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Satheesh trained Mark My Word was hard ridden by jockey Suraj Narredu to contain the challenge of Ashwa Bahula to win the 1600 metres Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup, a race for horses 60 to 85, the feature event of Sunday`s Hyderabad races. Jockey Akshay Kumar, as usual, stole the limelight booting home three winners.
Mark My Word as is his wont went at a good clip in front with second favourite Ashwa Bahula in a handy third position. Imran Chisty angled out Ashwa Bahula in the stretch to get a clear run to essay a strong challenge to Mark My Word and these two fought every inch of the final furlong but the former just about held on to win by a whisker. Ashwa Bahula slightly shifted out under pressure and this made a critical difference to the outcome as the verdict was only a nose. Nimble Mind was third. The win perhaps came as a big relief for jockey Suraj Narredu who had been losing in tight finishes.
Trainer Ananth Vatsalya who is enjoying a glorious run especially in the lowest category races had a runaway winner in Yogastha who swamped the opposition in the 1800 metres P V G Raju Memorial Cup, a race for horses in the lowest category. Apprentice jockey Afroz Khan who was back in the saddle after a scary fall last week kept the fancied runner in the second position as Story Teller went at a breakneck speed in the front. Inside the final 300 metres, the front-runner weakened and Yogastha easily tackled Story Teller and stormed away for an effortless win by a margin of four lengths. NRI Flame came from the last position to finish third. Favourite Royal Avenger made no progress from the rear and finished in the ruck.
The younger Akshay Kumar is consistently producing his best even as Suraj Narredu is finding winners hard to come by on the local circuit which was once his preserve. Suraj on Celeritas was beaten on the post by Esteva who was powerfully driven out to get the better of Celeritas in the closing strides of the race. Esteva displaced Celeritas as the favourite close to race time. Celeritas got the lead inside the final furlong but Esteva who was breathing down her neck managed to get the nod as Suraj was unable to get that bit extra from the fancied runner to win the 1200 metres Raja Saheb of Challapalli Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Private Empire showed flourish in the final furlong to end up as a close third.
Akshay Kumar drove out Leo D`Silva trained Nova Scotia to stave off the challenge of Mahashakti to win the 1600 metres Jatprole Cup (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Tapatio led well into the straight but Nova Scotia who was in a handy position shot ahead with a furlong left in the race. Mahashakti put up a strong challenge but Nova Scotia had enough legs to keep the lead. Monte Rei came from way off the pace to take the third position ahead of the pace-setter Tapatio. Laxman Singh trained No Compromise was alerted to the task approaching the final furlong and the on-money favourite accelerated tremendously and overtook Star of Tiara to record an easy win in the lower division of the Jatprole Cup. Mind Reader attempted runaway tactics but weakened approaching the final 300 metres. Star of Tiara then burst into a good lead but had no legs to carry the lead to the post as No Compromise finished with a rattle to overwhelm the front-runner. Miss Marvellous ran on from way behind to snatch the third position at the expense of the long-time leader Mind Reader.
Jockey Ashhad Asbar aggressively drove out favourite Zamora to nail Mon General on the post in the 1200 metres S N Reddy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Mon General led from the start and had a useful break going into the final furlong. Zamora had some leeway to cover on the front-runner, but the favourite rallied strongly to snatch the verdict in the final stride of the race. The jockeys were not permitted to carry the whip in this race. Shaquille who had given a hot chase to Mon General till the final furlong weakened to finish third.
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Satheesh trained Happy Together made it a start to finish affair in the 1100 metres Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Happy Together swept into the lead with a brisk jump from the gates and thereafter it ceased to be a race as the favourite was not challenged by any of the runners. Apprentice jockey Jitendra Singh had an arm-chair ride. Stablemates Magic Street and Crimson Fire occupied the next two slots behind the winner.
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No Compromise (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Jatprole Cup (Div-II)
Yogastha (Afroz Khan up) winner of the P.V.G. Raju Memorial Cup
Esteva (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Raja Saheb Of Challapalli Memorial Cup
Nova Scotia (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Jatprole Cup (Div-I)
Zamora (A Ashhad Asbar up) winner of the S.N. Reddy Memorial Cup
Mark My Word (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup
Happy Together (Jitendra Singh up) winner of the Nawab Sultan Ali Khan Memorial Cup
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