Phenomenal Cruise (Declaration of War – Fire Bird) is certainly living up to its name cruising to victory and attaining a phenomenal streak of three successive wins defying the penalty each time. He was the favourite to win the Major General Nawab Khusru Jung Bahadur Memorial Cup and he obliged his large following while winning it in style.

Southern Promise made the running for the mile long race and led all the way into the straight, while Phenomenal Cruise settled in the third spot. On entering the straight, Southern Promise galloped on gamely in the first half of the stretch and soon Phenomenal Cruise started to draw closer. Jockey Akshay Kumar rode with vigour and had Phenomenal Cruise accelerate fluently to take charge approaching the distance post and then quickened away to score a comfortably victory. Southern Promise stayed on to take the runner up berth from the fast finishing Treasure Striker, who edged out Durango for place money. Phenomenal Cruise is trained by D Netto.

Jockey Akshay Kumar who is in top form and enjoying a long period of success this season in particular had another wonderful day at the office returning a rich haul of three winners on the day. He had started the day on a positive note, partnering L D’Silva trained Royal Avenger (Midnight Interlude – Lady Causeway) to a hard fought victory in day’s opening race.

Sam The Brave led the field for more than half the way before Halo’s Princess tried to take them all by surprise and darted to the front just past the 700m mark. Royal Avenger, who was stalking Sam The Brave all the while shifted his focus to the new leader and sat by her tail. Entering the straight, Halo’s Princess travelled well and Royal Avenger in fact looked under pressure until into the final furlong. Ajmal Birju improved positions to be third and shaped well as they closed in on Halo’s Princess. The trio of Halo’s Princess, Royal Avenger and Ajmal Birju were abreast with about 100 to go. Ajmal Birju fought hard as did Royal Avenger, but in the final fifty, Akshay Kumar drove rode out Royal Avenger confidently and passed that confidence on to his mount and Royal Avenger stretched away from Ajmal Birju to win by a narrow margin. Halo’s Princess ended third.

Jockey Akshay Kumar signed off the day with another winner in the concluding race of the day guiding trainer M Srinivas Reddy’s Sweetie Pie (Burden of Proof – Songlark) to a thrilling victory. Akshay was always in chase of the early leader Vallee Bloomer the latter leading comfortably all the way into the homestretch. In the final furlong, the race was confined to Vallee Bloomer, Sweetie Pie and the fast finishing Ashka Ashka Ashka. While Vallee Bloomer was the first to blink, favourite Sweetie Pie was stretched to the hilt by Ashka Ashka Ashka, threatening to snatch the lead away. Jockey Akshay Kumar played an active part in by riding his heart out and probably lady luck too smiled on him for his courageous effort and Sweetie Pie just managed to hold on to the delight of her large number of supporters.

Jockey Ashhad Asbar made his presence felt with a neat double. He first won atop Classic Remark (Tariq – Charmstone) from trainer M Srinivas Reddy’s yard. He got off to a fine start and maintained a healthy lead all the way into the homestretch. Classic Remark accelerated well soon on turning for home and stole a march on his rivals in the first half of the race. He then built on that lead and drew away pulling off a very convincing victory several lengths ahead of Lazer Beam and Ulysses.

Asbar then partnered N Ravindra Kumar trained On The Fire (Sedgefield – Buenos Aires) to a thrilling win, the fight going all the way to the wire. On The Fire led them into the straight and started to work his way to the winning post with a sustained gallop. Inside the final furlong, be Sure started to inch closer and with the way the two were travelling, many would have bet that Be Sure would get On The Fire anytime within the next few strides. However, On The Fire never gave in and fought stubbornly all the way and held on by a short-head. Be Sure would be disappointed that he let off On The Fire and the narrow verdict too would be agonizing. Ashwa Bahula ran on to finish third ahead of Bayrd.

Solo Winner (Knight’s Tour – Mink Mitten) galloped to his maiden victory with a strong finish that floored three of the top contenders fighting each other off in the final furlong. Your Grace was the first one into the straight and his lead was soon wiped off by Amazing Script. Darshish too was right behind this pair, while Solo Winner was way back at the rear of the front bunch, which had all the runners barring Right on Top and Mossel Bay.

Solo Winner warmed up nicely past the distance post and clawed his way into contention with less than a furlong to go.   He caught up with the trio in the last 100 meters and swooped upon them to stretch away and post a facile victory. Darshish kicked on to finish ahead of Your Grace and Amazing Script in a close finish for the minor placing.

For the professionals, jockey Akshay Kumar certainly was the star of the day with his fine treble, while jockey Ashhad Asbar and trainer Srinivas Reddy scored a double each.