In a dramatic finish to the Monsoon meeting that concluded on Tuesday, Imtiaz Sait-trained B Fifty Two (Phoenix Tower-Baileys On Line) with Chotu Singh Jodha astride, won the prestigious Monsoon Cup in a blanket finish involving Whomakestherules, Big Orange and Shivalik Showers who finished in that order. The seven-year-old import from western India showed a clean pair of heels to his seven rivals till well into the straight – but shortened his strides once challenged by Shivalik Showers. Under Jodha’s powerpacked handling, B Fifty Two came on with a second wind and staved off a strong challenge from the favourite Whomakestherules who was the fastest moving at the wire.

Nikhil Naidu won the jockeys’ championship by notching up a brace with Nandish and The Kiss. Vijay Singh was declared champion trainer while the best apprentice award went to Sujit Paswan. The RCTC Tipsters Cup was bagged by yours truly of www.indiarace.com.

The last named showed that he means business when he commenced the afternoon with a thrilling victory astride Vikash Jaiswal-trained Shivayy (Charmo-Oluchi). The grey gelding made every post a winning one in the mile race for the Flower Dust Handicap. The ante-post favourite Beat The Bank finished in the ruck. Paswan and Jaiswal combined again on Uncrowned King to land the spoils in the Mercury Handicap. The seven-year-old demoted runner by Phoenix Tower out of Peruvian Witch was in close touch with the front-runner Itsamoocow till into the straight and kicked on merrily thereafter under the stick to win well. Jaiswal completed a well-deserved treble when his fashionably bred Monte Casino (Multidimensional-Sea Of Grace) won the day’s final event without much ado. Though Rustler made a bold bid along the rails, Akash Rajput on the eventual winner did not relent. The favourite Adhirit found his weight a stopper but will be worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Bharath Singh-trained Bojamgles (Win Legend-Moment Of The Day) showed that his earlier win over 1800m was no flash in the pan as he went on to win a mile race on this occasion. Neeraj Rawal made every post of the Amberdue Handicap a winning one. Both Joss and Aapna Time Aayega finished close up while the run of Descartes is best ignored. Summerhill was never in it.

The Zip Off Plate for three-year-olds saw a thrilling finish between the Vijay Singh pair of Abhya Gama and Nandish (Multidimensional-Silken Star). The latter won by the skin of his teeth but burst a blood vessel in the process. Heavily fancied Dark Eagle finished a bad last.

The race for the Hall Of Glory Handicap was as thrilling as the Monsoon Cup. Though she was negotiating a seven-furlong trip for the first time, Nikhil Naidu had the Kiss (Multidimensional-Abronia) covered up well till into the straight. She unleashed a powerful gallop mid-way up the straight as she is wont to do and found the extra furlong to her liking. Nelson’s Blood and The Stradle filled up the minor berths.