The roller coaster performance of fancied runners, whose chances were in line with their current form, continued on the last day of the monsoon racing season hosted by the Hyderabad Turf Club. Soloist turned out to be the proverbial “doosra” from the stables of trainer RH Sequeira and was spot on in toppling her stablemate and favourite Watch My Stride in the feature event, the Kuntala Water Falls Cup. Soloist (Top Class – Allee Bleue), in a way, made amends after letting her supporters down when ending a close fourth behind Staridar in September last.

Apprentice Abhay Singh ridden Soloist ran a handy second behind Red Snaper till the turn and went surging into the lead at the 300m marker to land the spoils. Those who were watching the strides of the Akshay Kumar steered favourite, who was second last when Soloist assumed command, realised their fate as Watch My Stride came with raking strides but had apparently woken up too late. N R I Sport ended third after racing prominently behind the leader Red Snaper who finished fourth. Royal Grace also found her galloping shoes late when flashing on to the scene late and ending a close fifth.

Trainer K Satheesh, who saddled probably the highest number of runners during the season, seemed intent on collecting as much stake-money as possible on the concluding day of the season. He had three winners, two seconds and one third from 11 runners which he saddled during the day. Satheesh got his first winner of the day through Sweet Whisper (Planetaire – Change Tack), the three-year-old maiden filly who was running in the lowest class after three insipid runs. Sweet Whisper was ridden off the pace by apprentice RS Jodha as Red River led from the word go over the mile trip and set the stage for her barn-mate. With a furlong and half left for home, Red River made way for Sweet Whisper, who stormed ahead and won untroubled. My Way Or Highway, Silver Lining and Silk Route followed the winner home.

Kuldeep Singh ridden Star Medal (David Livingstone – Emeritus), neglected by the punters after her previous disappointing run, also tasted her maiden success after showing a clean pair of heels to her rivals. Favourite Wind Sprite, in trying to match strides with Star Medal, was brushed up to run alongside the winner and blew up in the process. Precious Gift was punished heavily before she could get into her stride and make her late appearance to finish second ahead of N R I Fantasy, who ran thereabouts throughout. The rest of the runners seemed to be an uninterested lot.

The four-year-old grey gelding Akido (Outstrip – Gift Wrap) improved on his previous run to provide his master the third win of the day. Gaurav Singh piloted Akido rallied on the very outside as no-hoper Vintage Brut found himself making the initial running followed closely by Four One Four and Maximum Glamour. Afroz Khan ridden Campania, who was making her first appearance after nine months, warded off Four One Four and City Of Blessing to take charge from Maximum Glamour. Campania, stablemate of LVR Deshmukh’s fancied runner Painted Apache, and Akido then went stride for stride in the last half furlong. Akido got stronger at the finish and snatched the verdict from Campania in the last couple of strides. City Of Blessings ended a game third ahead of Four One Four. Campania lives to fight for yet another day. Keep a tab on Maximum Glamour who seems to be in sight of his lost form. The performance of both Star Babe and Painted Apache is also best ignored as they appeared to have saved their best for some other day.

Had Classy Dame survived the attack of favourite Doe A Deer earlier in the day, Satheesh would have had his fourth winner. The mare, who missed a hat-trick last time out, was smartly off from the gates and brought the field into the home stretch. MF Ali Khan saddled favourite Doe A Deer (Roderic O’Connor – Klipspringer) meanwhile launched her assault after lying in the mid-bunch till heads turned for home. Classy Dame clung to her lead stubbornly but came across a better one in Doe A Deer, who was confidently ridden by BR Kumar. Silk ran on to be in the money with Life Is Good and Cabello, who was lethargic at the start, further away.

Power Ranger, the 20 to 1 longshot from Satheesh’s yard, ended a close third in a three-way finish in the upper division of the Kinnerasani Cup. Gusty Note headed the field in the initial stages of the six furlong journey and was chased by Horse O’War and Shazam into the straight. Even as last-outing winner Horse O’War failed to give the desired response to Akshay Kumar’s call, Shazam was brought into contention by DS Deora. The on-money favourite Shazam grabbed the lead in the last furlong but was soon joined by Hashtag. K Mukesh Kumar went all out aboard Ravinder Singh’s ward and collared Shazam in the last few strides close home. Hashtag (Green Coast – Romancing) was a head better of Shazam with Gaurav Singh ridden Power Ranger, who couldn’t get a clear run when Shazam and Hashtag were fighting it out, finishing an identical distance behind. Sorry Darling finished on to be fourth.

Earlier in the day, Mukesh Kumar steered PS Jubbal schooled Mr Perfect (Varenar – Tableau Vivant) to a comfortable win over My Master from Satheesh’s yard. Gaurav Singh took My Master to the front but was closely followed by Life’s Living and Mr Perfect. Mukesh gave Mr Perfect his head when the field straightened and challenged My Master. Mr Perfect ran green under pressure and almost squeezed out My Master with little over half furlong from the winning post. Gaurav switched lanes with My Master but the winner was home and dry till then. Exclusive Luck arrived late on the scene and came through the shortest way home to finish a short-head behind the runner up. Favourite Honourable Lady never raised any hopes after being prominent till entering the straight and fell back to finish down the field. Pancho was seen putting good work towards the end and is not likely to linger in the maiden ranks for long.

After starting his monsoon campaign on a winning note, Akshay Kumar ended it by guiding Morior Invictus to victory in the concluding event of the season. Garnet dictated the terms to her rivals till the home stretch where Archangels, Blazing Jupiter and Hoping Cloud all making their bid almost at the same juncture. Akshay meanwhile essayed his challenge astride Morior Invictus (Tenth Star – Sogno River) on the outer flank. MF Ali Khan nurtured Morior Invictus came with a sustained run and to overwhelm the frontrunners. Hoping Cloud found an opening late and ended a good second ahead of Archangels and Blazing Jupiter. Vision Of Rose finished a fair fifth. Favourite Bellagio toiled hard but failed to make any impression.       

Akshay Kumar and RH Sequeira were crowned as leading jockey and trainer respectively. Akshay was victorious astride 35 mounts while Sequeira had 24 winners to his credit.