Shiraz Sunderji trained One Wish who had let down expectations with a below-par performance in her last effort was seen in a different light as she trounced the opposition in the 1400 metres R M Reddy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, the feature event of Thursday’s races held at Malakpet. Just like the Omicron virus has proved to be highly contagious and spreading like wildfire, infecting everyone in its wake, the favourites too seem to be infested with the virus as the majority of these horses are playing truant not just here but practically in all centres since last fortnight.

Perhaps the trainer knew that One Wish had performed because of a lack of enthusiasm on the part of his regular jockey C S Jodha and trusted to go with his long-time jockey Ajinkya. One Wish raced up with the field and inside the final furlong, spurted beyond the reach of the rest to win by a widening margin of three lengths. Akido showed some spark when running on late to take the second spot ahead of Intense Approach. Soloist who was the heavily supported horse was never in with a chance as the filly failed to show the spark that most of her supporters expected had believed she was capable.

Mir Faiyaz Ali Khan trained Unsung Hero brought off a big upset in the 1100 metres Shravan Kumar Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Unsung Hero had dropped the jockey last time out and before that had run 10 lengths behind the field and as such, the four-year-old gelding had no takers in the betting. Beauty On Parade received one-sided support to build on her impressive second behind Watch My Stride. The favourite flopped. Chuckit shaped to win as he shot ahead inside the final furlong and had a useful cushion till the closing stages of the race. Unsung Hero came from way off the pace and managed to neck out the front-runner in the waving yards of the race to win at fancy odds. Amyra nosed out Beauty on Parade to save place money.

Srinivas Reddy trained Arthur recorded an easy win in the 1200 metres A S Krishna Memorial Cup, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Arthur had no problem in assuming command down the final furlong skipping clear of Bellagio. Pleroma just about managed to save place money by keeping Lady Di at bay. Pleroma was expected to show improvement because of the benefit of a race run but the filly made no progress.

Trainer Ravinder Singh specializes in winning on long shots. Royal Girl was another to join the list when the six-year-old mare held off a host of her opponents to win the 1600 metres Mulugu Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Royal Gal got the winning nod in the closing stages of the race with Grand Finale, long time leader Rhythm Selection and favourite Sun Dancer all in with a chance but failing narrowly but finishing in the order mentioned. The lower division of the race saw three horses being withdrawn from the fray at the gates due to fractious behaviour. Favourite Lightning Fairy did not run to expectations. Nightmare who was also in serious betting prevailed in the end at the expense of Sorry Darling and Dunkirk.

Sreekant trained Soul Empress won the 1200 metres Twin Star Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category quite easily in the hands of jockey Mukesh Kumar. After favourite Fatuma led from the start and weakened on straightening for home, Soul Empress quickly grabbed the initiative and went storming clear to win the race by a margin of over three lengths. Fatuma was second ahead of Silver Jet.