Northern Waves continued her relentless march at Malakpet, notching up a third straight victory with authority in the feature event. The Shahshikanth-trained filly brushed aside a busy campaign to assert her class yet again. The afternoon, however, wasn’t without its share of drama, as Mukesh Kumar combined a fine treble with a costly suspension, while a couple of well-backed runners flattered only to deceive.

Shahshikanth-trained Northern Waves continues to behave like a filly who has misplaced the concept of defeat, chalking up a third straight emphatic win in the 1200 metres Brave Dancer Plate, the feature event at Malakpet on Saturday.

Despite a busy winter schedule that would make lesser horses file a complaint, Northern Waves travelled sweetly in pursuit of the pace-setting Diablo before producing a telling surge in the final furlong to settle matters with authority. Apprentice Ajay Kumar merely had to press the right buttons. Only N Only arrived fashionably late to snatch second from a tiring Diablo, who had done enough early running to deserve sympathy, if not silverware.

Mukesh Kumar, currently riding a wave of his own, notched up a treble, though the afternoon wasn’t entirely champagne and applause. The Stewards took a dim view of his handling of favourite NRI Triple Power in the Grace Hanover Plate (1200m), where the filly contrived to lose by a whisker after spending much of the race sightseeing at the rear.

Given her earlier mile successes, perhaps the drop to six furlongs demanded sharper early intent rather than a last-gasp hero act. The Stewards clearly thought so, handing Kumar an eight-day suspension. Harsh or fair, depending on where one sits, but with his chequered career, Kumar’s rides tend to be examined with a magnifying glass rather than binoculars.

The race itself saw Miss Smiley Angel live up to her name, quickening nicely from the bend to take charge in the final 100 metres. NRI Triple Power came flying, but only close enough to make punters groan collectively, while Sharanga filled the minor placing.

Yuvaraj, from the Donald Netto yard, attracted sustained market confidence in the Cyndy Plate (1800m) and justified it like a banker who actually delivers. Tracking Mysore Pharaoh into the straight, Mukesh Kumar pressed the accelerator at the right moment, and Yuvaraj did the rest, storming clear of Golden Aura, with Photograph trailing in third like an afterthought.

Arthishia, another well-backed runner, gave Mukesh Kumar further reason to smile in the Galactia Plate (1200m). After Farsiris did the donkey work up front, Arthishia swept past with purpose and then held off a determined Analysis. Favourite Cypress, meanwhile, found himself boxed in long enough to start considering alternative careers before finishing third.

In the division II of the Grace Hanover Plate, Ayushman attempted the all-the-way gamble and very nearly got away with it. Sent into the lead early, he opened up a healthy advantage, only to remember in the final furlong that races are actually run over the full distance. Greif, under Neeraj Rawal, swept past with ease, leaving Ayushman to contemplate what might have been. Home Run was a distant third.

Toshiro, heavily backed to make amends in the Garfunkle for maiden three-year-olds, once again found one better. Northern Sky led them in, but it was Garfunkle who produced the telling move around the bend under Trevor Patel, taking command and never looking back. Toshiro chased gamely but had to settle for second, continuing his frustrating flirtation with victory.

After two wins on the bounce, NRI Range was expected to keep the sequence going in the Solitaire Plate (1400m), but instead produced a performance that suggested the handicapper had finally caught up. Long shot Catchme If You Can lived up to the name and the odds, swooping late under Mukesh Kumar to cause a minor earthquake in the betting ring.

Rival looked dangerous briefly before being swallowed by the chasing pack, eventually finishing fourth. Bholi Punjaban came flying to grab second ahead of Clevairy in a blanket finish that kept the photo-finish camera gainfully employed.

American Affair, carrying modest expectations but healthy ambition, sprang a surprise in the Next Move Plate (1200m). As Deccan Spirit and Live Legend locked horns, American Affair slipped past both with impeccable timing under Ajeeth Kumar. Deccan Ranger edged out Live Legend for second, though the winner had already signed off on the the result.