The monsoon racing season at Malakpet was off to a positive start here on Monday which, officially, was the second race-day following the postponement of the scheduled inaugural race-day a week ago. The outcome of the eight-race card, including the day's feature won by Humanitarian, was one-sided in favour of the punters.

The four-year old Humanitarian's ability, in contrast to her previous display, had evidently improved by leaps and bounds when the N Ravinder Singh saddled filly steamrolled her opponents in the Raja Mahboob Karan Memorial Cup. Akshay Kumar ridden Humanitarian, who had spent her summer in Bangalore, raced in close attendance of the leader Team Player as the field of eleven took off for the mile journey. She improved gradually to join the leader as the field turned for home and steal a march over her rivals when Akshay released the brakes. Humanitarian (Roderic O'Connor - Placervilles Glory) then strode out majestically to put daylight between herself and her nearest rival Painted Apache. The filly had something in reserve as Akshay eased her up in the final furlong. Runner up Painted Apache was followed home by Superstellar and Princess Daka.

Somewhat similar to his effort last year, Akshay started his current season's campaign with a bang and bagged a quartet of winners. But for his failure astride on-money favourite Windsor at the start of the day, Akshay would have had a cent percent result with his five riding engagements. Leo D'silva nurtured Windsor received maximum support in the betting on the back of her forward run at Bangalore last month. But Windsor proved no match to the speedy exhibition of Bash On Regardless. The second in demand filly from LVR Deshmukh's barns seized the initiative as soon as the gates flew open and jockey S Saqlain never let the advantage slip away much to the chagrin of Akshay aboard Windsor. Bash On Regardless (Planetaire - Perfect Polly) lengthened her strides in straight and won drawing away from late-finishing D Right Time, who was lethargic at the start but ran on to deprive Windsor the second place. Maverick found himself a place on the judge's board.

Akshay was not wallowing in despair after Windsor's dismal failure. He was soon back in business and how. Akshay rode four winners thereafter which included a brace for D Netto who in fact ended the day with winning treble. Akshay allowed no-hoper Assured Success to show the way and raced on his haunches till he led the field into the home stretch. Clare (Excellent Art - Meohmy) took charge soon and just when she looked to be home and dry, she got a scare from her stablemate Decoy, who posed the unexpected threat to her chances. Decoy gained the upper hand for a fleeting moment but Akshay drove Clare vigorously to regain the lead and avoid some embarrassment.

In the next race Akshay had to sweat again atop Prasad Raju trained Rival to quell the spirited display given by Bangor On Dee, who had divested The Akhanda of his lead about two furlongs away from the finishing line. Rival (Sanus Per Aquam - Apparition) and King's Best both threw their challenge at Bangor On Dee at the same juncture. Ajeeth Kumar ridden King's Best got squeezed out of the fray for want of sufficient room as Rival shifted in. Subsequently, A Imran Khan piloted Bangor On Dee and Rival went hammer and tong with the latter snuffing out his adversary's challenge in the closing stages. King's Best, who lives to fight for another day, ended third, way ahead of Angelita.

The fourth winner steered by him, Life's Living neither caused any anxiety for Akshay nor the punters. D Netto's ward Life's Living (Be Safe - Hi Life) took charge of the running shortly after the start and made every post of the six furlong trip a winning one. The dark bay filly sped away to her maiden victory after Akshay switched gears at the top of the straight and left her rivals fighting for the crumbs. Stoic Hero, Saint Emilion and Plethora finished in that order behind the winner.

Netto completed a treble when apprentice Sonu Kunar guided Swiss Girl (West Virginia - Superb) to a fluent win in the last race. Swiss Girl sprinted ahead from the barriers and led all the way to taste first career success immediately on demotion to the lowest class. Jack Daniel held on to the runner up berth from stablemate Exponent with Honourable Lady completing the judge's frame.

Temptations provided Deshmukh, who had earlier led in Bash On Regardless, a back-to-back double. Temptations (David Livingstone - Tourmalet) grabbed the initiative right as the gates opened and had Milton Keynes for company all the way as the race was reduced to a two-horse event by this duo. Both horses went stride for stride and it was the strong handling of Ajeeth which tipped the scales in Temptations' favour as she thwarted appreciate Ekram Alam partnered Milton Keynes. Happy Go Lucky ran thereabouts to be third whilst Star Medal was far behind in the fourth spot.

Livermore (Speaking of Which - Sherman Oaks), the only juvenile in the nine-horse field competing for the Falaknuma Cup, ran true to the expectations and registered a bloodless victory over her rivals. The D'silva trained and Afroz Khan ridden filly sorted out the three pretenders heading the field at the final bend and had the race sewn up a long way from home. Aerial Combat rallied on to finish second ahead of Role Model who drifted out alarmingly in the straight and ended on the outer rails. Divide Destiny finished fourth.