L.D’Silva trained Palm Springs (Placerville-Shalaya) scored a resounding win in the Alcock Arabian Million Gr.3, the plum event of Sunday’s races at Hyderabad. Seven youngsters lined up for the start of the seven furlongs Terms race for 3 year olds. Palm Springs with wins in her last two outings and bidding for a hat-trick was ignored in the betting while Fastest Finger garnered maximum support. Palm Springs got to the lead quickly at start and maintained a steady pace, with Fastest Finger in chase. Inside the last 200 metres, Palm Springs continued to bowl along in front, under apprentice G.Sai Vamshi. The favourite, Fastest Finger,  was under severe pressure when asked to quicken and finished second. Hometown Hero improved to be third.

Trainers S.A.Shehzad Abbas and M.Sathyanarayana saddled a double each while apprentice Kiran Naidu was the only jockey to pick up two winners. Imran Khan and P.S.Chouhan, who are keenly contesting for the top spot among the jockeys, got a winner each to keep their scores  level. With the championship to be decided on Monday, the two are bound to be at their best, to get to the top.

The Leader and Dark Avenger were the victors from Shehzad’s stables. The Leader (China Visit-Lei), who has hit a purple patch, earned its fourth successive win, in the H.P.Mistry Memorial Cup. Nasheeta went to the front early, to head the field of four, with Proof, Surya Lakshmi and The Leader racing behind in a single file. Into the home stretch, the four of them spread out with all of them making a strong bid. Surya Lakshmi emerged in front with about 100 metres left from home and The Leader rallied strongly on the extreme outside to snatch the victory at the wire. Proof and Nasheeta finished third and fourth respectively.

Dark Avenger (Don Michelleto-Royal Shine), won the Southern Glory Plate, beating the stable mate Star Value. The Himalayas was the first one to show up on the final straight and jockey Imran Khan guided Dark Avenger along the inner rails to take charge with 300 metres left. Star Value rallied strongly from the outside but failed to match the pace of Dark Avenger. Sanjaa and Lioness Heart filled the frame.

Apprentice Kiran Naidu rode Donald Netto’s Catalina (Sharp Attack-Stolen Blessing) to a maiden win, in the Apprentice Jockey A.Pramod Goud Memorial Cup. Yours Truly showed plenty of initial speed to get to the lead, coming out from an outward draw. Catalina settled well to track the leader. Into the final furlong, Yours Truly was unyielding in front and Catalina was being ridden out by Naidu to get the better. The two raced together in the last 100 metres and Catalina moved forward towards the closing stages to win by three parts of a length.

Naidu wrapped up with a thumping win on M.Satyanarayana trained Emerald Reef (Emerald Cat-Shimmering), in thelower division of the Charon Plate, the concluding race of the day. The 5 year old, who has defied penalty repeatedly, completed a hat-trick. Racing in front with an advantage over Travaldo, till the final bend, Emerald Reef stretched out with ease on the home straight, to win by a comfortable margin. Aarohan just about managed to beat Travaldo for the second place.

Sathyanarayana had earlier led in Aventus (Ace-Starboard), in thehigher division of the Prince Khartoum Plate, a 5 ½ furlongs dash for maiden 3 year olds. Running three off the fence in bout fifth position till the final turn, Aventus made its bid on the extreme outside. Going past the front runners quickly, Aventus drew away from the rest to win by a lengthening margin. Proud Image, Staminoizd and Queen of The Stars filled the frame in that order.

Anupam Sharma’s Brianna (Tejano-Traffice Police) scored a stunning upset in the higher division of the Charon Plate. Carlos Henrique had the 5 year old mare in the lead from the word ‘go’ and made every post a winning one. Young Sapper rallied late to get the better of Crown Castle in the shadow of the winning post. The favourite Tico Tico finished fourth. Rose Queen was a non-starter in the race. 

Ananth Vatsalya trained Kohinoor Adhira (Epicentre-Mikado), winless from sixteen runs, went on a start to finish mission and successfully pulled it off, in the Republic Plate. Itsy Bitsy was up with a challenge in the last 200 metres but Kohinoor Adhira kicked on gamely and Itsy Bitsy had to be content with the second place. Fashionista came from way behind to take the third place, ahead of Vijetha.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan’s lone win came through R.H.sequeira schooled Rahul’s Diamond (Black Cash-Czarina), in the lower division of the Prince Khartoum Plate, the opener of the day. On a debut run, Rahul’s Diamond outclassed Stamp of Class. Tracking Stam of Class till the top of the straight, Rahul’s Diamond moved ahead effortlessly to register a fine win on debut. Any Given Day and Deal Maker finished third and fourth respectively.