The early part of the monsoon season in Hyderabad is always dominated by short priced horses which are way below their handicap mark. Since quite a few three year olds would have matured physically, there would be enhancement in their performance capabilities and their easy win is only to be expected. Also the classic hopefuls and Bangalore returnees simply tower over the rest. Under such circumstances, it is only for natural that the opening day`s races on Thursday should see a parade of short priced horses dominating the show. There was also a bombshell in the form of Sprint Saloni who returned a dividend of over 200 to 1 on a fiver! Racing at Malakpet would not be the same if there are no such upsets if only to break the monotony.

In the absence of jockey Pradeep Chouhan who is sidelined by an injury, Imran Chisty reaped a rich harvest by booting home four winners including the one on Magical Spell in the day`s feature, the 1200 metres C R Bhoopal Memorial Cup, a Category II race. Meg held the fort in the final furlong but could not sustain the lead when Magical Spell unleashed a strong run and surrendered the lead. Magical Spell then went ahead and comfortably held off Santa Monica who took a long time to get into rhythm which eventually went against her. Meg ran on to finish third.

Shezad Abbas trained Carlton who had been a solid performer in his first season, had summered at Bangalore. Though he did not win any race, the experience together with the fact that he was fit as a fiddle saw him trounce the field in the 1400 metres S S Cardmaster Memorial Cup (Div I), a Category II race. It looked like the entire field was running a separate race and Carlton was having a mock race in their company. Jockey Suraj Narredu kept Carlton out of trouble as the others went at frenetic space. All that Suraj was required to do was to let Carlton race well within himself on the wide outside. The progeny of Diffident cruised past the rest with the jockey hardly having to move a muscle to win by a widening margin over hard ridden Rio Rojo. Symbol of Victory finished third way behind. The lower division of the race was won by Srinivas Reddy trained Desire who was also another noteworthy performer in winter. Alameda held the initiative when Chisty steadily moved Desire from about the fourth position into strong contention. The two fought briefly but Alameda raced flat and was soon overtaken by Desire who went away for an easy win. Alameda was a comfortable second ahead of Rahul`s Diamond.

Srinivas Reddy`s Dad`s Dollar was at unbackable odds in the 1200 metres Guntur Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. Roma Royal led from the start and was not inclined to give up easily but in the final furlong weakened. Dad`s Dollar got strong at this point and went on to record a facile win. Ivanova ran from behind to take the third spot. Rosemonde who was responsible for long suspension of Pradeep Chouhan last year, led from the start but was no match to favourite Veloz who gradually measured the front runner and won with great deal of ease. Khoshgel, who was made the favourite as he had summered in Bangalore and run forward races, disappointed finishing a poor third.

Desert Bloom took over the running within the first furlong and did not budge from there and won the 1100 metres Subhash Chandra Bose Plate (Div I), a Category III race from favourite Sporting Star. Jockey Rathore on Sporting Star tried to take the gap along the rails, hesitated for a while but still persisted with the same route. Though Sporting Star responded well, Desert Bloom managed to win by a shade less than a length. Apprentice jockey S S Tanwar managed to steer Laxman Singh trained favourite Homely Helo to a start to finish win in the lower division of the race over Arudra who added an element of excitement to the race with a late dash.

Tanwar had earlier in the day was successful on another Laxman Singh trainee Dance To Destiny who trounced the opposition with a start to finish mission, winning by a distance over Western Express in the 1000 metres Anantapur Plate, a Category III race.

Donald Netto trained Sprint Saloni was the biggest upset of the day just about lasting out to win the 1100 metres Fond Hope Plate, a race reserved for horses rated up to 25 which itself indicated that one among non-performers had to win and who was the question that the punters would learn after paying a price for the same! Colourful Prince made a late rally to get past stablemate Over Look to claim the runner up berth.