Laxman Singh trained Ruby Red, aiming for a hat-trick, effortlessly completed the task with disdainful ease in the 1400 meters Chaitanya Chakram Cup, the feature event of Saturday`s Hyderabad held at Malakpet on Saturday. Despite some unexpected form reversals, with certain horses defying their questionable past performances, the authorities have thus far struggled to curb the erratic form fluctuations that had become a norm at Malakpet.

In another race, Magan Singh Parmar`s trained Strauss, who had previously secured an impressive victory, emerged as the strong favourite over Ruby Red, attempting a hat-trick and competing in a higher category for the first time. However, the race turned out to be a one-sided affair, with Ruby Red surging ahead on the homestretch, leaving no opportunity for others, including the favourite, to catch up. She crossed the finish line with a commanding lead of five lengths, leaving Strauss well behind and Star Medal trailing further.

Ananth Vatsalya orchestrated a coup with Warwick in the 1200 meters Sangam Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Warwick`s previous failure as a favourite may be the reason why he was overlooked in the betting ring, where the focus was on Mix The Magic and Antidote. Zadelle, returning after a year, diverted punters` attention, having previously run close to the subsequent classic winner Livermore before encountering setbacks. However, Warwick, ridden by Ashhad Asbar, took the lead on the home stretch, hugging the rails and securing victory by a margin of over four lengths. Mix The Max finished second, followed by Antidote. The lower division of the race witnessed a similar outcome, with Chica Bonita, heavily backed, falling out of contention early on. Dali`s Destiny, guided by apprentice jockey Ajay Kumar, effortlessly overtook the leaders in the final two furlongs, securing a substantial lead well before the finish line. Park Lane finished second, with Deccan Daisy claiming the third position.

The trainer M R Chauhan had found the recent performance of Life`s Living perplexing but later it was found that the horse had bled during the race. After a 62-day break, and now racing under the care of Donald Netto, Life`s Living, previously finishing poorly in the last race, didn`t attract betting attention. The 1100 metres Zoom Zoom Plate featured favourites Alexina and Adbhut. Taking the lead under jockey Kuldeep Singh, Life`s Living secured victory well before the final furlong, leaving contenders Happy Go Lucky, Alexina, and Adbhut in futile pursuit. Had it not been for the racing incident reported after the trainer had no reason to offer for the poor run and the horse finishing last, it would have been another case of total reversal of form of horses which has been the bane of racegoers who look to base their choice based on merit.

Leo D`Silva, the trainer of Kenaf, was one of the relatively few well-supported horses fulfilling expectations on the day. In the 1100 meters Zoom Zoom Plate (Div II), a race designed for horses with ratings falling within 40 to 65, Kenaf attracted substantial backing, overshadowing all other contenders. Despite encountering a hiccup, with apprentice jockey Shivansh struggling to maintain the horse an even keel and veering out, the favourite pulled through. This deviation could have potentially impacted the outcome, especially as Divine Connection appeared poised for victory close to the rails. However, Kenaf`s evident superiority in the competition ultimately secured the win for the favourite. Magnum, who enjoyed support from backers, led the field well into the straight but faltered, settling for a third-place finish.

Smaller fields tend to be fertile ground for unexpected outcomes, and this trend held true in the case of In Proposito, trained by Hilton Sequeira. Seizing the lead right from the start, In Proposito gallantly maintained the lead throughout and tenaciously fended off a formidable challenge from the more seasoned Cannon Rose. The favoured Rolls Royce, however, followed an erratic path, taking the turn wide and compromising all chances due to a lack of early speed. Despite a strong finishing effort that brought Rolls Royce close to the winner, he couldn`t clinch victory. Linda, despite steady betting interest in the filly, ended up a disappointing fourth after altering her course in the straight.

Ananth Vatsalya achieved a double for the day when Sadiya, largely overlooked in the betting arena, exhibited unexpected prowess and surged forward with a remarkable effort in the closing stages of the 1100 meters Next Move Plate. This race, designed for horses rated up to 25, proved to be a challenging battleground, and it came as no surprise that Setastar and Inderdhanush, the two horses that attracted higher volumes of betting, failed to secure positions anywhere close to the eventual winner. In a tightly contested finish for the minor places, another Vatsalya-trained horse, Reigning Queen, managed to fend off challenges from My Master and Blue Brigade, securing the runner-up position.