Sreekanth trained Truth maintained the winning form displayed at Bangalore, with a resolute performance in the 1600 metres P G Reddy Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, the feature event of races held on Monday at Malakpet. Truth did not have things easy and had to fight hard with Ramiel before emerging victorious. The defeat of favourites like Original Sin and Mark My Day without even being in the reckoning at any stage of the race was hard to explain and came as a rude shock to the punters.

Truth had recorded a gutsy win over nine furlongs at Bangalore beating Julio by a long neck. On the other hand, Ramiel had run behind Champions Way who figured in the Derby lineup. As such, the two were expected to fight it out. Truth though had more takers than Ramiel. Truth gave a scare to his supporters when he was not smartly out from the gates but the consoling factor was that he was travelling strongly though in the rear group. Ramiel who was handily placed in the front bunch, accelerated for home at the top of the straight. Truth came up with a blistering run and joined the fight with Ramiel. The two fought for a while before Truth asserted his supremacy with a measure of comfort in the hands of jockey Kuldeep Singh who recorded a double having won on the same trainer’s horse in the first race of the day.

Two of the fancied runners in the 1800 metres Basara Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45, had run at Bangalore in the same race and Original Sin had finished a few lengths ahead of Detective. As such, Original Sin started as a favourite but the price drifted out alarmingly in the betting ring so much so that Detective ended up being the favourite. What transpired in the bookmakers’ ring was an indication of the shape of things to come. Original Sin did not get a brisk start, jockey Saqlain was seen pushing the horse for response but the horse only fell back to eventually disappear from the scene and finished last nearly 20 lengths from the winner! Detective who chased Divine Destiny into the straight, stormed clear on turning for home and widened the lead to eight lengths at the finish. Akshay Kumar had it all too easy. Divine Destiny stayed on to take the second spot ahead of Aerial Combat.

Sreekant-trained Planet Super came in for one-sided support to win the 1200 metres Palampet Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Exeter who began as the second favourite steadily lost supporters. There was quiet support for Alcahol Free to upset. Planet Super who chased Exeter into the straight, went sailing clearing but was slackening in the final furlong. Alcahol Free came from way off the pace with a powerful run but failed narrowly to overhaul the front-runner. Faiz was third. Kuldeep Singh rode the winner.

Laxman Singh trained Shadow Of the Moon had Bangalore fitness to boost his credentials in the 140 metres Ascot Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. The support for Shadow of the Moon was unwavering. Yash Narredu had Shadow of the Moon lead from the start and the favourite left his rivals stranded in the final furlong for an impressive win. Lady Racines was second ahead of Terenga.

Last start upset winner Briar Ridge from the stables of trainer Prasad Raju was backed to repeat in the 1200 metres Mount Everest Plate, a race for three-year-olds and upwards. The favourite though was Mark My Day who came in for excessive support. In keeping with the tradition of trainer Satheesh’s horses winning mostly at long odds, Mark My Day was not seen with any chance, finishing far away third. Unsung Hero shaped to win but closer home, the strong finishing effort of jockey Santosh Raj on Briar Ridge saw the latter lunge at the post for a thrilling win. City of Bliss was third.

Trainer Satheesh who had won on three long shots on Sunday, had yet another long-priced winner through Best Buddy who led all the way and held off the late flourish of favourite Royal Grace to win the 1400 metres Bakhtawar Plate (Div III), a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Royal Grace lacked initial speed and though Akshay Kumar got busy early on, he relaxed a wee bit and the favourite fell to the rear group. Royal Grace circled around the field and produced a big effort but Best Buddy, despite veering out of a straight course, had enough legs to reach the safety of the winning post. Royal Grace pinched the second spot from Star Racer by a whisker. For the record, Best Buddy was running after a gap of 336 days.

The last race of the day was eventful. Three horses namely Alexina, Siddharth, and Anab E Shahi came in for big support in the ring for the 1200 metres Jangaon Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The jockey of Alexina, apprentice jockey Ajay Kumar had a bad toss soon after the start as his horse clipped Divine Connection who was in front. Anab E Shahi was sluggish at the gate. Siddharth who had a trouble-free passage, stormed clear on entering the home stretch and won by a widening margin of seven lengths over Anab E Shahi and Nucleus. There was a Stewards enquiry into the fall of the jockey. The Stewards resolved it was an accidental fall and that there was no need to interfere with the result. Ajay Kumar reportedly escaped with minor bruises.