Satish Narredu trained Wind Wonder showed quantum improvement over his last week`s effort where he had dead-heated with Sweet Secret by swamping the opposition in the 1400 metres F K Irani Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Thursday`s races. Apprentice jockey Kiran Rai had a profitable day booting home a treble.

Winston had been running consistent races without winning for 411 days. Yet he got acceptance as a favourite based on his third to Duma. Wind Wonder on the other hand had run only last week where he had dead heated over six furlongs after being full stretched. The fact that he was running within a week perhaps may have been the reason why he was allowed to run at nourishing odds where as by virtue of the number of wins he had recorded in his career and the fact that he had seen better company, he should have been the more preferred runner. However, those who put faith in his abilities stood to benefit.

Pradeep Chouhan had Winston dictating the pace from the word `go` with Wind Wonder eased along the rails in about the fourth position. Castle King and Visionist kept company with the front runner. Rounding the final turn, Srinath chose a difficult passage to make his run and it took a long while before he could get a narrow opening on the outside of the front runner. The progeny of Noverre showed tactical brilliance in taking the gap and quickened brilliantly inside the final 200 metres. In the end, Wind Wonder won pulling up by two lengths. Winston just about saved the runner up berth from Inquisition while Frenemee came from a long way back to finish fourth.

Satish Narredu`s other trainee Son of Stars looked a good thing in the 1200 metres D Gopalaraj Urs Memorial Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 especially after the runaway victory of Country`s Beauty earlier in the day as he had beaten the three year old filly in comprehensive vision on the opening day of the season. Backed strongly to win, Son of Stars however took a long time in the straight to assert his superiority which he did inside the winning post. Thejaguar chased him from the start but found the front runner unrelenting and had to settle for the second slot. Zagato played up at the gates, hurt himself and was withdrawn from the fray.

Ganapathy trained Republic Star lost a wining opportunity as he lugged in badly, refused to come onto his galloping leg, cut an erratic course in the lower division of the race. Amit Cady`s Power of Time sprang a surprise in the hands of apprentice Ramu to stave off the challenge of the well backed Vito. Republic Star veered outwards at the jump, improved places on the wide outside and came up with a strong run in the straight to briefly head the field before running outwards. Jockey Christopher did his best to get the horse on an even keel but the well bred three year old refused to budge from his wayward ways. Republic Star ended a close third. If the trainer is able to sort out whatever is bothering the horse, he should strike in his next outing itself.

The day`s biggest upset came in the 1400 metres M P Appaya Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The fancied runners Living Legend and Simpleton flattered to deceive in the homestretch. In a swiftly changing scenario, it was the friendless Indian Royalty who came through with a powerful run to land the spoils at the expense of stablemate and last start winner Hard To Pin Down. The lower division of the race saw Trust Me Boy losing the trust of the punters with big money coming on Starstruck. Though Trust Me Boy loitered at the wrong end of the field till the final bend, he made quick progress in the straight to eventually get the better of Starstruck close home helping Ramu to record a double for the day. Ground Marshall was far away third.

Feroz M Khan`s Country`s Beauty was backed with conviction to go one better on her previous performance in the 1100 metres Mysore Jewellery Mart Trophy. Country`s Beauty shot off like a scalded cat from the gates and was hailed a winner long way from home. Albatross and Rising Little Star checked in several lengths behind the winner.

The well backed Arun nosed out AJ One in the 1600 metres Secunderabad Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Arun came through the middle with a strong run in the final furlong and just about managed to prevent AJ One from overhauling him. AJ One was little sluggish at the start but that did not make the difference. Chouhan hasn`t been the same after a couple of hard falls in recent times and his fitness and driving finish are not at the same level as before.

Despite a poor start, For Your Eyes Only steadily improved places before gaining ascendancy in the final furlong on the wide outside in the 1400 metres Jaganmohana Palace Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class. Favourite New Sunrise who held the lead till the closing stages of the race had to settle for the second slot as the eventual winner proved too good. Happiness was third. Apart from Indian Royalty, the others winners for Kiran Rai came on Arun and For Your Eyes Only.