The Hyderabad Race Club’s short and sweet winter racing season came to a close on Sunday, a season that offered a lifeline to scores of people whose survival depends on the sport. The season turned out to be a mixed fare for bettors as the form of fancied runners remained inconsistent as ever. The season’s concluding day was no different; actually it was worse as favourite horses failed to oblige in the latter half of the day.

Trainer Laxman Singh’s protégé Certanity defied the handicapper to record her fourth straight victory in the Kamareddy Plate, a seven-furlong event. Certanity raced in the mid-pack as Exclusive Black tried runaway tactics while Racing Ruler and Proud Mary stalked him. Favourite Racing Ruler swerved to his left as they approached the final turn, with Exclusive Black still ahead of his rivals. When Kuldeep Singh Sr. shifted gears on Certanity in the straight, the filly came at the leader with raking strides and stopped him in his tracks in the final furlong. Arabeska warmed up late to finish runner-up, suggesting that the present distance was a bit sharp.

Before Racing Ruler gave an erratic performance, his stablemate Special Star shocked racegoers by refusing to jump from the stalls when the seven-furlong race was flagged off. Special Star, who was bidding for a hat-trick, was the public’s odds-on choice to win the Recommender Plate, but she left her chances and the punters’ money in the stalls. Moreover, rubbing salt into the wounds of the spectators, the race was won by Parmar’s unfancied ward Shoolin. This was after the Parmar trainee Feel The Magic had bitten the dust in the previous event. DS Deora-ridden Shoolin showed plenty of early speed to hit the front and managed to pull off a stunning upset despite the threat posed by late-finishing outsider Foxy Girl. Even the third spot was taken by Armstrong, a 20 to 1 longshot. Mystical Dawn ran fourth.

Well-fancied One Nation, a recent migrant from Mysore to Hilton Sequeira’s stables, obliged in the Rock Heaven Plate. Top-weighted One Nation, ridden by Neeraj, was up with the pace as Only My Way stormed into the lead while Aquatone and See My Attitude tracked him. A fluent last-start winner, Feel The Magic lay unconcerned behind until Mukesh started to improve her position as they came into the straight. However, Neeraj made a swift move with One Nation inside the last furlong and a half, catching Feel The Magic flat-footed and surging past the leaders. Mukesh tried hard to catch One Nation (Universal – Storm At Dawn) but Feel The Magic could not raise a fluent gallop and was well beaten at the post. Real Thalaivaa ran a distant third, half a length ahead of Sadiya.

The outcome of both divisions of Kinnerasani Plate, reserved for maiden juveniles, went in favour of the punters. Trevor Patel-ridden Cosmic Gift from A. Imran Khan’s yard unleashed a powerful run in the home stretch to take charge from leaders Modin and She’s A Bomb. Cosmic Gift (Chinese Whisper – Diamonite) cruised away in the final furlong for a comfortable win over Modin and Belgian Waffle, who finished in the money after pegging back She’s A Bomb near the post.

The Sequeira-schooled filly Quattro raced unperturbed till Gacchanmanasvin brought the field into the straight where Ashhad Asbar pressed her into action. Quattro (Lord Admiral – Couleur Rouge) responded well by stepping up the pace to collar the leaders and sail away for a convincing win. Runner-up Rajendra, Gacchanmanasvin, Speedy Queen, and Vinfast followed the winner in that order past the post.

Trainer Ananth Vatsalya added two winners to his tally with Red Hot Punch and Trust Me. Red Hot Punch produced a sparkling run in the day’s opening event, the Circar Plate. Jockey Ajeeth Kumar brought Red Hot Punch (Fiero – Miss Lily) with a flourishing run close home to overhaul leaders Ek and Aditya opposite the grandstand and drew away for a gratifying win. Divine Faith warmed up late but managed to beat Ek and Aditya for the second slot.

Though neglected in the betting ring, seven-year-old Trust Me stunned the fancied opponents over the six-furlong sprint to claim the Aristocrat Plate. Trust Me (Varenar – Tableau Vivant) lengthened his stride when asked for an effort by jockey G. Naresh and wore down leader Indradhanush in the final stage. He held gallantly to win by half a length from runner-up Cosmico and Natu Natu, who made a late dash for the wire. Inderdhanush finished a close fourth.

Naresh achieved a back-to-back double in the concluding event of the season when he steered Photograph to a narrow win, giving trainer Robin Reddy his solitary winner of the season. Photograph (Desert God – Cuix One) made steady progress from the rear and galloped resolutely in the straight to overrun favourite Bold Indian in the shadow of the winning post. Favourite Bold Indian had tackled early leader Iconic Star in the last furlong but found Photograph playing spoilsport in the end. Char Ek Char and Hoping High ran third and fourth.