The transformation of Champion Star has been truly amazing. The progeny of Hymn who began his winning streak in the lowest category recorded his fourth straight win in splendid fashion in the Shri Narsingh Raj Memorial Cup, a Category II race, which highlighted the races held at Malakpet on Monday. The Narayan Rao trainee is in tremendous form and considering the ease with which he beat a creditable opposition, more wins are in store for this four-year old who should be followed till beaten.

Champion Star was backed to maintain his winning streak though there were many decent performers in the race. Jockey Nitin Singh had no hesitation in taking Champion Star to the front and the favourite was traveling so well at the top of the straight that the jockey could look back inside the final two furlongs itself and then had to merely guide the horse to a comfortable win late finishing Dancing touch and long time leader Red Fairy. Though the connections have restricted him to five furlongs, relying on his tremendous speed, there is no doubt that if and when the connections decide to extend his trip, there is no doubt that he will keep his record intact. Such has been the authoritative nature of his wins.

The day’s races ran kindly for favourites as the majority of races were won by public fancies. Leo D’Silva has a good type of a youngster in Davenport who won the mile long race for three-year olds in impressive fashion. After being held up in the rear, Davenport covered ground steadily in the straight and went sailing clear to win as he pleased. Mayfair Girl edged out long time leader Above The Line in the dying moments of the race to snatch the second spot.

Carte Blanche has been somewhat of a let down. After the promise he had showed while finishing fourth in the Guineas, there had been a significant drop in form. However, he redeemed his reputation somewhat by winning the Brown Sugar Plate (Div II) , holding off the challenge of late rallying Alcohology. Dash of Class led the field into the straight and put up a dogged resistance before Carte Blanche sneaked ahead. Alcohology who got a clear run on the wide outside, finished on purposefully to take the runner up berth. The tactics adopted on Integer was cause for surprise in the upper division of the race. The fancied runner was raced more like a pacemaker in the mile long trip and the effort told on him as he ran out of steam well before the race took a serious turn and finished in the rut. Bella Coola came through the middle to go ahead inside the final furlong and then held off the challenge of See You There and Rostock.

The superior riding skills of jockey Suraj Narredu tilted the scales in favour of Citi Dancer in the 2200 metres Sunny Blossom Plate. Citi Dancer was strongly challenged by Canopus in the final furlong and both of them raced almost in a line, with Canopus seizing the initiative for a stride or two. However, Suraj was able to induce Citi Dancer to produce that bit extra to gain the verdict in his favour.

A quiet touch was brought off on Title Shot in the Jockey Kavan Kariappa Memorial Cup. Title Shot who graced the wrong end of the field, improved places on the wide outside and easily surged ahead of the front-running Lucky Damsel to record a comfortable win. Embattled who had come down in his category accounted for the opposition in the lower division of the race. Embattled had to be driven out by jockey Gnaneshwar to get the measure of front running Tigana.

Trainer Satynarayana’s horses can be expected to spring a surprise when least expected. Fair Touch was one such who came from way off the pace to edge out the front-running Pretty Fit in the shadow of the post to win at nourishing odds in the Hovercraft Palte (Div I). Flaming Ruby was another horse who was running in an ordinary company after having been waited with for the desired mark and obliged though she had to be ridden out to win from late flashing Debonaire who edged out stablemate Lucrative for the runner up berth. Lucrative has been a money spinner and has always been on board though success has eluded the seven year old mare who is now due for retirement.