Donald Netto-trained Annihilator certainly lived up to his name, reducing favourite Knight Crusader`s hat-trick ambitions to mere wishful thinking in the 1400-metre Flirting Vision Plate at Malakpet on Sunday. The highest-rated race of the card turned into a demolition job, as Knight Crusader, who had previously won with daylight to spare, suddenly looked like he was galloping in slow motion when Annihilator came charging down in the final furlong. The favourite folded faster than an umbrella in a storm, leaving punters. Jockey H M Akshay had a rewarding day, with three winners to his credit.

Knight Crusader was allowed to coast along in second while Armstrong, living up to his name for all of 30 seconds, flexed some early speed and led the field into the straight. Just when it looked like the script might play out as expected, Annihilator, who had been biding his time in fourth, was unleashed. Knight Crusader offered little resistance as Annihilator stormed past. A brief skirmish for supremacy ended with Annihilator stamping his authority, cruising home two lengths clear. Star Forever, in a rare display of punctuality, ran from behind to claim third, while Catch Me If You Can apparently took the name too seriously and disappeared from contention when it mattered.

Meanwhile, jockey Akshay Kumar remains a bit of a lottery these days—good for a win now and then, but not quite the prolific force he once was. He found himself aboard Mir Faiyaz Alli Khan-trained Dyanoosh, who carried more public expectations in the 1200-metre Narayanpet Plate (Div I). Challenger, true to her nature, decided to go on a front-running mission, with Runlikethewind in pursuit and Dyanoosh biding her time in third. Challenger clung to the lead until the final furlong before Runlikethewind briefly took over—only for Dyanoosh to swoop in with a powerful turn of foot, making the race look like a mere formality. Kings Best came from nowhere to snatch third, nosing out Sopranos, while Challenger decided she had done enough cardio for the day and faded to fifth.

Jockey K Mukesh Kumar, currently riding like a man possessed, guided Magan Singh Parmar-trained First Class to a stylish victory in the lower division of the Narayanpet Plate. The race was so open that even the bookmakers seemed to shrug and let fate take its course. Mukesh Kumar, in no hurry to join the early madness, waited in fifth until the homestretch before making his move. While High Reward and a marginally favoured Amyra were busy duelling for control, First Class sneaked up the rails, found daylight after being angled ougt, and exploded forward to win going away. Amyra managed to edge out High Reward for second, but by then, First Class was already posing for the victory photo.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Mystical Dawn and Lake Michigan were fancied to win the 1600 metres Crown Treasure Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Lake Michigan found the mile long trip too less for comfort as he trailed in about the fourth or fifth position even as Aashad Asbar positioned Mystical Dawn in a handy third position as Blue Candy did the set pace and weakened after coming into the straight. Mystical Dawn swiftly moved up on turning for home and faced no opposition en route to victory. Lake Michigan stayed glued to his position and was a beaten cause in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar. Mystical Dawn easily overhauled the front-running Corte Madera by the final furlong for an easy win. Lake Michigan ran at his own pace to finish third.

The day`s opener, the Suryapet Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category, saw Shashikanth-trained Take A Breath installed as the favourite ahead of Wandring Warrior. Hoping Wind led the field with Take A Breath in the third position, while Wandring Warrior was settled in the rear group. Take A Breath was apparently busy taking a breath when Wandring Warrior sneaked up the inside and shot ahead. Though Take A Breath attempted a renewed effort, the front-runner safely reached the winning post ahead of him. Silver Arrow finished third.

Jockey H M Akshay, who failed to deliver on Take A Breath, more than made up for it by booting home three winners, making him the most successful jockey of the day. His first triumph came in the 1400-metre Circar Cup (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Palash, an overhyped favourite, was never in the picture. Quality Warrior set the pace, with Sergeant , held in second by Akshay. When the moment of truth arrived, Sergeant unleashed a scorching gallop, turning the race into a non-contest. Amboseli ran on for second, while Quality Warrior settled for third. Rani Ruckus lived up to her name by making a late ruckus for fourth.

Akshay then struck gold in the upper division of the Circar Cup. Petra Act was the crowd`s pick, but destiny (and traffic trouble) had other plans. Clarity caused early trouble, while in the straight, Mukesh Kumar aboard Petra Act had to deal with Varaneek Gold, who veered under pressure but managed to avoid any major interference. In the end, Varaneek Gold won comfortably. Shadow of Light took third, while Mukesh Kumar`s desperate plea in the Stewards` room fell on deaf ears.

Not done yet, Akshay delivered the final knockout punch aboard Ravinder Singh-trained Glimmer of Hope in the 1100-metre Aberader Plate (Div II). Despite a wide draw, Akshay moved Glimmer of Hope closer to the rails and gradually advanced. Swiss Girl led into the straight before Pancho took over, but Glimmer of Hope pounced in the final furlong, making a mockery of the opposition. Mauser claimed third, while favourite D Battle, despite a handy position, found himself running on empty when it mattered most.