By Punters Mind
Mikimoto Dominates, Diablo Dazzles, and Gloria Defies the Odds
The roar of hooves, the cheers of the crowd, and the scent of fresh rain in the air signaled the long-awaited return of horse racing at Hyderabad’s Malakpet Race Course. After a nearly five-month pause, the monsoon racing season kicked off on Monday, offering a day brimming with drama, emotion, and raw excitement.
While the eight-race card mostly went in line with expectations, punters experienced a roller-coaster of emotions—from joyful eruptions to silent curses. Let’s dive into the highlights of a thrilling day that had it all.
Mikimoto’s Monsoon Masterclass – Osman Sagar Cup (Div-I)
The feature race of the day, the Osman Sagar Cup (Div-I), delivered the show everyone hoped for. Mikimoto, the star filly trained by Donald Netto, returned after narrowly missing a five-timer last season. This time, there was no room for doubt.
Jockey Kuldeep Singh Sr. sat quietly as Runlikethewind and Best Buddy battled up front. Then came the home stretch. Kuldeep let the reins loose and Mikimoto exploded forward like a bullet! Her stride was majestic, leaving her rivals stunned.
“And there she goes, ladies and gents—this is pure class from Mikimoto!” shouted the commentator.
Ragnarok, her stablemate, flew late to grab second, while Miss Maya just managed to finish third.
‘See the way she galloped yaar! Like a rocket, no catching her!” said one excited punter to his friend.
What a royal gallop!
Dashing Charm Sets the Pace – Con Amore Plate (Div-I)
The season’s curtain-raiser gave punters a reason to smile. Dashing Charm, ridden confidently by jockey Ashhad Asbar, bolted out of the gates and owned the race from start to finish. Despite a last-furlong scare from Certainty, the filly from Vittal Deshmukh’s yard held on.
“That’s gate-to-post perfection, folks. Textbook stuff from Dashing Charm!”
The victory wasn’t just sweet—it was symbolic. The crowd burst into cheers, celebrating the first win of the new season. Moonlite Rose tried hard and finished a close third.
“Opening race mein paisa lagake mast suruwaat kiya bhai!” grinned an old-timer punter.
Catch The Worm Shocks, NRI High Power Flops – Con Amore Plate (Div-II)
In the lower division, it was Catch The Worm who caught everyone’s attention. The Hilton Sequeira trainee, guided by B R Kumar, was full of running.
Meanwhile, NRI High Power, the odds-on favorite, simply did not turn up. The crowd was left stunned—murmurs of disbelief filled the stands.
“Kya boss! Fancied horse full faltu nikla! Kha gaya sabka paisa!”
“This is an upset, folks. And what a run from Catch The Worm! Took the sting out of the favourite there.”
Foxy Girl and Gusto’s Baby filled the placings.
Born Brave Wins Battle of Stablemates – Osman Sagar Cup (Div-II)
The second division of the feature event turned into a stable war between Born Brave and Espionage, both from Donald Netto’s yard. Espionage took off smartly, but Born Brave, carrying the lightest weight, unleashed a determined run in the final strides.
Jockey Varun’s ride was aggressive, relentless, and oh so thrilling.
“Born Brave ne toh aaj pura stable ka izzat rakh liya!”
Espionage fought hard but had to settle for second. Imperia was a distant third.
Gloria’s Glory – Scarlet Prince Plate
Drawn widest of all in a 14-horse field, Gloria wasn’t fancied much. But that didn’t matter to Ashhad Asbar, who produced his second gem of the day.
Settling her behind Total Control, Gloria waited, then pounced. Her final burst of speed was electric. The favourite, Life’s Journey, tried catching up but had too much to do.
“Gloria came from nowhere and just snatched that one, what a beauty of a ride!”
“Arre bhai, paisa chhod, yeh toh racing ka asli maza tha!” exclaimed a young punter.
Total Control held on to third, but this race was all about Gloria’s stunning rebellion.
Lego’s Late Power Surge – Tenacity Plate
Four runs. Zero placements. That was Lego’s record before this race. But heavy betting and strong confidence told a different story this time.
Asbar again showed why he’s one of the best, timing his move to perfection. Tracking Pinatubo, Lego switched gears in the final furlong to leave all behind.
“Lego’s turning into a serious customer, folks. That was ruthless finishing.”
Battle On ran well to finish second. Pinatubo folded but held third.
“Bro, jisne Lego pakda na, aaj biryani uske side se!” laughed a regular.
Diablo on Fire – HyderabadRaces.com Cup
Punters cheered, arms in the air, as Diablo cruised home with utter dominance. Backed to the hilt, Diablo—trained by KSV Prasad Raju and ridden by Sai Kumar—was never in doubt.
After grabbing the lead early, he traveled like a dream.
“This is what you call daylight demolition! Diablo all the way!”
Glorious Power and High Heels finished behind him, but this was a one-horse show. Hat-trick complete!
“Diablo ne toh sabko paisa double kara diya bhai! Kya ghoda hai!”
Brilliant Lad Weaves Magic – Adilabad Plate
Drama hit a peak when Brilliant Lad, hampered briefly by a drifting Pacific Heights, burst through traffic to grab victory in the dying moments. Jockey Sai Kumar’s ride was a mix of patience and brilliance.
Dubai Touch had taken charge earlier but couldn’t hold off the fast-finishing Lad. Percept closed from the rear for third.
“Yeh toh full filmi climax tha bhai! Brilliant Lad ne sabki neend uda di!”
“Last race mein paisa lagake, dil jeet liya bhai! Whatta ride!”
Final Summary: Racing Resumes with Fireworks & Frustration
Hyderabad’s monsoon opener was packed with action. While favourites like Mikimoto, Dashing Charm, and Diablo justified their support, disappointments like NRI High Power and Calistoga left punters fuming. The return to racing brought not just winners—but also the usual pangs of heartbreak, frustration, and pure exhilaration.
“Monsoon has arrived, folks—and so has the madness of Hyderabad racing!”
One thing’s for sure: this season won’t be dull!
Horses to Follow (For Punters’ Notebook):
- Gloria – Ignore her wide draw again. She’s got gears.
- Brilliant Lad – Massive burst of late speed. Will win again.
- Ragnarok – Strong second behind Mikimoto. Watch next outing.
- Percept – Late closer with good potential.
- Golden Inzio – Quiet run this time, but has promise.
- Moonlite Rose – On the verge. Needs a bit more luck.
Stay sharp, bet smart, and never ignore the whispers of the turf!
