Giving the Malakpet bookmakers – the sponsors of the Deccan Bookmakers Welfare Association Darley Arabian Million (Gr.3), some reason to smile. Srinivas Reddy-saddled Home Run scored a runaway win in Sunday’s feature event. Cherie Chevalier and Pacific Heights, who had left the maiden ranks just six days ago, cornered majority support in the betting ring but were both outwitted by the speedy display of lesser-fancied Home Run. Akshay Kumar had Home Run seize the initiative immediately after the gates flew open and the only part of the winner’s anatomy that Cherie Chevalier and Pacific Heights could see in the home stretch was his tail. Home Run (Arod – Dance Oh Dance) completed an encore with a fluent win over Cherie Chevalier, who ran second after Pacific Heights was a spent force in the last furlong and half and finished a distance behind the runner-up. Debutants Smart Operator and Racing Ruler made no impression when trailing behind.

With two readymade winners at his disposal – The Pious and Darling’s Boy earlier in the day, Akshay achieved a treble which included Home Run. The Pious (Planetaire – Win And Enjoy) from G. Sandeep’s yard was backed as if defeat was out of question and the maiden bay gelding gave no anxious moments to the moneybags. The Pious won end to end over the six-furlong trip in the day’s curtain raiser and left his rivals fighting for the minor places. Inderdhanush ran second with Fashion Icon and Wandring Warrior completed the judges’ frame.

Later in the day, trainer MF Ali Khan-groomed Darling’s Boy ran abreast of Mix The Magic but in close attendance of leader Amyra, who brought the field into the straight. Akshay gave Darling’s Boy (Surfrider – That’s My Darling) his head following which the favourite asserted his superiority and scampered home for his second straight success. Finishing three lengths behind were Mix The Magic, Amyra and Calista Girl, who finished in that order in close proximity of each other.

First Lady also registered an encore with a comfortable win in the hands of Santosh Raj. Donald Netto’s ward raced well up with leader Star Cruise till the two-furlong marker where Santosh stepped up the pace to quell his brief resistance and drew away from the pack. Normui failed to gain momentum early and ended second with Glimmer of Hope and Sargent in close tow.

After suffering three close defeats this season, Uchchaihshravas finally stepped into the winner’s enclosure with a stylish victory in the 1EME Centre Rolling Trophy. When the big field of fourteen took off for the seven-furlong event, no-hoper Colt Pistol took up the menial front-running task with Espionage settled close behind. Uchchaihshravas, however, was caught in the web of a crowded field ahead in the initial stage of the race and started his ascent when Espionage had tackled Colt Pistol shortly after the field straightened for home. Espionage made a dash for the wire but Neeraj Rawal spurred Uchchaihshravas (Excellent Art – Chase The Sun) following which the Neelesh Rawal-schooled colt unleashed a devouring run to collar Espionage in the last hundred metres and go sailing clear for an authoritative win. Espionage retained the second berth while Emperors Charm could only finish third despite Akshay making free use of his whip. Kings Best ran thereabouts to be fourth.

Trainer KSV Prasad Raju’s decision to put blinkers on Rival fetched the desired result as he went on to earn a bracket after more than a year and half. Happy Soul took control of the lead from the barriers whilst P. Sai Kumar-steered Rival raced in the mid-bunch initially but made steady improvement at every stage of the six-furlong race. With a little over a furlong left for home. Rival (Sanus Per Aquam – Apparition) stormed into the lead after overhauling Happy Soul and was home and dry by the time runner-up Golden Gazelle had warmed up. Happy Soul ran third, well ahead of Mr Perfect.

The bay filly Peppi from LVR Deshmukh’s stables was lesser fancied than stablemate Always Special but that couldn’t stop her from revealing her true potential in the race contested by twelve maidens. Ashhad Asbar-atop Peppi allowed Always Special to charge ahead and chased her into the home stretch. Peppi (Total Gallery – Twilight Express) cruised past Always Special when Asbar changed gears and was in no danger of being caught by any of her rivals thereafter. See My Attitude woke up late as usual and was forced to play the bridesmaid’s role while Bellingham ended in the money ahead of Oskars Officer.

Miss Smiley Angel, who had finished dead last on debut last month, came all guns blazing in the straight to upset the applecart of favourite NRI Blaze in her last stride. G. Shashikanth-trained Miss Smiley Angel (Dreamfield – Different League) was literally flying when HM Akshay showed her the daylight at the top of the home stretch just as Kuldeep Singh (Sr.)-ridden NRI Blaze was being hailed as a winner after tackling leader Konaseema in the final two furlongs. The favourite went down by a head whilst Infinia and Konaseema took the third and fourth spot respectively.

Magan Singh Parmar=groomed four-year old debutant Petra Act was another rank outsider to upset the punters’ calculations. Petra Act was settled in the fourth spot as her barnmate Shoolin embarked on a start-to-finish mission in the last race. Favourite Dali’s Champion wore down Shoolin and surged ahead at the two-furlong marker only to find Petra Act finishing on with a rattle on the outside. The pace generated by Petra Act (Stardan – Alohamora) saw the filly go breezing past Dali’s Champion in the shadow of the wire and make a winning debut. Golden Inzio ran a faraway third with Exponent taking the fourth place.