Vittal Deshmukh just about scraped home in the 1400 metres Time And Place Plate, a race for horses rated 66 to 90, the highest rated event of Monday`s Hyderabad races. Racing went on predictable lines with favourites dominating the day`s proceedings barring an odd exception. Perhaps the absence of bookmakers and the attendant pressures had no say as racing with horses having right credentials giving a bold show.

England was obviously the favourite being the better-performed horse in the fray and always enjoyed the hype of being a top-notch horse. After Baazigar led the field into the straight, Zervan did not waste time in pushing the favourite to the front. The progeny of Phoenix Tower bounced clear but he was always in danger of being caught up with by Ashwa Raftar who went in serious chase of the front-runner. The bobbing of heads went in favour of England who won by the shortest of margins. Sensei was third more than eight lengths behind.

Zoheb Shaikh trained Augusta Bombshell was only horse to win against the trend of favourites monopolising the races. August Bombshell who was tailed off last at the final bend, came up with a big run in the homestretch on the wide outside to easily overhaul the front-running favourite Astra in the closing stages of the race. While Gold rallied well to push Astra to the third place. Srinivas Reddy trained Market Leader who was a strong favourite to win the lower division of the race, barely managed to last out and won from Perfection who desperately went all out to overhaul front-runner. Market Leader led from the start and enjoyed a useful lead but in the final furlong, Perfection who was always in chase of the front-runner began to close but in the end, the bobbing of heads went in favour of the front-runner. On The Fire was third a few lengths adrift.

The new resident stallion of Poonawalla Stud Farm Excellent Art had an easy winner through Meritocracy who swamped the opposition in the 1200 metres Medak Plate, a race for maiden two-year-olds. Meritocracy raced in a handy position as On The Fire ran in front and expended his energies on turning for home. Meritocracy smoothly cruised into the lead and won pulling up from Vancouver. On The Fire stayed on to finish third.

Western Wind who had been running consistently but finding it hard to find the winning post ahead of the rest, came good in the 1600 metres Mir Fazzilath Hussain Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 46 to 70. Apprentice Rafique kept Western Wind in the fourth position along the rails as Little Smart Heart set the pace. Western Wind got a lovely run along the rails as the front-runner slightly veered off the rails. Western Wind had the speed to take the gap and then spurted clear to win easily from Wonder Eye and Green Image.

Apprentice jockey Gopal Singh pushed Crown Royal to take charge at the top of the straight and the five-year-old mare immediately established a useful lead which she carried to the winning post to claim the 1400 metres Soviet Star Plate a race for horses rated 46 to 70. Exclusive Monarchy gave a hot chase but found the front-runner unrelenting and sail past the post comfortably. Khoshgel ran on from behind to edge past Lopamudra to save place money.

Sk Kassam`s My Choice proved that predictability in racing can never be taken for granted. Long shot My Choice shot through in the middle inside the final furlong to bring off the biggest upset of the day at the expense of Full of Life and Sefarina who were in strong contention still the closing stages of the race.