Bangalore challenger Areca Wonder (Lord Admiral-African Sky / Kunigal Stud) scored an impressive win in the prestigious Godolphin Barb Million – Grade III, the main event at Hyderabad on Monday. The 3 year old chestnut colt trained by B.Puttanna had arrived at Malakpet with one win from two starts. Areca Wonder ended up as the runner-up in the Darley Arabian Million and trainer Puttanna reposed faith in the youngster’s capabilities and kept him back for this race.

Areca Wonder sent off as the favourite among the six runners at 10-9 ‘on’ shot to the front as the race started. Tiger settled well in second with O Ms Akilah moving up quickly along the fence to run in third early on. That’s My Darling, Escalante and Time For Fun followed the front bunch. Into the last 400 metres Areca Wonder was still travelling nicely under Suraj Narredu and Tiger was already under pressure when pressed for an effort. Areca Wonder kept the momentum going effortlessly while Tiger just managed to hold on to the runner-up berth from Escalante. That’s My Darling finished a close fourth.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained Celestial Fire (Arabian Gulf-Dannenberg/Manjri Stud) scored an encore in the Smt.Teegala Sulochana Reddy Memorial Cup. The filly having won a 1100 metres dash in her last start was neglected in the betting, sent off as a 10-1 shot for the mile trip. Tracking Wonder Star almost from the beginning, Celestial Fire surged ahead on entering the straight and staved off Poll Promise’s challenge. Chal Raja Chal finished third, while the race favourite Time To Climb was a tame fourth.

The race instituted in memory of trainer J.S.Dhariwal was divided into two. Trainer R.H.Sequeira’s Meg (Black Cash-Little Cindrella) whose last win was over a year ago, won the higher division. Rajkumar set off on a start to finish bid and came into the home stretch with a lead of about three lengths but started to shorten his stride inside the last furlong. Meg began to move up strongly from behind and forged ahead. Rajkumar was joined by Midnight In Paris towards the finish and the two were dead-heated for the second place. Travaldo ended up fourth.

Faiyaz Shaikh trained Marquise (Sharp Attack-Albuerque) pulled off an upset in the lower division. Marquise came out well from the outermost draw and moved quickly towards the inside to be in touch with Twinklingofaneye and Komo Komo Komo. Marquise and Komo Komo Komo were in a duel on entering the straight for a while and the former surged forward. Proud Image started to raise a gallop late and the lead was diminishing but Marquise held on by a neck at the wire. Glorious View and Komo Komo Komo finished third and fourth respectively.

Trainer D.Netto saddled a double through Jerrell and Sterling Finish in the first two races respectively. Jerrell a 20-1 shot scraped through to win the Armagnac Plate. Vijay Vidyut was slightly ahead approaching the distance post with the favourite Valerian Steel being ridden out from the outside. Jerrell in the meanwhile slipped in along the rails and grabbed the lead. Vijay Vidyut came up with renewed challenge but fell short by a short-head. Valerian Steel was third another half a length away.

Sterling Finish (Tejano-Camarioca / Kunigal Stud) won the lower division of the Grace And Strength Plate. Jockey Louis Beuzelin Settled Sterling Finish nicely in third and brought the filly to challenge the favourite Khalis Gold on top of the straight. The two fought out for almost a furlong and Sterling Finish travelled the better inside the last 100 metres to wrap it off. Classic Emerald and Jaz Elle finished third and fourth respectively.

M.Sathyanarayana trained Regal Groom (Placerville-Timely One / Poonawalla Stud) held on by a short-head to justify the favouritism in the higher division, the concluding race of the day. Regal Groom who had remained a maiden after fourteen starts was the 11-10 favourite for the mile trip. Setting off on a start to finish mission, Regal Groom had a useful lead of nearly three lengths 300 metres from home. Graceland began to creep up close to the fence and covered the leeway but fell short by a short-head at the finish.

Trainer R.H.Sequeira had earlier in the day led in Undu Undu Undu (Wquitable-Dama Grande) on its maiden win in the higher division of the Columbia Plate. Racing a handy third behind Symbol Of Pride and Vista till mid-way up the straight, Undu Undu Undu surged ahead easily to justify the favouritism. Vista finished second with Italian Cypress ending up third.

L.V.R.Deshmukh’s ward Azazil (Tariq-Vivienne) made it a start to finish affair in the lower division. The 4 year old gelding sent off as the favourite among the seven runners for the 1100 metres scurry was taken to the front by jockey P.S.Chouhan with stable companion Typhoon racing a close second. Into the straight for the final 400 metres Azazil stretched out nicely to extend the lead and spared two and a half lengths to Rocky Hill who came on late to beat Typhoon.