Laxman Singh trained Isabella thrashed the opposition with disdain in a new record time of one minute 23.84 seconds in the 1400 metres Melbourne Racing Club Trophy, a race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Monday`s Hyderabad races. Jockey Suraj Narredu who is inching closer to riding 2000 winners had a treble for the day.

Isabella was backed to the exclusion of the rest over the more suitable trip of six furlongs. The filly had lost narrowly over a sprint on the last occasion. Jockey Neeraj Rawal kept Isabella in about the third position as Rahil did the pacesetting. Entering the right Rahil gave way to Highly Acclaimed who was running after a long lay off but his lead was short-lived as Isabella pounced on the front-runner with a big effort and sailed clear. Highly Acclaimed stayed on to take the second position ahead of late rallying Phenomenal Cruise. Moon Dancer failed to show his mettle over the extended trip and finished a tame fourth.

The 1200 metres S Rangarajan Memorial Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, proved a minefield for the punters as the fancied trio of Agni, Zamora and Celeritas failed to make it to the winning post with rank outsider Lightning Fin running aggressively in front and staving off a strong bid from another long shot Rapid Fire. Zamora finished third while Agni never got into any sort of a rhythm.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Actually who has enjoyed a good run during the season recorded a start to finish win in the 1600 metres Golconda Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 at long odds. Apprentice jockey Surya Prakash took Actually to the front and the long shot had no problem in staying clear of Avantika, Treasure Striker and Seven Eleven who finished in a cluster in the order mentioned.

Vijays Singham who had changed stables from Deshmukh to Laxman Singh had been bothered by a problem to the hoof which had kept the talented three-year-old out of action for about 323 days. Vijay Singham was quoted at a very short price as there was no doubt about his ability when he lined up for the 1200 metres Star of Stars Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Vijay Singham provided an easy win for Suraj Narredu as the favourite sped clear in the final furlong though Reno Star, under a hard riding by jockey Akshay Kumar, reduced the lead to a length at the finish. Wah Ms Zara who did the early pacesetting stayed on to take the third position ahead of Angel Tesoro. Suraj had another easy win on Hilton Sequeira trained Strategist who proved too good for the opposition in the lower division of the race storming clear of the pack inside the final 200 metres to win with ease from Alliston and Top Saga by a margin of over three lengths. Akshay Kumar drove out favourite Kionia to stave off a strong challenge from Silver Jet to win the Division III of the race. Kionia led from the start with Silver Jet in the chase. The latter put up a big fight in the final furlong and looked like stretching the favourite to the hilt but Kionia skipped away in the end.

Favourite Sarvatra from the stables of trainer Sequeira provided the third win of the day for Suraj as the favourite tackled front-running Freedom of Fire in the final furlong and sped away for a comfortable win in the 1400 metres Prince Regent Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Freedom Fire who was bidding for a hat-trick weakened in the final furlong and even lost the runner-up berth to late-rallying On My Way.

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Vijays Singham (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Star Of Stars Plate (Div-I)

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Lightning Fin (Rafique Sk up) winner of the S. Rangarajan Memorial Plate

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Strategist (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Star Of Stars Plate (Div-II)

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Actually (Surya Prakash up) winner of the Golconda Plate

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Kionia (Akshay Kumar up) winner of the Star Of Stars Plate (Div-III)

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Isabella (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Melbourne Racing Club Trophy

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Sarvatra (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Prince Regent Plate

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