Donald Netto trained Ashoka pulled off a thrilling win in the three-horse finish of the Gr 3 1200 metres Darley Arabian Million, a terms race without penalties for three-year-olds, the feature event of Monday`s Hyderabad races. Favourite Ballerina who had two back-to-back races failed to justify the strong support in the ring, finishing a close third, a short head and a head separating the first three placed horses.

The handicap has a big say in the way the outcomes of the races come about. However, the handicap has no bearing when it concerns untested and emerging horses as the improvement from horses is elastic. The form unlike in the races for the older horses is not a settled one. The one-sided support on Prasad Raju trained Ballerina was widely expected because she was the only one in the fray with two wins her credit and carrying no penalty for the same. Earlier in the day, Sensibility whom she had beaten in her last run had come out of the maiden`s ranks impressively, franking the form of that race. Ballerina went to the post at a very short price. Ashoka who was running for the third time, with a win in his last effort was the next best in demand. Superlative was also in the betting but at long odds.

Ajinkya took Superlative on a start to finish mission followed by Ashoka with Ballerina a few lengths adrift. The others raced behind these three market fancies. The way Ashoka moved up with raking strides and shaped to collar the front-runner in the stretch, it looked as though the race was for the asking of the second favourite. However, under pressure, Ashoka drifted out and Superlative managed to pull a length lead in the shadow of the post. Jockey Vikrant gathered his horse and drove out desperately and Ashoka responded gallantly to pinch a short head verdict from the front-runner. Under a relentless ride by Suraj Narredu, Ballerina who took a while to warm up and hence had to cover a few lengths to make on the battling duo in front also finished on powerfully but the winning post came a wee bit early for her comfort. Ballerina is a horse that may need more ground to prove her mettle as she progresses in the handicap scale.

The well supported Isra from the stables of trainer Sreekant saved the day for her supporters with a nose verdict in the 1600 metres Jogulamba Gadwal Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Miss Little Angel who shot into the lead in the final furlong shaped to win as Isra had considerable leeway to cover but the strong finishing effort fetched the fancied her an improbable win by the shortest of margins. Sorry Darling was third. Jockey Aneel rode the winner.

Shiraz Sunderji trained Sensibility who had twice come close to winning made amends in the 1400 metres Narayanpet Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Sensibility had the race always under control though for a while Speaking Of Love looked capable of overhauling the front-runner. The relatively fitter Sensibility won with a measure of comfort in the end. Pleroma ran on to snatch third place from The Akhanda.

G Shashikanth trained Wot`s Up Jay came in for inspired support in the 1800 metres Red Satin Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest category. Wot`s Up Jay was hailed a winner a long way from home. The well-backed Special And Thong warmed up to the task rather late and came home with a powerful run but just about missed the runner-up berth from Arrowtown. Ravinder Singh trained New Hustle who was well backed in the lower division of the race, won in impressive fashion, storming clear with a furlong left in the race. Cash Register necked out Royal Avenger for the second spot. Fly To the Stars came in for strong betting but failed to live up to expectations.

Shashikanth trained NRI Infinity came in for big support in the 2400 metres Chief Justice Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 and readily obliged, beating the challenge of Bandit King with ease. After the last start winner Despang led the field for a long way, Bandit King took charge approaching the final bend and spurted ahead. However, NRI Infinity showed lot of aggression and covered the leeway with ease. In the process of overhauling the front-runner, the eventual winner rolled onto the rails causing a slight interference to Bandit King which made no material difference. But jockey Mukesh Kumar put up an objection against B R Kumar who rode the winner but the same was overruled by the Stewards. Just Incredible was third.

Ravinder Singh trained Hashtag who had been running consistently prevailed in a tight finish in the 1200 metres Medchal Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The fancied Silk shaped like a winner but slackened close to home which enabled a strongly ridden Hashtag to get the verdict in the dying strides of the race. Favourite Top In Class was third. Hilton Sequeira trained NRI Touch won the lower division of the race in the hands of apprentice jockey Gaurav Singh in an amazing fashion. NRI Touch was loitering at the tail end of the field inside the final two furlongs. Exotic Dancer who shot ahead by the final furlong had a big lead and looked the likely winner. However, the finishing burst of NRI Touch put paid to the hopes of the front-runner. Fancied Thunder Road did not get a clear run at a crucial stage of the race as he lacked the ability to change gear and by the time he warmed up and finished with a big effort, the cause had been lost. Hot Seat, the favourite, which had the services of the champion Akshay Kumar was a flop just like the jockey who failed to win any race on the day which is a rarity.