Satyanarayana trained Moon Dancer recorded his third straight win when swamping the opposition in the 1200 metres Delhi Race Club Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 58 to 78, the highest rated event of Monday`s Hyderabad races. The progeny of Excellent Art has been a veritable money-spinner and despite long absence forced by an infection, he has been at his best whenever seen on the race track.

Though Moondancer was taking on quality horses and coming back to a sprint, the aura about him was such that he was quoted at miserly odds. Suraj Narredu had no hesitation in taking Moondancer to the front and the favourite stayed there without coming under pressure and skipped away from Dance Oh Dance who was the most serious challenger in the fray and recorded an easy win in a smart time of one minute10.998 seconds. One is not sure whether any local horse has clocked this timing in the past though the course record has a fractionally faster timing which was clocked by wonder horse from Mumbai Oasis Star. Big Star made a rally in the final stages of the race and came close to edging out Dance Oh Dancer for the runner-up berth but failed narrowly. In the form that he is in, Moondancer can be expected to swell his tally. It is a pity that because of the lung infection he had, he was not seen in action in any of the big events of the season.

The lower division of the Delhi Race Club Plate went the way of lesser fancied Asteria from the stables of trainer Leo D`Silva. The prolific performer was not strongly fancied though there was no clear-cut favourite in what was perceived as an open race. Seven Colours and Asteria raced well ahead of the rest of the runners till running well into the straight before the latter assumed command and stretched away for an easy win. Seven Colours drifted out of a straight course and lost all chances of figuring on the frame. Handyman with a late dash took the second place ahead of Negress Pearl who overcame a lazy start and managed to save place money.

Prasad Raju trained Dream Girl had everything going for her in the 1200 metres Starsky Plate, a race for horses rated 42 to 62. Platinum had recorded an impressive win last time out but the lack of support in the betting ring also indicated the level of confidence of the connections. Dream Girl raced prominently in front ill turning for home before leaving Magical Skill and Platinum stranded in the final two furlongs. Dream Girl spurted away to win by a widening margin of nine lengths over Ruby`s Gift and Magical Skill. Platinum was lost in the crowd.

The Perceived Value (Div I), a race for maiden three-olds, saw favourite Rikki Tikki Tiki oblige in sensational fashion. The favourite lacked early speed, ran green and appeared to be in trouble but once he found his momentum in the straight, there was no stopping the progeny of Excellent Art who rocketed through the gaps in the final furlong to record an emphatic win. Long Range was second while Secretary headed Handsome Duo for the third place. Soul Empress made no show after an encouraging run in her previous outing. The lower division of the race saw a three-horse finish with Sequeira trained Exclusivenorthwind produce a strong run down the final furlong to edge past the battling duo of Jazz It Up and Amazing Script in the closing strides of the race.

The wards of Vittal Deshmukh were seen prominently with the trainer saddling a treble. Apart from Rikki Tikki Tiki, Highly Acclaimed showed the spark of old to win the 1400 metres J S Dhariwal Memorial Plate, a race for horses rated 42 to 62, with aggressive running in front. The heavily supported Phenomenal Cruise made a valiant bid, but the front-runner was unrelenting. Scooby Dooby Do was third.

The third winner for Deshmukh came through Arc of History who regained the juvenile form when giving a drubbing to her opponents in the 1100 metres Taramati Plate, a race for horses rated 26 to 46. Apprentice jockey Gaddam had an arm-chair ride to victory. Arc of History gave company to front-running Rubys Gift till entering the homestretch and then drew clear for a resounding win. Rubys Gift held off Shakespeare to get the runner-up berth.

Sequeira trained Cashel who finished second best on the last two occasions including the run on the previous day looked best on form in the 1100 metres Golconda Plate, a race for horses rated up to 30. The rest did not inspire confidence. Cashel led from the start and skipped clear in the final furlong to win at nourishing odds over Good Taste and favourite Sprint Legend.