Anupam Sharma trained Ashok Chakra (Rebuttal-Bellinda) made it a start to finish affair in the Alcock Arabian Million (Grade III), a seven furlongs terms event for three year olds, which featured Sunday’s races at Hyderabad. Ashok Chakra took a quick start and led the field, closely followed by Sweet Candy, Sheer Genius and Flying Spur, with Any Given Time trailing the field after a sluggish beginning. As they raced into the home stretch, Sweet Candy started to wear out and Sheer Genius made a strong bid but jockey N.S.Parmar kept Ashok Chakra going in front to win by half a length.

Jockey M.A.Gallagher showed his strength while guiding L.V.R.Deshmukh’s Rapture Of Victorty (Alnasr Alwasheek-Raptures) to score an encore, in the H.P.Mistry Memorial Cup, a seven furlongs race for horses in the highest category. Iaepetus and Vijay’s Conquer were disputing the lead as they approached the last 200 metres of the race and Gallagher was getting busy on Rapture Of Victory, almost four lengths behind. The son of Alnasr Alwasheek responded brilliantly to Gallagher’s urgings and moved resolutely to settle the issue. Rosemead and Yakshagana moved late, to take the second and third places respectively.

Jockey P.A.Culhane had Laxman Singh’s Hidden Destiny (Eljohar-Lucky Mining) prominently in front, right from the start in the Artillary Cup and entered the straight with a clear three lengths advantage. The race favourite Grand Connection made a bid, moving from behind but fell short by half a length at the finish.

Trainer Anupam Sharma was the most successful professional on the day, sending home a quadruple. Jockey Carlos Henrique rode Ache For Love and Qinghuangdao to lift the higher and lower divisions of the Royal Prince Plate respectively, while apprentice G.Sai Vamshi was successful on Danny in the Grace and Strength Plate.

Qinghuangdao (Epicentre-Moon Beam) scored a stunning upset, to beat the favourite Crown Crystal on the post. After stumbling within the first 100 m, Carlos let Qinghuangdao bide her time at the rear. In the home stretch, the filly was still lost in the crowd but was found to be making room for herself through horses. Producing a resounding gallop in the last 100 m, Qinghuangdao got up in the nick of time, to win by the shortest of margins.

Ache For Love (Black Cash-Calliope) was another of Anupam Sharma’s ward who played villain to the followers of money. The favourite Vijay’s Jet had taken charge inside the last two furlongs and was well in front and a win looked imminent, but as the popular saying goes, the race is not won till you cross the winning post, Ache For Love was the one who upset the apple cart of the favourite. Ache For Love was pulled out to be given a run widest of all, after hugging the inner rails till the top of the straight and covered almost a street to be there at the all important end.

Danny (Don Micheletto-Upper Brook) won the concluding race of the day, after covering over 100 metres in the final straight. Exquisite Delight led all the way and had a lead of over a distance even inside the final furlong. Danny was in fourth and started to bridge the gap at a rapid pace, while Exquisite Delight also began to shorten his strides in front. Danny was successful in moving ahead, close to the winning post, while Shades of Victory got the better of Exquisite Delight for the second place.

Shamsuddin’s ward, Prince Palladin (Dark Nile-Racing Dream) who had not found foot in his recent runs, galloped well under J.H.Christopher, to lift the higher division of the Patrons Cup. Combined Force, Sea Runner and Audacious filled the frame in that order.<

The grey, Silver Crown (Placerville-Silver Academy) from Sk.Kassam’s stables surged ahead of Golden Adagio mid way up the straight and trounced the field by six lengths, in the lower division.

Apprentice G.Sai Vamshi had started the day, by booting home Narayana Rao’s Okai Okai Okai (Epicentre-Cannon Glow) to victory, in the Mother’s Boy Plate. Vijay’s Winner looked good inside the last 100 metres but Okai Okai Okai moved strongly to get the better by three parts of a length at the wire.