The Hyderabad Winter races 2015-16 came to an end on Monday with a card of nine races gone through on the concluding day. Trainer Anupam Sharma was adjudged as the ‘Champion’ trainer for the season with 37 winners. This is the first time Sharma has achieved this feat. The fight for the jockeys’ crown extended into the last day and Imran Chisty held on to the lead to be the Champion with 24 victories. Among the apprentice riders claiming allowance, Abhishek S Pawar and Deepak Singh tied with 13 winners each. Col.S.B.Nair was the leading individual owner. King Charles, the winner of the Golconda 2000 Guineas and the Derby Stakes was declared as the Champion Horse of the season. Vijay Vaishnavee with four wins from five starts was adjudged as the horse of the season.

R.H.Sequeira trained Aika Aika Aika was ridden with supreme confidence by P.Trevor to lift the Alcock Arabian Million – Gr.3, a terms race for 3 year olda only that featured the last day’s card. Breezeofthesouth set out in front followed by Ashwa Ashoka, Leading Legend, Aragonda Princess and Aika Aika Aika in the rear. On entering the final straight Trevor pulled the filly out to make a bid and when urged she responded readily to gallop away from the outside. Leading Legend finished on along the fence to finish second ahead of Aragonda Princess. Ashwa Ashoka ended up fourth.  

Trainer Anupam Sharma led in his solitary win of the day through Azaiba (Rebuttal-Queen Consort / Hazara Stud) in the Dr.M.A.M.Ramaswamy Memorial Cup. The 7 year old whose last win was over a year and a half ago was sent off at 10-1. Racing in about fifth or sixth till turning for home, Azaiba improved through horses and challenged Baashagar who had by then gone to the front. Travelling the better Azaiba surged ahead and won warding off the late bid of Decathlon. Baashagar finished third and Meheran fourth.

Trainer  Arjun Anne saddled a double through Elysian and Dandy Girl both ridden by Akshay Kumar. Elysian (Oiseau De Feu-Classic Scene) scored an impressive win in the Wilkinson Cup. Racing handily in third initially, Elysian moved to be second passing the 800 metres board. Challenging Symbol Of Star’s on top of the straight Elysian forged ahead and drew clear to win by a lengthening margin. Naazaan was third and Princess Of Dreams finished fourth.  

Dandy Girl (Dandy Man-Browne Envelope) scored an encore in the lower division of the Oceanic Plate. The filly showed plenty of speed as the gates opened to force her way along the rails and get to the front. Rajkumar and Flower Roll Up were in chase behind but Dandy Girl kicked on on the straight to win by two lengths. Flower Roll Up rallied on to finish second. Aston Doulton improved from the wide outside to take the third spot ahead of Red Express.

Trevor rode K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Rebellion to victory in the higher division. The 5 year old gelding was towards the rear bunch as they turned for home. Trevor started to ride out and from the outside and Rebellion gathered momentum to swoop down on the horses in front and pull it off. Rock Heights, Wind Zoom and Bouquet filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Trainer D.Netto wrapped up both the divisions of the Rocky Plate. Byron Bay (Lord Admiral-Auxilliary / Sans Craintes Stud) was given a gritty ride by A.Imran Khan to justify the favouritism in the higher division. Mighty Swing and Prince Of Arabia came in first on the straight with Byron Bay charging towards them from the outside. Inside the last 300 metres Byron Bay surged ahead and Imran kept riding him out till the finish. Little Smart Heart tried to make a race out of it, coming in fast towards the closing stages but fell short by three parts of a length. Prince Of Arabia finished third.

Jockey Imran Chisty had it easy on Double Charter (Lucifer Sam-Crown Charter) in the lower division, the opener of the day. Double Charter tracked Ocean Side till the last 800 metres. Ocean Side collapsed before the turn and Double Charter took it up from there. Inside the last 400 metres Double Charter was on her own in front and Mangalyaan could only follow till the winning post. Legend and Gangadhar finished third and fourth respectively.

Sk Kassam trained Green Olive (Sussex-Sara Jahan) surprised the lot with a start to finish bid in the Patrons Cup. The 5 year old was pushed to get to the lead from draw one as the gates opened. On the straight Azazil who was in chase was the first one to pack up. Exclusive Lady began to gain ground and came with a flourish but was a wee bit late as Green Olive held on by a ‘head’ at the wire. Dolce was finishing on to be third. Upon A Star took the fourth spot.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju’s Royal Hero (Samhoon-In To The Future) who is in top form completed a hat-trick in the Appeaser Plate, the concluding race of the season. Royal Hero started to get up from the outside as they came into the last 400 metres and with the ‘Champ’ Imran Chisty in full flow, took over the running near the 300 metres board and kicked on gamely till the finish. The favourite Coruba rallied late to beat Silvassa for the second place.Rose ‘D’Mumtaz finished fourth.