Hyderabad`s Winter Races are still in that awkward phase where the horses, much like humans after a long vacation, are trying to remember why they returned to work at all. Form books offered guidance in theory, but on the track they served mainly as decorative literature. The third day`s races on Monday proved particularly unkind to followers of market fancies, many of whom went home lighter in pocket and heavier in philosophical reflection.

The feature event, the 1400 metres Time And Place Plate, looked straightforward on paper because trainer Donald Netto appeared to hold every card in the deck. There was Nonpareil, unbeaten during the monsoon including the Delhi Derby, the last-start winner Espionage, and the seasoned campaigner Ashoka, a former champion who has seen more racing seasons than most punters have seen winning tickets. The winner, logically, had to come from this trio. The only small complication was figuring out which one.

The market placed its faith in Nonpareil, reasoning that seven furlongs suited him perfectly. Unfortunately for the believers, racing logic occasionally takes the afternoon off. Espionage, who had the advantage of recent racing fitness, simply slipped away from the field turning for home and pinched the race before Nonpareil had fully engaged his engines. The favourite tried hard but arrived a shade too late while Diablo, who had set the early fractions, weakened to finish third. Ashoka, meanwhile, performed with a level of enthusiasm that suggested that he was in the holiday mood.

Corte Madera, trained by Prasad Raju, once carried classic aspirations when he was under the late Leo D`Silva. Now in new surroundings and armed with the benefit of a recent run, the colt was expected to dominate the 1400 metres Elusive Hero Plate for horses rated 40 to 65. The presence of champion jockey Suraj Narredu further convinced the betting ring that the result was a formality. Only Certainty from Laxman Singh`s yard looked remotely capable of interfering with the script.

Scripts, however, are often rewritten on the track. Jockey Kuldeep Singh had Certainty in command in the straight and the horse quickly slipped into a decisive lead. Corte Madera ran on strongly but discovered that seven furlongs was perhaps a shade sharp for his liking and finished second. Mystical Dawn filled the third spot while the favourite`s supporters quietly revised their expectations for the next outing.

The 1600 metres Democracy Plate for horses rated 20 to 45 was widely billed as a duel between Arizona Sun and Cape May, who went to the post as joint favourites. Both of them, however, contributed mainly to the suspense rather than the result. Real Thalaivaa, trained by Jasbir Singh, arrived late with a powerful surge down the final furlong to swamp the field in style. Whistledown, who had led until the last moment, finished second ahead of the two favourites who were quoted at identical odds of 2 to 1 and delivered identical disappointment.

Punters next rallied behind Tootsie Darling in the 1200 metres Armagnac Plate, the filly`s price crashing dramatically on the strength of her monsoon form. Deccan Spirit, trained by Magan Singh Parmar, clearly had other ideas. Taking charge near the final furlong, Deccan Spirit held stubbornly despite a strong challenge from the favourite to land the spoils. Warwick finished on late for third, arriving just in time to observe the conclusion.

The 1400 metres Himalaya Plate for first season runners produced one of the more impressive performances of the afternoon. Vittal Deshmukh trained Madante justified the noticeable betting support behind him. Grit N Grace started favourite but Madante, after being restrained early by jockey Akshay Kumar, was produced in the straight with devastating effect. The youngster pounced on the leaders and galloped away to win by more than four lengths from Gold Touch and Grit N Grace, marking himself as a colt who might have a future beyond merely confusing bookmakers.

The afternoon began with the 1200 metres Own Opinion Plate where the heavily backed Beverely, trained by Ananth Vatsalya, decided that pre-race theatrics were preferable to participation and was withdrawn after playing up at the gates. With the favourite out, Prasad Raju trained Special Star delivered a tidy upset. La Fleuriere looked home for most of the straight before Special Star arrived from the clouds with a blistering run to grab victory in the shadow of the post. Daring Spirit finished a close third while apprentice Ajay Kumar rode the winner with commendable confidence.

The day concluded much as it had begun, with expectations politely ignored. In the 1200 metres Bloomer Plate, Deccan Ranger and Blue Brigade dominated the betting as joint favourites. Natu Natu, trained by Laxman Singh, was evidently unimpressed by market opinions. Ridden by Ajay Kumar, the horse produced a strong late run to overhaul Deccan Spirit and win comfortably. Battle On edged out Niloufer The Great for the minor placing while the punters were once again reminded that racing, despite appearances, is not always a cooperative enterprise.