The Monsoon season at Hyderabad concluded on Tuesday with the Dodla Pratap Chander Reddy Memorial Million, a terms race for the fresh lot of two year olds being run as the main event of the day. Donald Netto schooled Clarisa (Phoenix Tower-Celestial Treasure) won the five and a half furlongs scurry scraping home by the proverbial whisker. Amorous White hit the front at start and led all the way. Inside the last 200 metres Clarisa started to get closer but was also shifting out of the straight course. The two of them went past the winning post wide apart almost together and the forceful riding of Dasharath Singh enabled Clarisa to put its nose ahead at the all important end. Prince Caspian was a length behind them in third while Star Style finished a faraway fourth.

The end of the season Championship awards were given away at the end of the day. Trainer Laxman Singh who saddled a double on the last day emerged on top while Akshay Kumar was the champion jockey. Apprentice Abhishek S Pawar was the leading jockey claiming allowance. Alaindair was adjudged as the Champion Horse while Rio Rojo was the unquestionable Horse of the season with six wins from six starts.

K.S.V.Prasad Raju trained 6 years old bay mare Rio Rojo (Tejano-Auberge / Kunigal Stud) that is in the best form of its career won the Charminar Trophy to make it six from six starts. Midnight In Paris led by a big margin from the start and Rio Rojo unperturbed sat nicely in second. On top of the straight the leader packed off early and Rio Rojo surged ahead to take it up. Blue Eyed Babe came with a challenge in the last furlong but Rio Rojo stretched out majestically under Suraj Narredu. Aston Doulton and Italian Cypress finished third and fourth respectively.

The combination of Prasad Raju and Suraj Narredu pulled off a double through Citi Colors (Arabian Gulf-City Zone) in the Nagarjuna Sagar Plate. Citi Colors still a maiden from nine starts was strongly fancied to be the 10-9 ‘On’ favourite. Racing a handy third behind In Command and Sefarina, Citi Colors made its move on entering the straight and forged ahead passing the 300 metres board. Hard Fought beat In Command and sefarina for the second place.  

Mirfield (Win Legend-Integrate) won the Angler Plate to get her trainer Laxman Singh the point required to be crowned as the champion trainer. Chasing the leader Queen To Rule turning for home Mirfield forged ahead without any fuss and won warding off the late bid of Indian Dreams and Batur. Back To Business finished fourth.

Laxman had earlier in the day saddled Enter Canter (Express Wish-Silver Rose) to a maiden win in the lower division of the Belle Dancer Plate. Racing a close third behind Jem Star and Our Ensign till entering the straight Enter Canter looked for room between them and went ahead smoothly. While Enter Canter won by a comfortable margin Take A Bow and Invasion finished a close second and third respectively. Our Ensign filled up the frame.

Cannon Grey (Sussex-Arikara), a 20-1 shot from veteran K.R.K.Raju’s yard came with a rattle towards the closing stages to edge out New Comer on the post in the higher division. Running prominently with the front bunch till the top of the straight New Comer surged ahead and was looking good. Cannon Grey began to cover ground from way behind and with a flying finish stretched past New Comer in the shadow of the winning post. Athletic Approach finished third in front of Yet Another.

Akshay Kumar rode S.S.Faisal Hassan’s Canberra (Sedgefield-Sparklingchampagne / A B Stud) to win the Perceived Value Cup. Racing close to the fence in about fourth or fifth till the last 600 metres Canberra was pulled on the outside rounding the turn. Inside the last 400 metres Canberra went ahead from the outside and the favourite Brilliant joined through the rails. The two matched strides for a while and the favourite was out beaten. Ice Barrier started to gallop from behind and came charging but failed to collar Canberra by a neck. Brilliant was third another length and a half away.

Netto trained Sea Castle (Green Coast-Ice Castle) ridden by Akshay Kumar won the last race of the season, the division II of the Mahabubnagar Plate. The 3 years old bay gelding moved with intent mid-way up the straight and went sweeping ahead. Chinese Thought, Green Striker and Rose Eternal filled the frame in that order.