Fresh after her sojourn to Chennai where she finished runner-up in Madras Gold Vase, Northern Waves attracted maximum support in the betting in anticipation of an improved show in the Deccan Bookmakers Welfare Association sponsored Alcock Arabian Million (Gr.3) on Sunday. The three-year old bay filly, however, gave her admirers a major scare when drifting out alarmingly in the home stretch and conceding the lead to Ayushman and Cherie Chevalier. Despite racing on the outer track, jockey K. Mukesh Kumar kept his composure in persisting with the G. Shashikanth-mentored Northern Waves (Dreamfield – Fly With The Wind), who came with raking strides in the final furlong to regain the lead. Northern Wave’s blazing run nailed Cherie Chevalier a few strides before the winning line helped her claim the Million event by a margin of just under a length. Ayushman ended a faraway third ahead of Brilliant Lad. 
 
Mukesh had his hunger for success on display right from his first mount in the opening event astride Take A Breath, who finished third after coming across a better one in Black Dust. Having played hide and seek in both his previous runs, KSV Prasad Raju-saddled Black Dust finally had his say, showing his liking for the extended trip of mile and quarter. Akshay Kumar had the on-money favourite settled behind leader Federer, who was later during the journey was joined by Take A Breath. Mukesh urged Take A Breath into the lead as soon as they entered the straight but he failed to sustain as Akshay unleashed Black Dust (Air Support – Angel Dust) inside the final two furlongs and went surging clear of his rivals. Varaneek Gold wore down Take A Breath in the last stride to finish runner-up. Skyward ran a poor fourth.
 
Last-outing winner Miss Smiley Angel showed that her earlier success was not a flash in the pan as the Shashikanth-groomed filly put in a powerful run in the last furlong to tackle leaders Zuza and Dontblockmyway, who were disputing the issue till then. Earlier, Dontblockmyway brought the field into the straight with Zuza in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Mukesh was denied a clear run when he tried to navigate through the gap between Dubai Touch and Double Bubble forcing him to switch his mount towards the rails. With about a hundred metres left for home, Miss Smiling Angel (Dreamfield – Different League) soon got into her stride as Mukesh drove her with renewed vigour to zoom ahead after collaring Dontblockmyway and Zuza and then held on gallantly to stave off Akshay-steered Beverley and Dubai Touch. Dontblockmyway finished fourth.
 
Black Burgundy enabled Mukesh to achieve a back-to-back double after the Magan Singh Parmar trainee was resolutely ridden to overhaul leader Happy Soul. Black Burgundy stayed close to the rails as Happy Soul took the customary front-running role with Shadow Baby and NRI Sport chasing him. Mukesh pulled out Black Burgundy soon after turning for home and scrubbed him powerfully enough to get the gelding going. Black Burgundy (Basem – Sister Etienne) was unstoppable thereafter as he completed a comfortable win over Happy Soul and favourite Calista Girl, who found her rhythm quite late to make any impact. Shadow Baby faded out to be fourth.
 
Hilton Sequeira-schooled Sugar, who had a good forward run in the race won by her stablemate Knight Crusader last Monday, finally came into her own and went on to oblige the punters in the Chief Justice Trophy. Akshay bided his time in the rear astride Sugar as Shah of Iran dashed to the front only to retire after bringing the field into the home stretch. Divine Destiny and Great Giver found themselves in the front briefly before Sugar was brought into contention by Akshay. Sugar (Dreamfield – Conceptual) moved rapidly ahead to overwhelm the pair from LVR Deshmukh’s yard and held on gamely to keep both Just Incredible and late-finishing Clefairy at bay.
 
After finishing off the board in all his previous four outings, the 10 to 1 longshot Shadow Fax finally earned a bracket, narrowly beating Challenger in the shadow of the winning post. Challenger was taken on a pillar to post mission by Ekram Alam and almost pulled it off before BR Kumar went flat out on Shadow Fax in the last furlong and half as he encountered stiff resistance from the leader. But D. Netto-groomed Shadow Fax (Lord Admiral – Rahuls Pet) got up just in time to snuff out his rival’s defiance and score by a neck. Inderdhanush finished in the money, a short-head in front of favourite Lady Danger who ran hopelessly throughout.
 
Leo D’Silva-saddled Romantic Grey registered an encore on promotion, receiving admirable support in the saddle from Alex Rozario. Rival brought the field into the straight after taking over the running from Divine Connection at the final turn with Leather Back moving up quickly to go in chase. However, both these contestants were floored by the spirited run produced by Romantic Grey (Dali – Eternal Spirit) who, after lying in the rear bunch till turning for home, made steady progress to join the issue with the leaders and gained the upper hand close home. Leather Back finished second ahead of Rival and Top In Class. Leather Back’s rider Sk. Rafique raised an unsuccessful objection against the winner.
 
Mukesh celebrated his quartet of winners with a runaway victory astride Coming Home in the last race. Quality Warrior went surging ahead soon after the field jumped out of the gates and had the Parmar trainee Coming Home in pursuit. Mukesh asked Coming Home (Stardan – Super Sonic) for an effort once the heads turned for home and the mare quickened well to measure Quality Warrior and drew away for a facile win. Quality Warrior managed to keep the second spot with Exclusive Spark and Char Ek Char taking the other two minor places on the judges’ board. Well-fancied See My Attitude never raised any hopes at any stage of the race and failed to figure on the judges’ frame.