L.V.R.Deshmukh schooled Vijays Joy (Stern opinion-Jia Yoh Jia Yoh) was classy while clinching the prestigious Darley Arabian Million – Gr.3, at Hyderabad on Monday. It was a hat-trick performance by Vijays Joy, having won all its three starts and also the second successive ‘Million’ triumph. The grey colt faced three opponents with Bangalore challenger Areca Wonder turning out to be the main one. Vijays Joy was speedy at start and set out to lead the pack followed by Chal Raja Chal, Areca Wonder and The Healer. Into the last 400 metres Areca Wonder moved quickly to challenge the leader and at one stage the race looked to be heading for a close finish but Vijays Joy kicked on well under P.S.Chouhan to stay clear by a length and three quarters. Chal Raja Chal finished a faraway third.

Jockey P.S.Chouhan was back to his usual self at Hyderabad, booting home three winners. He rode Deshmukh’s Movie Moghual to victory in the opener and then M.V.Narayana Rao’s Major Dundee in the next. Movie Moghual (Amadeus Wolf-Mina Girl) was sent off as an unbeatable one among the four runners at 10-4 ‘on’ for the Mysore Race Club Cup. The 4 year old was taken to the front at start and stayed that way till the winning post. On entering the home stretch Power Planet and Ocean Side tried to catch up from the outside but failed to match strides with the winner. Brahmani beat the other two to finish second.

Major Dundee (Noverre-Debinnair) who had not finished on board in its two starts rallied well to win the Tungabhadra Cup when piloted by P.S.Chouhan. Save The Nation led the field from the start followed closely by Ondha Ondha Ondha. The duo started to fight out inside the last 200 metres and Major Dundee was asked for an effort from the wide outside. The gelding responded readily and sped past both the front runners and spare three parts of a length at the wire. Ondha Ondha Ondha beat Save The Nation for the third place.

L.D’Silva’s ward Prince Of Arabia (Epicentre-Ice Castle) sprang a surprice in the higher division of the Amarnath Gupta Memorial Cup. Prince Of Arabia took a good start from the outermost draw and headed quickly to the inner fence to lead. The gelding preferred to settle in second when Ashok Chakra stepped up pace to take the lead. Mid-way up the straight jockey Kuldeep Singh started to urge Prince Of Arabia from the outside and the 6 year old did well to surge past and pull it off by a length. Exclusive Beauty was full of running while finishing a close third.

Gaarswood (Home Affairs-Admiration) from R.H.Sequeira’s stables won the lower division. Gaarswood, a winner of its last start was at nourishing odds despite its good showing in the previous four starts and the money revolved around Princess Cruise. Pacific Star and Fair And Square were fighting out in front on the straight with Audacious getting stronger from the outside. As they came into the final furlong the favourite Princess was looking to make her way through horses and then came Gaarswood tearing down from the rear to settle the issue. Audacious, Princess Cruise and Fair And Square filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Laxman Singh trained Vijay’s Splendour (Ikhtyar-Confluence) pulled off an upset in the Amarnath Gupta Memorial Cup.Catherine and Equalizer raced almost together in front and Vijays Splendour progressed swiftly to be in striking position even before straightening up. Passing the 400 metres board Vijay’s Splendour raced ahead to grab the lead and won easily with Olive having to settle for the second place after a vain bid. Sweety Girl and Kohinoor Punch filled the judge’s frame.

Dr.M.A.M.Ramaswamy’s Love For The Game (Noverre-Patricia) won the Might Is Right Plate, a seven furlongs race for maiden 3 year old horses. K.Satheesh’s trainee raced prominently behind Sefarina till entering the straight and then started to challenge from the outside. Love For The Game travelled the better to go ahead and managed to hold on from a fast finishing Silvassa.

Anupam Sharma trained Amazing Weapon (Hurrocane State-Kodava Fire) justified the favouritism in the Singh Plate. Amazing Weapon took charge passing the 800 metres board and maintained a good lead all through the final straight. Globetrotter came in fast towards the closing stages but could only beat Nano Belle for the second place.  

Trainer K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s ward Aston Doulton (Gaswar-Svetlana) scored its second successive win in the Roman Beauty Plate, the concluding race of the day. The 4 year old gelding won the 1200 metres sprint from start to finish, stretching out effortlessly on the final stretch under jockey Suraj Narredu. Scholar Gypsy and True Pearl finished second and third respectively, with a short-head separating them.