Shezad Abbas trained Carlton bounced back to winning form after 228 days when he claimed the 1400 metres Ramakrishnam Raju Memorial Cup, a Category II race that featured the races held at Malakpet on Thursday. Carlton produced a powerful burst with a furlong left in the race to measure the front running favourite Dare Dream to land the spoils.

Dare To Dream was strongly backed to win ahead of Supreme Fairy while Carlton whose sharpness had shown a decline, being available at lucrative odds. Ray of Light and Modern Sniper set the pace with Dare To Dream settled in about the fourth position ahead of Supreme Fairy and Carlton. Rounding the final turn, Dare To Dream swiftly moved places and took over the running with two furlongs left in the race. The progeny of Oath then quickened well but the back breaking weight told on his fortunes as Carlton came home with a big burst of speed from behind. Carlton managed to collar the front runner in the closing stages of the race and spared a length at the finish. Supreme Fairy who was in a striking position, failed to produce the patented burst of speed and ended up a tame third while the early pace setters disappeared without a trace.

Hyderabad`s best three year old Woman O War lived up to that rating when she slammed the opposition in the 1400 metres S Malakonda Reddy Memorial Cup, a Category II race for three year olds. The Srinivas Reddy trained Woman O War had reeled off four wins in a row. The bookmakers were miserly in quoting odds on her. Jockey Imran Chisty settled her in about the fifth position as Whispering Pines who had won back to back races at Bangalore, led the charge within the first furlong. Chisty was confidence personified on Woman O War as he waited unperturbed though he was in danger of running into a road block. A gap ensured in front inside the final two furlongs and Woman O War took the split in the manner of a seasoned horse and changed gears instantly to go storming ahead to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Happy Guy who came from a long way back. Whispering Pines stayed on to finish third ahead of Tiger.

Faisal Hassan trained Faster Than Light had won in Stewards room at Bangalore though but for the interference he would have won that race easily. On the basis of that performance, Faster Than Light went to the post at miserly odds of 45/100. Jockey Akshay Kumar brought Faster Than Light six horses wide at the final turn. The progeny of Oath picked up speed tremendously and strode clear to win by six lengths over O Ms Akilah who held fort till displaced by the eventual winner.

Leo D`Silva trained Par Excellence recorded back to back wins, claiming the 1200 metres Sunny Blossom Plate, a Category III race. The race was a scrappy affair as there was skirmish among horses which were closely bunched together with a furlong left in the race. Nano Dame quickened the best and shot ahead but was floored by the finishing burst of Par Excellence. The winner lacked early speed and was in a spot of bother as she was running into road block. However jockey Pawar angled her out to give her the space to gallop. Par Excellence devoured ground and managed to edge past Nano Dame to win by half a length. Olympic Gold was second ahead of Cloud Dancer.

R H Sequeira trained Eternal Gift brought off a big upset in the day`s opener, the Rani Laxmi Bai Plate (Div I), a Category II race. Eternal Gift led from the start and distanced herself from the rest in the straight to win by a widening margin of six lengths over the well backed Picture Perfect and Pamella. Favourite Kiss N Chase who was struggling at the back, dropped his rider Kuldeep Singh at around the 200 metres marker. Jockey Suraj Narredu on favourite In Command appeared to have settled the issue when his horse put his head in front of Delta Force in the closing strides of the race but the latter fought back aggressively to nose out the favourite in the final yard to win the lower division of the race. In Command shot into the lead inside the final 200 metres and was joined in the battle for supremacy by Delta Force. The two fought a stiff battle for supremacy but in the bobbing of heads, Delta Force prevailed.