The four-year-old filly Northern Waves cashed in on her current form to complete a hat-trick during this truncated winter season when she romped home to win the Brave Dancer Plate on Saturday. Trainer G. Shashikanth not only kept her fit for her third attempt this season, but he provided Northern Waves a handicap advantage by pitching her in the highest class and giving the riding assignment to an allowance claiming rider. Prime favourite to make it three in a row, Northern Waves was raring to go as soon as the starter’s flag came down but allowed Diablo to lead the field while apprentice Ajay Kumar settled her close behind. Ajay gave Northern Waves (Dreamfield – Fly With The Wind / Akal Sahai Stud) her head as they passed the two-furlong marker and she went surging clear to register an authoritative win. One N Only finished strongly in the closing stages of the six-furlong sprint to beat Diablo by a neck for the second spot, while Lashka warmed up late to be fourth.
 
Jockey K. Mukesh Kumar had hit a purple patch on Tuesday last, and he continued his winning form and was on a roll again. He notched a back-to-back double at the start of the day’s proceedings and followed it up with this third success aboard rank outsider Catchme If You Can. However, Mukesh seemed to have messed it up astride two hot favourites – NRI Triple Power and Toshiro. His ride on NRI Triple Power, beaten by a short head by Miss Smiley Angel, drew the ire of the HRC Stewards, who found him guilty of “unsatisfactory riding” and suspended his riding license for six race-meetings. The punishment takes effect from the start of the monsoon racing season.
 
Despite running after a long lay-off lasting over eight months, Donald Netto-trained Yuvraj made the Cyndy Plate, the day’s curtain-raiser, a one-horse race after taking charge at the top of the home stretch. Mysore Pharaoh, the second-in-demand, tried runaway tactics over the nine-furlong journey, but started losing pace after the final turn and faded away to end down the field. Mukesh spurred Yuvraj (Top Class – Cinch /  Akal Sahai) to assume command and went on to win untroubled thereafter. Golden Aura, Photograph, Beech Wood, and the rest were spread out as they followed the winner home. 
 
Netto’s ward Cypress was expected to make amends for his previous failure and backed to win ahead of Arthisha. Cypress, however, came across one better once again. Trevor Patel-steered Cypress lacked initial speed and was wading through troubled waters at the rear as Farsiris slipped into lead whilst Star Councillor and Arthisha went in chase. After sitting on the rails till the bend, Mukesh switched lanes, making his bid atop MS Parmar-trained Arthisha (Basem – Almarada) on the outside and rode her vigorously before gaining the upper hand about a furlong and a half away from the winning line. G. Naresh-ridden Analysis, meanwhile, got stronger at the finish to close in. However, the winning post came to Arthisha’s rescue as she prevailed by a neck over Analysis. Running into a wall of horses in front, Cypress had to change course multiple times and by the time Trevor could get a clear run, the race was over and his effort proved too little, too late. Cypress finished third ahead of the exhausted Farsiris.
 
Mukesh’s next assignment was to guide N R I Triple Power, winner over a mile only four days ago, in the Grace Hanover Plate (Div-I). Although running over a sharp trip on this occasion, Netto-groomed N R I Triple Power was backed confidently in the betting ring. Only The Brave shot into the lead while Rolls Royce, Petra Act, and Sharanga were in close attendance. N R I Triple Power failed to get a favourable position due to the crowded field and had to be steadied before dropping back. Rolls Royce led briefly after tackling Only The Brave at the turn and was soon joined by Petra Act and Sharanga, with Miss Smiley Angel also gathering momentum. Ashhad Asbar-piloted Miss Smiley Angel swooped down on the trio in the final furlong and surged ahead in the last hundred metres. At this stage, NRI Triple Power, shown daylight by Mukesh, began her ascent by devouring ground with every stride. Despite her late-finishing burst, N R I Triple Power failed to overhaul G. Shashikanth-schooled Miss Smiley Angel (Dreamfield – Different League Akal Sahai Stud), who lasted out to win by a short head. Sharanga finished in the money ahead of Petra Act.
 
Mukesh completed a treble through Catchme If You Can, though it hardly cheered the bettors. Racing in the midfield as Una Paloma Blanca decided to call the early shots with Rival and favourite N R I Range going in pursuit, Parmar-saddled Catchme If You Can was ridden forcefully by Mukesh in the home stretch to bridge the gap. Just as Catchme If You Can was finding her rhythm, Rival took over from Una Paloma Blanca after crossing the two-furlong marker. N R I Range, however, failed to quicken and P. Sai Kumar seemed to have given up in the final furlong, using the whip when it hardly mattered. Catchme If You Can’s (Top Class – Take A Risk) final flourish put paid to the hopes of Rival, who was then beaten by both Bholi Punjaban and Clefairy, who ran on late to take the second and third place.
 
Mukesh’s roller-coaster performance continued as his next mount Toshiro proved to be a nightmare for the moneybags. Heavily backed at 10 to 6 on, the performance of Toshiro from Parmar’s yard was disappointing as he found the mile trip for the Windscale Plate beyond his compass, at least on this occasion. Second favourite Northern Sky was sent on the start-to-finish mission by Asbar with Ashwa Vivegam, Ashwa Jaffna, and You Tuber trying to keep pace with the leader. Toshiro looked to be in a handy position at the halfway mark while Garfunkle travelled on his heels. Northern Sky brought the field into the straight, but she struggled to maintain her lead as Bharath Singh-trained Garfunkle (Plumatic – Scarborough), who had finished way behind the winner on debut, came with a whirlwind run when alerted by Trevor and swept past Northern Sky for a convincing maiden victory. Runner-up Toshiro improved far too late and proved no match for the winner. Northern Sky finished third, while Excalibur came fourth. 
 
KSV Prasad Raju-nursed filly Grief made ample amends for her previous failure by inflicting more pain on Mukesh, who partnered favourite Ayushman in the lower division of the Grace Hanover Plate. Netto’s trainee Ayushman wriggled out of Mukesh’s restraint to wrest the lead from Dontblockmyway shortly after the start and came well clear of his rivals in the straight. He almost pulled it off before Neeraj Rawal-partnered Grief (Sanus Per Aquam – Songlark) scorched the turf with a blazing run and blitzed away for a comfortable win over the favourite. Home Run and Crimson Flame followed them home.
 
The age factor favoured the four-year-old filly American Affair, who was placed to win by trainer Ananth Vatsalya in the Next Move Plate, an event for horses in the lowest class. Though neglected in the betting ring as Deccan Ranger, who was entrusted to Mukesh on this occasion, was in heavy demand in the betting. Live Legend, also a demotee, dashed to the front and led all the way till Deccan Ranger and American Affair caught up with her as the winning post came into sight. Ridden vigorously by Ajeeth, American Affair (Air Support – Aunt Dottie) wore down Live Legend in the final fifty metres and went on to record her maiden success. Deccan Ranger edged out Live Legend for the runner-up slot, while Don Cherie showed some zest when finishing fourth.