M Satyanarayana trained Moondancer fought off an aggressive battle with Highly Acclaimed and prevailed by a neck to claim the well-endowed Gr 3 Alcock Arabian Million, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event Monday`s races held at Malakpet. In one of the most competitive races of the season for first-season runners, Trevor had to extend himself as well as the horse to get the desired result.

The success of Moondancer also highlighted the splendid results that the first season stallion of Poonawalla Stud Farm, Excellent Art has been getting through his first produce in his India. On Sunday, Ruffina had recorded a sensational win at Mumbai and the day prior to that, Apache Sunrise had advertised his classic potential at Bangalore. Moondancer who currently enjoys a high ranking among the three-year-olds at Hyderabad, was widely expected to add to the kitty of winners to the first season stallion and she did so. Though it was hard fought win, it must be stated that apart from the other contestants being of high calibre, the distance of seven furlongs was sharp for her. Moondancer`s dam Pleasure Hunt was a winner of Indian Oaks.


The Million was representative of the best of the emerging talent on the local horizon. Moondancer was backed to the exclusion of the rest and she was quoted at a miserly price of even money. Suraj Narredu had Big Heart lead the field from the start with Moondancer in close proximity, ahead of Fashion High, Highly Acclaimed and the rest. Big Heart did not give up easily in the straight and had the lead going into the final furlong. At this point, Highly Acclaimed came to challenge Moondancer with powerful strides. The duo battled hard for supremacy with Moondancer getting the nod in the final strides of the race in an exciting finish. That`s My Class ran on to edge out Star Gazer to clinch the third place.

Trainer Anupam Sharma who emerged as the leading trainer of the season always believes hunting in pairs. In most of the races where his wards dominate, there will be at least two of his top performers which makes it difficult for punters to make their choice. The 1600 metres A P Race Horse Owners Association Trophy, a race for horses rated 86 and above, had three of his them in the fray namely Exclusive Wind, Western Wind and Mangalyaan. There were also Vijay Viraaj, Kolors, Mangalyaan and Alameda making the race a stiff one for punters to make a correct choice. All the horses mentioned had been rousing performers of the season. In the event, it was Exclusive Wind who had the services of jockey Trevor Patel who gave a bold show, getting the better of long-time leader Kolors. Exclusive Wind came home with giant strides and stormed ahead to establish a winning lead. Though stablemate Western India finished with a big rush, Exclusive Wind had sealed the race by that time. Kolors stayed on to take the third position. Mangalyaan and Vijay Viraaj performed below expectations.

Trainer Leo D`Silva who was once an undisputed champion has been struggling of late to get winners. His wards have not been known to be consistent. Camborne no doubt had a good chance but keeping in mind the poor performance of the stable, the six-year-old gelding ran at nourishing odds in the 1100 metres Wandering Angel Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 46 to 70. Act In Time was the favourite and for the second time running let down huge expectations. In the hands of apprentice jockey Md Ismail, Camborne produced a powerful effort in the final furlong to go sailing clear to record an impressive win over Legacy Machine who necked out Act In Time for the runner-up berth. Hilton Sequeira trained Kireeti also was a winner at big odds of the Division II of the race. After Rapidest led from the start and weakened in the final furlong, Kireeti pounced on the front-runner and went ahead to record a comfortable win over Legend who came home with the patented late dash which went in vain. Two of Anupam Sharma`s wards Catherine and Symbol of Beauty were in the bracket to win the division III of the race. Catherine led from the start but in the final furlong, Sketch of Beauty stormed ahead with Trevor in the saddle and managed to keep Picture Perfect at bay to land the spoils. Catherine who went to the post as a favourite, weakened to finish third.

Jockey Neeraj Rawal rode out Top Contender vigorously to get the better of George Cross in the final stages of the race to win the 1600 metres Circar Cup, a race for horses rated 46 to 70. George Cross who made his progress along the rails, shaped to win the race but closer home, was strongly pressed by Top Contender who managed put his head in front at the all-important end. Princess of Dreams too made a strong challenge but was slightly hampered by George Across who was veering out under pressure and had to settle for the third place ahead of the heavily fancied Euro Zone.

The 2000 metres Patrons Cup, a race for horses rated 26 to 50, also produced an exciting finish. Valee Tiger had a good lead going into the final furlong but could not breathe easy as an unexpected challenge from hitherto poorly performing Telangana Queen put paid to his hopes. Telangana Queen breathed fire in her finishing effort and managed to win by the proverbial whisker. Angels Bay battled it out with Samba to get the third position.

The biggest flop of the day was the inexplicable poor performance of China Millennium in the 1600 metres Jangaon Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. China Millennium had the performance to go to the post as a favourite but the progeny of China Visit flopped too badly for comfort. The race was by long shot Supreme from the stables of Leo D`Silva who led from the start and staved off a strong bid of City of Sails. You Can I Can was third, returning good dividends on place.

Donald Netto who was in the limelight with his wards winning a fair share of races, signed off with a win through Prep One in the concluding race of the season in the 1400 metres Rain Forest Plate, a race for horses rated up to 30. Prep One had been consistent in her last two runs and with the positive switch of the jockey in the form of Louis Beuzelin, the five-year-old mare went to the post as a strong favourite. Prep One won as expected but she was lucky in that Anant Vatsalya`s ward Abracos ran into interference along the rails before the final bend and fell back as a result. As a result, Abracos had some leeway to cover on Prep One. Though Abracos finished on strongly, she fell short by half a length at the finish. Stablemate of Abracos, Hal Chal headed Roma Rouge to get the third place.
Jockey Akshay Kumar emerged as the new champion jockey of the season.