You got to doff your hat to the Hyderabad camp. A 1-2 finish in the first classic of the summer season, the Fillies Championship Stakes after Lady In Lace produced a sterling performance in her maiden effort this season has provided the nawabs a big reason to smile. They no more are the small brothers being bullied nor pushovers. They time and again have proved that they do have the ability to produce winning performances on the big stage and after the exploits of Lady In Lace and Corfe Castle in Mumbai, Punjabi Girl emerged the best of her age and sex in the fillies classic on Sunday beating statemate Realmsoffantasy to the delight of the Hyderabad contingent.

It was another Hyderabad hopeful Catalonia from Deshmukh’s yard, who was the favourite in what appeared a very open classic.  Isn’t She Lovely from Padmanabhan’s yard after her impressive debut spearheaded the local challenge while Oomph and Natalma provided hope to the Mumbai brigade.

Punjabi Girl, who joined Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard before the summer season reigned supreme unleashing a goof turn of foot in the final furlong after gracing the wrong end of the field for most part of the mile long trip. Leading pro Trevor Patel was at his brilliant best on the winner from the Dasmesh Stud Farm and the daughter of Win Legend, who disappointed most in her first effort produced her best when it mattered most.

Realmsoffantasy assumed command at the distance post and shaped like a winner before the best girl from Punjab stormed up to corner glory in resplendent style. Isn’t She Lovely did well to finish third ahead of Catalonia. The Padmanabhan ward, it was clear lacked the experience in the big test and this effort will help her graduate to the big league in the months ahead.

You need to stand up and applaud Neil Darashah for Dancing Dragon’s sublime efforts. The bred in the purple star performer recorded his fourth straight success winning the Winners’ Circle Trophy in a common canter and it will surprise most if Dancing Dragon fails to emerge the Horse Of The Season this summer. It is learnt that this quality performer had a few health issues before Neil nursed him and sorted him out and from the time he started to win, it has been one good run for the roses for this supremely talented gelding. Trainer Nithyanand has saddled Dancing Dragon this season who is ready for the high-five when saddled next.

After failing to snuff out the challenge of Cold Frontier in her last effort, Sedulous produced her best in the hands of Zervan to come up tops in the V Venugopal Naidu Memorial Cup run over a distance of seven furlongs. Capo Di Capi from Sulaiman’s yard garnered the maximum support in the event but after being favourably placed the favourites failed to quicken and eventually finished in the ruck. The winner on the strength of this victory is set to provide an encore.

Mischief Flyer like Sedulous posted a convincing victory after failing to register a win in his last effort. Pradeep Chouhan pushed the joint favourite ahead the moment the 10 contestants came under the starter’s flag for the lower division of the Ich Dien Plate and the winner never let the initiative slip hanging on bravely to score from Love For Life. Brunesco from Azhar Ali’s yard, who was backed heavily and ended a joint favourite with Mischief Flyer, it appeared had lost his galloping shoes and finished a poor fourth.

The lower division of the event was claimed by Grecian Light from trainer Irfan Ghatala’s yard who beat the well supported Papadokia from Sharath Kumar’s yard close home. Ahsan Qureshi rode a copybook race on the winner. Princess Holly who was seen troubling the handlers at the gates went on a conducted tour of Bengaluru the moment the mare jumped out and negotiated the first curve.

The topweighted Brooklyn Supreme split the `Jodi’ in the AMC Gowda Memorial Cup. The winner from Kishan Thomas yard produced a gutsy effort in the hands of Chetan Kalay to overhaul the favourite Tokyo Rose close home. Stunning Grey from Arvind Ganapathy’s yard, who was also strongly fancied in this event failed to make a decent impression and finished a tame fourth.

The opening event, the Cape Dance Plate for maiden juveniles saw the Prasanna-trained Anfia making a winning debut which floored the followers of form, who had pinned their hopes on Charmaine. The winner looks a goodtype of sprinter and more will be heard of her in the weeks ahead. Wings Of Desire too caught the eye while finishing a game second and is one for the notebook.