Vittal Deshmukh trained Vijay Damini justified the strong favouritism by easily claiming the Gr 3 Alcock Barb Stakes, a seven furlong race for three-year olds, the main event of Sunday`s races held at Malakpet. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan, who guided the winner, had the most rewarding of his career as he booted home five winners. Surely the heady success should make the jockey to change his motto in life to ``winning is thrilling!``

Vijay Damini led the field from the start with Youre An Aeton in close attendance followed by Mohini and the rest. Though Vijay Damini did not skip away from his opponents, she was nevertheless superior as she spared over a length to the runner up. Either Jockey Steve Carson is not a competent jockey or was not at his vigorous best as he let slip an opportunity of making the race an exciting one by his lackluster effort on Mohini who closed with a strong run but missing the runner up berth by a whisker.

	Vijay Damini (P S Chouhan up), winner of the Alcock Arabian Stakes (Gr.3), being led in by trainer Mr. L V R Deshmukh,Mr. Nirmal Singh & Mr. Vijay Kumar Gupta

Any jockey who has hunger for winning can be highly successful in Hyderabad as the onus is more on earning stake money. Jockey Chouhan has been lucky in the last one month as he has got innumerable winning mounts from trainer Vittal Deshmukh who is known for trying to win all the times. Erstwhile classic winner Vijayraaj, who had run forward races in his last two outings, improved on those efforts to win the Delhi Race Club Trophy, a Category II race form Raj Veer and favourite Arabian Dancer. Raj Veer made the entire running but with about 100 metres left in the race, there was a cavalry charge led by Vijayraaj and Arabian Dancer. The front runner was consumed by the finishing burst of Vijayraaj but managed to save the second spot. Arabian Dancer finished third with the next four placed horses almost finishing in a line.

Ananth Vatsalya trained Zambo Anga pulled off a thriller in the MCEME Rolling Trophy, a Category II race for horses rated up to 75. Zambo Anga was quietly fancied by the trainer though his optimism was not shared by the rest as the four year old gelding was allowed to run at fancy odds. Vendetta shaped to win but jockey Chouhan managed to get Zambo Anga stretch out strongly and collar the front runner with a few strides to go for the race to conclude.

The lack of lane discipline and the erratic manner in which the jockeys ride is surely a cause for concern. There was yet another track accident in the 1EM Centre Rolling Trophy (Div II) where three jockeys were unseated form their mounts. Luckily all the threes jockeys concerned, Deep Shankar, Arshad Asbar and Fentiman escaped unhurt. Fabulous Crown, with K Anil in the saddle, rolled over to the rails, resulting in the jockey of Flaming Ruby A Imran Khan checking his mount which caused his horse to lose a stride. Chamatkar (Deep Shankar) who was racing keen immediately behind clipped Flaming Ruby and fell causing a chain reaction. Alukkhas (Arshad Asbar) and Ivory Snow (Fentiman) were in the patch of Chamatkar and as a result, the jockeys of both these horses also fell. Flaming Ruby went on to record her third straight win, beating the challenge of Light Brigade. It was a remarkable feat for Prasad Raju trainee who has had 10 runs during the season and has stood the vigor of racing despite a repaired tendon. Yippee won the upper division in a three horse finish. Caligatae held the initiative till the final moments of the race but could not sustain his lead till the post as Yippee flew home on the wide outside and Golden Grace sneaked through the middle to snatch the first two slots. There was big betting on Standing Ovation who fell back after bringing the field into the homestretch.

Alcohology did not have the form to deserve the strong support that he got in the Patrons Cup and he finished a tame fourth conforming to his poor run this season. Pacific Groove came up with a sustained bust of speed in the final furlong to edge past the front running Indian Army to land the spoils.

Celestina held off the challenge of My Tyson to win the Prince Khartoum Plate (Div I), a six furlong race for maiden three year olds. Royal Shaan who was strongly fancied to win perhaps was not up to taking too much racing in quick time. Favourite Walnut Creek came three horses wide at the final bend and then took over the running and won the lower division of the race untroubled from Vijay Trishul.

Kansas City Mac led all the way in the 2400 metres race but lost close home to favourite Sweet Heart in the day`s opener, the Grace And Strength Plate. Kansas City Mac was guided by five kg claimer Ajit Kumar who did a neat job but could not extract that bit extra without the aid of the whip as jockey Chouhan had Sweet Heart collar the front runner in the closing strides of the race.