The four-year old filly Alexina has a penchant for winning when it is felt that she is out of the reckoning, or so it seems. The chestnut daughter of Western Aristocrat out of Alexandrite hailing from KSV Prasad Raju’s barns recorded a stunning upset in the Telangana Race Horse Owners Association Trophy on the concluding day of the Hyderabad Monsoon Season 2024. Alexina found herself in the front as the six contestants took off for the mile trip with N R I Sport trying to pace with her and Shadow of the Moon, Huntingdon, Akido and Siddharth closely bunched up behind. As the six runners turned for home, P. Sai Kumar was still in control of the lead with Shadow of the Moon on the verge of launching his assault as N R I Sport receded and Huntingdon entered wide into the straight, which ruined his chances. While the spectators waited for one of the fancied quartet to swoop down on the leader, Alexina kept teasing and taunting her rivals till there was only a furlong left to tackle. Sai got a sniff of a possible victory as he removed his whip to keep the filly going. Sai’s merciless whipping, which exceeded the permissible limit, got Alexina to produce that extra bit of vigour. Eventually Alexina left the four heavyweights in the contest licking their wounds, razing their reputations with her blistering run. Shadow of the Moon held on to the second berth ahead of Siddharth, who had Huntingdon following him home. Half a length separated the first four finishers from each other.

A chance ride half hour earlier fetched Sai his first winner of the day through Kings Best, who was to be ridden by Akshay Kumar. Kings Best had last tasted success about two years when cared for by late Altaf Hussain. He migrated to Hyderabad that summer and was tended initially by Donald Netto before shifting to A. Imran Khan’s yard recently. Kings Best’s previous two victories were over a mile and he went start-to-finish on both occasions. After a dozen unsuccessful attempts at Malakpet, Kings Best was hustled into the lead by Sai and the outcome was there for all to see. Kings Best (Leitir Mor – Grey Allure) raced with gay abandon in front, leaving his rivals to chase his shadow all the way. Of course, the right money was riding on Kings Best’s chances this time as the odds against him shrunk during race time. Kings Best won convincingly from joint favourite Decoy, who could not match strides with winner despite following him from the word go. Brooklyn Beauty was a beaten horse in the home stretch and was relegated to the fourth spot by Ashwa Gajraj.

The seven-race card on the last day of the season was dominated by jockey K. Mukesh Kumar and trainer Magan Singh Parmar as they succeeded in recording a treble, two of the winners carrying the public’s purse to victory. The duo got its first winner in the opening event through the 15 to 1 longshot Delhi Heights. Adbhut sprinted away into the lead till being collared by D Minchu just after the two-furlong marker with Maverick also joining the issue. Meanwhile, Delhi Heights, who had dropped back after racing with the front-runners in the early stages of the race, was shown daylight by Mukesh. Delhi Heights (Stardan – Alohamora) made steady progress with each stride to overhaul both D Minchu and Maverick and scampered home to win from Lucky Zone, who found his rhythm late. Hugh Capet finished on well to be in the money ahead of Maverick. The writing was on the wall in the betting ring itself as far as the chances of Armstrong were concerned and, not surprisingly, the Imran Khan trainee didn’t raise any hopes for his supporters before ending a close fifth.

Mukesh had a relatively easy ride aboard Gatiman, who was backed to the exclusion of his rivals. Mukesh let no-hopers Challenger and Wind Sprite do the initial running as he kept Parmar’s ward within striking distance of the pair ahead. Mukesh gave Gatiman his head as the field swung into the straight and strongly drove the piping-hot favourite to collar Challenger. Gatiman (Dali – Real Queen) stepped up the pace and went on to record his second career success. Warwick pegged back early leader Challenger for the second slot while Knotty Senorita ended fourth. Last-outing winner Calista Girl ran far below expectations and finished off the judges’ board.

Some vigorous riding from Mukesh enabled Mix The Magic to escape the clutches of Newfound Glory in the last race of the day. Mix The Magic tracked Anahita from the barriers and stole a march over her rivals with about two furlongs left for the destination. Mukesh, however, had to go flat out on his mount as Newfound Glory started to gain momentum in the last furlong. Mix The Magic (Planetaire – Atmosphere), however, stretched out well and had her neck in front of Sai Kumar-ridden Newfound Glory when they hit the wire. Eminency ran on to be third whilst Great Giver completed the judges’ frame.

Star of Night made ample amends for her failure on Derby day by giving an armchair winning ride to Akshay, his last winner of the season. Hilton Sequeira-schooled Star of Night raced unruffled in the fourth spot as London Bell showed the way to the field with Bold Beauty and Clarity chasing him. Star of Night (Excellent Art – Romantic Star) showed a splendid turn of foot when Akshay got busy on his mount and the bay filly went sailing past London Bell inside the final two furlongs. She was eased a long way from home and had London Bell finishing second. Freedom Touch and Skyward followed them home.

N R I Doublepower was another hot favourite to justify his favouritism enroute his third victory this season. Netto-saddled N R I Doublepower made gradual progress from the rear to be on the frontline at the bend as Blissful and Icicle brought the field into the straight. N R I Doublepower (Gusto – Sparkling Crystal) sped past Icicle under the forceful urges on Suraj Narredu and was home and dry before any threat emerged on the horizon. Icicle just about managed to hold on the runner-up spot from Anzio, who came with taking strides from nowhere to finish third whilst Miss Little Angel ran fourth. Reigning Beauty and Strauss never seemed to be in the hunt as they both finished tamely behind Miss Little Angel.

Donald Netto (21 wins), Akshay Kumar (22 wins) and Md. Ekram Alam (8 wins) were declared as leading trainer, jockey and apprentice (claiming allowance) for the season. The Imtiaz Sait nursed mare Geographique, the winner of the Nizam’s Gold Cup and President of India Gold Cup, was adjudged as the champion horse of the season. Netto-trained Ashoka, having won thrice from four starts, earned the ‘horse of the season’ title.