Donald Netto trained Havelock Cruise who hadn`t seen the winning post for a longish period benefitted by the good forward run of his last effort and asserted his supremacy with an easy win over favourite NRI Valley in the 1600 metres Dundoo Ekambar Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday`s Hyderabad races. The extended trip of a mile and the modest opposition suited Havelock Cruise`s cause.

Skipton ran freely in front enjoying a lead of over five lengths with Havelock Cruise in the second position ahead of NRI Valley and the rest. Favourite Lightning Bolt was at the wrong end of the field and did not give hope at any stage of the race. Skipton led the field well into the straight before Havelock Cruise steadily improved and sailed past the front-runner who persisted doggedly. N R I Valley shaped to overhaul the front-runner but apprentice Abhay Singh failed to add punch to his drive. Havelock Cruise in the hands of Vikrant reached the safety of the winning post without much fuss. Skipton stayed on to finish third and looks ready for a bold show.

The same combination of Netto and Vikrant was also successful through favourite Maximum Glamour in the 1800 metres K Srinivas Reddy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Limoncello had an unopposed lead in the front with Vikrant easing Maximum Glamor in about the fourth position. Vikrant got busy approaching the final bend and managed to get Maximum Glamour to collar the longtime leader approaching the final furlong. Though Limoncello offered stiff resistance, she weakened but nevertheless managed to keep the third position from the late rallying Kesariya Balam who was running after a longish absence from the track. Maximum Glamour was chased home by Just Incredible who once again ended up being second best.


Anant Vatsalya trained Wallop And Gallop brought off a long priced win in the 1600 metres Venus De Milo Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. Quality Warrior led from the start and though he drifted out of a straight course in the stretch, he held the lead till overhauled by the eventual winner. Fancied Aryaman came into contention when he headed the field inside the final 300 metres but the horse broke down throwing his jockey Vikrant to the ground. Quality Warrior thus held the lead till Wallop And Gallop who came from the last position produced a strong gallop and managed to sail past the front-runner with a measure of comfort. Golden Amaris was third. Favourite Bandit King from the stables of trainer Laxman Singh produced a tremendous burst of speed in the final furlong to snatch the issue from Dream Station and Special Effort in a three-horse finish.

Under a driving finish from jockey Mukesh Kumar, November Rain produced a good finishing burst to nose out favourite Moringa in the final stride of the 1800 metres Red Indian Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Campania led all the way and was not inclined to give up easily as he held the lead till the final 100 metres. Stablemate Moringa then took charge and shaped to win but November Rain finished so aggressively that he was able to snatch the verdict in a thriller. Campania stayed on to save the place money from Greek`s Ace by a whisker.

Hilton Sequeira trained Aerial Combat who was sporting the blinkers proved too good for the opposition in the 1200 metres Be My guest Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. After Ashwa Jauhar ran freely in front and weakened in the stretch, Aerial Combat produced an aggressive effort in the final furlong and went sailing clear in the hands of apprentice jockey Abhay Singh and won with a great deal of ease for favourite General Atlantic who was left to cover too much ground on the eventual winner. California Beauty ran on to finish third. Donald Netto trained Beauty On Parade proved too strong in the lower division of the race, winning as she pleased from Curcumin and Nearest. Stunning Force who had takers in the betting ring was a tame fourth.

Long shot Elmira from Leo D`Silva`s stables bolted to the front from the beginning and was so far ahead that the late charge by Flamingo Fame had no bearing on the verdict. The front runner won the 1200 metres Solario Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category with something to spare. Thunder Road who came in for big betting ran on late and finished third without giving hope at any stage of the race.