Bangalore challenger Striking (Multidimensional-Dazzling Skill), lifted the VIF Stud Godolphin Barb Million – Grade III, a seven furlongs Terms race for three year olds, which featured the eight races card on Sunday at Hyderabad. It was a hat-trick  performance by the filly, sporting the colours of Dr.& Mrs.Vijay Mallya, having won on debut at Bangalore and then winning the Byerly Turk Million at Hyderabad, five weeks ago. Striking, who was going the distance for the first time, was brought in pink of condition by the trainer Suleiman Attaollahi. The filly was sent into the race as the firm favourite against her half a dozen rivals, which included another Bangalore raider, Man of Vision.

Going into the race, Striking relaxed towards the rear in the early part of the race while Musical Knight headed the field, closely followed by Coral Springs, Beau Ideal, Man of Vision and Lucy Diamond. As they rounded the final turn, Striking moved steadily to be at a prominent position behind Musical Knight and Lucy Diamond. Approaching the distance post, Lucy Diamond moved forward but there was no contest when Striking  accelerated under Trevor Patel. Lucy Diamond held on to the second place from Man of Vision, who started to cover ground towards the finish. The rest of the field were far away behind.

Jockey Trevor Patel had a memorable Sunday at Malakpet, booting home four winners. Havok, Okai Okai Okai, and Specialist were the other three winners. Havok (Carnival Dancer-Integra) made a splendid debut appearance in the Chaitanya  Chakram Plate. Havok sped past Globe Trotter inside the last 150 metres to win easily. Any Given Day and Roma Rouge finished third and fourth respectively.

M.V. Narayana Rao trained Okai Okai Okai (Epecentre-Cannon Glow) scored an encore in the higher division of the Artillary Cup. Three runners, San Ramon, Flying Spur and Okai Okai Okai shared the favouritism in the 9 furlongs race. Ponte Verdi went to the lead at start and Flying Spur was quick to run on its haunches as they passed the mile pole. Taking the final turn for home, Flying Spur went past the leader easily and started to extend the margin on the home stretch. Okai Okai Okai, who was in about fifth position on top of the straight, about five lengths from behind Flyin Spur, started to close the gap when the rider Trevor Patel began to get vigorous and surged past in the last 50 metres. Flying Spur finished second in front of Asta La Vista Babe.

Trevor Patel rode  L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Specialist (Tejano-So Perfect) in copy book fashion to win the lower division. Specialist, who had gone down as a favourite in its previous run, was again sent into the race as the favourite at a short price. Any Given Time was withdrawn before the race and the field was reduced to seven. Racing a handy fourth, behind Laurel Canyon, Precisely That and Green Bay, Specialist moved to be third before the bend and picked up momentum approaching the distance post to surge forward with ease. Handsome Hunk came up late but was no threat to the winner and finished second. Precisely That and Green Bay filled the frame.

L.V.R.Deshmukh trained Mystical Knight (Ontario-Royal Applause) managed to pull off a hard fought victory in the R.C.T.C. Cup, a mile  trip for horses in the highest category. Golden Queen went to the front, early in the race and was closely followed by Blazing Asian. Drayton was running third, followed by Mystical Knight and Jabel Queen. On the home stretch, jockey Imran Khan was getting busy on Blazing Asian and Mystical Knight was also getting stronger. Blazing Asian went past the relentless Golden Queen with 100 metres left from the finish but could not carry through as A.M.Tograllu with a piece of some brilliant jockeyship got his mount Mystical Knight to heave forward in the dying moments. Jabel Queen finished with a flash to take the third spot while the long time leader Golden Queen finished fourth.

Trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju saddled a double through Grigori and Camacho Speed. Grigori (Hymn-Steinby) was ridden out strongly by Nilesh Rawal to prevail over Pussy Galore by a ‘head’at the wire in the higher division of the Armagnac Plate, the first race of the day. Into the last 200 metres, Grigori went for it and Cascading Glory shifted towards the fence for a challenge and Pussy Galore getting stronger on the outside. While Cascading Glory failed to match strides and lost out to finish third, Grigori and Pussy Galore went stride for stride towards the winning post. Grigori held on to win in a tight finish.

Camacho Speed (Epicentre-Look At Venus), who had remained winless from 23 runs, finally got into a fine gallop to win the Rayalaseema Cup. Ceremonious shot ahead on entering the straight for the final run. Camacho Speed in about sixth position as they showed up on the straight, was pulled out and when the rider, P.Sai Kumar started to urge his mount, the filly responded brilliantly to speed past the front runners and score. Dakshayani came in late to snatch the second place from Ceremonious.

D.Netto trained Lioness Heart (Young Senor-Al Falujah) put in a resolute gallop inside the last 100 metres to win the Red Refus Plate, the concluding race of the day. The favourite Thirteen Black had taken charge near the distance post and the rider A.Imran Khan was trying hard to keep it going. Lioness Heart rallied strongly on the extreme outside and sped past. All The Fun weaved through the field and was the fastest finishing towards the finish but missed the bus by a ‘short head’. Kansas City Mac finished third, pushing back Thirteen Black to the fourth spot.

For the professionals, Trevor Patel was the best  with a quadruple, while trainers K.S.V.Prasad Raju and L.V.R.Deshmukh scored a brace each. Jockey A.Imran Khan, who joined P.S.Chouhan at the top of the jockey’s tally a couple of days ago, went  home with a blank on the day. Imran Khan had joined the 1000 club when he piloted Mellons Delight to victory on the 19th of May 2012 at Bangalore. The Hyderabad Race Club felicitated A.Imran Khan for this feat by presenting a Silver Salver.