The Gr 3 Y Shanker Rao Memorial Deccan Colts Championship Stakes, the second classic of the Hyderabad Monsoon Season, held on Monday played out exactly as the scriptwriters at the tote board had predicted: a two-horse slugfest with everyone else reduced as extras. Prokofiev and Red Bishop, old sparring partners, locked horns again. Last time, Prokofiev lost his whip (and the plot) in the Colts Championship Stakes at Bangalore, while in the Derby he had returned the compliment, leaving Red Bishop behind. This time, it was supposed to be his day.


The race unfolded just as expected — Matisse dutifully cut the early fractions, Prokofiev cruised in his slipstream, and Trevor Patel on Red Bishop had to shake, rattle, and roll his sluggish partner into gear. Prokofiev looked home and dry turning for the judge, the favourite’s backers already patting themselves on the shoulder. But then came the difference: Trevor’s superior big-race experience. While Anthony Raj gave Prokofiev every chance, Trevor knew exactly when to press, how much to cajole, and just how far to throw his horse’s head at the wire. The result? Red Bishop mugged Prokofiev on the post — a ride executed with surgical precision.


Knight Regent won the consolation prize five lengths back, but let’s be honest, this was a duel decided by Trevor’s cool head under pressure. In races like these, it’s not just horsepower but jockey nerve and experience in classics that make the difference. And once again, Trevor showed why he’s built for the big stage. Anthony Raj executed his job to perfection except that he didn’t get the verdict in his favour.

If Prokofiev’s camp felt hard done by, who could blame them? In racing, luck is worth more than bloodlines, training and everything else.

The undercard on Monday was no less theatrical. Horses that had been masquerading as couch potatoes suddenly remembered their job descriptions, proving yet again that when the right money talks, the right horses sprout wings.

Nyanza, a Pesi Shroff, who treats handicappers like last season’s leftovers and Nyanza was binned her after two lifeless runs and reached the stables of Raza Shehzad, who scooped her up like a bargain-bin item. Backed strongly to recoup the high price that she may have commanded, Nyanza went after Roxxane — the front-runner who looked home free until her fuel gauge plummeted in the final furlong. Nyanza pounced, City of Moksha finally remembered to run but left it too late, and Roxxane clung to second by a whisker, looking more like she was saving face than saving place.

Money Shouts, Horses Listen

The 1400 metres Hussain Sagar Cup (Div I) proved, once again, that money doesn’t just talk in Hyderabad racing — it shouts into a megaphone. Bold Beauty, who’d been knocking heads with younger, sharper types, found herself demoted to the senior citizens’ club for five-year-olds and over. Unsurprisingly, she was backed as if defeat was illegal. Sai Kumar produced her late from the clouds to collar Star Medal without fuss, while Blue Pantheress sneaked up the rails to deny Sadiya silver.

The lower division was more of the same — Shah of Iran, showered with betting confetti, bullied his way into favouritism and R N Darshan turned the script into reality. Sweet Dancer tried but couldn’t dance fast enough, and Shubrak trailed in as if he’d come for a morning gallop.

Vittal Deshmukh’s Walking Thunder was tipped to rumble in the 1400 metres Monsoon Cup, but Petaluma (last seen failing in the Fillies Championship Stakes) had other ideas. Jockey Vivek G kicked her clear into the straight and fought like a street brawler but lost the plot in the end. Trevor Patel’s aggressive big-race riding made the difference — Walking Thunder wore her down by half a length, Miss Smiley Angel arriving too late for the party and settling for third.

The day’s only upset arrived in the 1200 metres A Krishnaswamy Memorial Cup. Pacific Heights, who needs an uncontested lead the way most people need oxygen, got exactly that. Akshay Kumar let her bowl along, and the Dali progeny simply opened the throttle, winning by six plus lengths. Star Forever and Arion One fought for the leftovers, the former pinching second by a whisker.

Some horses win, others annihilate. Donald Netto’s Nonpariel belongs to the latter category. In the 1600 metres Chief Minister’s Cup, she notched her fifth straight, K Mukesh Kumar barely breaking a sweat. She coasted past the 300-metre mark, hit the accelerator, and vanished — six lengths clear. The rest scrambled: D Minchu flew late for second, Hugh Capet and Livermore proving that chasing the leader was an act of futility.

The 1400 metres Chaitanya Chakram Plate for maiden three-year-olds gave us a cinematic finish. Lake Michigan, looking dead and buried at the rear, suddenly remembered he had engines. He flew in the final furlong, mowing down Besti and Sharanga with ridiculous ease. Tootsie Darling was disappointing.

The 1200 metres Makalu Plate belonged to Jim — a horse with 12 starts, three fourths, and a résumé thinner than a betting slip. Yet, the tote board roared with confidence, and sure enough, apprentice Shivansh steered him home. Noorian nearly spoiled the party but missed by a whisker. Ilene completed the frame. After months of mediocrity, Jim finally obliged, proving once again that in Hyderabad racing, the connections often know more than the formbook ever will.