bid of Ivory Snow who finished with a strong run. Another Prasad Raju trainee Light Brigade, who had served notice of early success, had no problems in checking in well clear of Superfluous. Favourite English Indian ran below par while finishing third.

Trainer Vittal Deshmukh won both the divisions of Bakranangal Plate. Storm Force had the form to win the upper division of the race and the daughter of Young Senor readily obliged with a powerful run from behind to have the measure of Flaming Ruby who had seized the initiative in the final furlong. The well bred Jia Yoh Jia Yoh, who had disappointed all along, obliged in the lower division of the race, winning as she pleased from Smarty Prince and Just Be Cool.

Hussler had no problem in beating the opposition in the 1600 metres C Satyanarayana Memorial Cup, a Category II race. Hussler held a striking position early on and then drew clear with a furlong out to win comfortably from Nano War and Fly By Wire.

Da Xia had run a forward run in his last outing and the two-year old was strongly fancied to win the 1000 metres Grace Hanover Plate, a race for first season runners. Alexander Square threatened to spoil the party for the followers of favourite by leading all the way but Da Xia responded well in the final stages of the race and managed to overhaul the front runner in the shadow of the post. Rocking Rocket necked out Art Connoisseur for the third spot.

Jockey Shoban Babu`s poor finishing efforts on favourite Royal Bay enabled lesser fancied Triple Nine to get the nod in the final stride of the race in the 1800 metres Cabaret Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category.