Champions don't choke and Akshay Kumar didn't. He simply is a tough cookie. Astride the favourite Mystic Eye in the Dharmasthala Trophy, Akshay knew he needed to produce a top draw effort and seal the champion jockey title. He did just that . The moment he packed punch and drove the public choice from Kishan Thomas' yard  to the front at the distance post it was all over bar the shouting. Akshay was a deserving champion and the top gun loved it. 18 winners including the two in the final week-end saw Akshay add another championship title to his distinguished list and the local  racing buffs delighted with the performance of the Hyderabad ace this winter provided the top pro a standing ovation. 
We told you on Friday that Arjun Manglorkar going into the final day with a three point advantage will reign supreme in the championship for the top trainer title. The leading pro added two more to his tally, while his arch rival Sulaiman Attaollahi , who drew a blank on Friday again failed to score from his five runners resulting in Arjun emerging a true blue champion. 

Arjun first struck with the lesser fancied Hope Island, who made every post a winning one in the Gangavalli Plate run over a mile. The in-form pro Antony Raj confidently guided the winner, who got stronger at the finish. The favourite Memoriter from trainer Azhar Ali's yard did raise hopes of his followers in the final furlong, but the moment Antony cracked the whip on the Arjun ward, it was clear that the public choice would only end up chasing the shadow of  Hope Island, who romped home to the delight of Arjun. 

With the championship in his bag, Arjun signed off in style, 23 winners to his credit, Promise Kept from his yard producing a sparkling gallop in the upper division of the Champion Jockey Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. The favourite, who had impressed most while finishing a game second behind Tactical Command in his last essay over a sprint went one better over a extended trip,  justifying his top billing in convincing fashion. Stablemate General Patton did well to gain the runner-up berth ahead of Michigan Melody, while Golden Vision completed the frame.

The promising Azhar Ali, who recorded a fine double on Friday added one more to his list, the well-backed Knotty City from his yard edging out arch rival Remontoir close home. The winner looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and all credit to Azhar and Ashhad Asbar who again combined effectively to stand tall at the podium. Mark One finished third ahead of Flamingo Road and is one for the note book. 

Leading trainer Padmanabhan recorded a popular double, leading in Cyrenius, the winner of the final plum of the winter season, the Governor's Trophy run over a mile and the well supported Tifanny in the concluding event. Oliver William astride the two winners produced a copybook effort. Astride the even-money favourite Cyrenius, Oliver tracked the second in demand at the betting ring, Triumphant from Sulaiman's yard all the way through the backstretch before he reminded the last start winner of the task ahead at the distance post and the bred in the purple colt stormed through to snuff out the challenge of Triumphant and Star Comet in convincing fashion. 

Tiffany looked the best in the paddock and up against eight moderate rivals, the Padmanabhan mare produced her best to get into the winners' circle in style. The topweighted Aircraft was seen finishing on purposefully at end, but Tiffany and Oliver had a lot in reserve and that effectively settled the issue in the final furlong. Thunderstruck finished third ahead of Speed Seven, while Mystical Merkabah fancied strongly in place let down large following, failing to even figure on the board. 

Satish Narredu was one other pro, who shared the training honours with Arjun and Padmanabhan leading in the on-money favourite Appsara winner of the Champion Trainer Trophy in splendid style and the long shot Impeccable who showed a clean pair of heels to his nine rivals, registering a effortless start to finish victory in the lower division of the Good-Bye Plate in the hands of Vinod Shinde. The favourite Rhapsody Green made a belated effort to justify her rating, but the winner proved too good.