The Gr 2 President of India Gold Cup once again played executioner to Dyf’s grand ambitions. Nirad Karanjawala’s seasoned traveller, who has logged more frequent-flyer miles than a corporate consultant, carried punters’ dreams but was betrayed by weary legs and the cruel weights he had to gift-wrap for his rivals. Star of Night, Hilton Sequeira’s dependable local, suddenly found speed and flattened both Dyf and Pyrite—sending Hyderabad’s crowd into rare, delirious joy at an outstation scalp.

The script began with Queen of Kings playing tour guide, dragging along Rise And Reign, Pyrite, and Dyf, while Ramiel, Star of Night, and Truth lurked behind. Ramiel tried a dramatic cameo, surged to the front, then promptly vaporised. Queen of Kings held fort until Dyf briefly teased his fans with “the old spark,” but it was Star of Night who slipped up the inside and took charge from there. B R Kumar steered him past the tiring favourite with all the effort of someone closing a cupboard door. Dyf managed to cling to second from Pyrite, but the aura is gone—his zest looks like it retired three runs ago. Losing to a non-graded horse with a weight pull was the cherry on the disappointment cake.

If punters thought redemption lay in the 1400 metres Director General of Police Cup, they were clearly reading the wrong script. Brilliant Lad strutted in as the short-priced favourite, but Robin Reddy Kondakalla’s Perception decided hat-tricks are for him, not others. With Akshay Kumar aboard, Perception treated the race like a solo gallop, skipping away by four lengths. Brilliant Lad stood rooted like his legs were stuck in cement, managing second. Gloria claimed third while the rest were content to watch like spectators who forgot they were paid participants.

Donald Netto’s Noble Heart found sweet revenge in the 1600 metres Totaram’s Cup. After being smacked down by NRI Ultra Power earlier, this time he left no room for debate. Kuldeep Singh had him cruising before flooring the accelerator in the final furlong to win by four lengths. Great Given popped up for second at long odds, while Armstrong looked threatening but fizzled out when asked to find another gear that simply wasn’t installed.

Punters, however, should have taken the last bus home early. In the 1200 metres Narayanpet Plate (Div I), Prasad Raju’s Cherish The Lady was backed as though she was a law of nature rather than a fallible horse. Vittal Deshmukh’s Dashing Charm, a long shot, clearly didn’t get the memo. He stormed ahead, built a fortress-like lead, and laughed all the way to the winning post. By the time Sai Kumar woke up Cherish The Lady, bookmakers were already busy counting their profits. Top In Class was third. The lower division was equally brutal. Analysis, the strong favourite, decided to analyse life instead of running, finishing in a sulk while Deshmukh again struck—this time with Zuza, partnered by Trevor Patel, who narrowly fended off Double Bubble. Assured Success ran third, while Analysis continued his meditation retreat.

The day wasn’t all gloom, though. The 1100 metres Artillery Cup for maiden three-year-olds provided some relief. Nilesh Rawal’s City of Moksha, who had been hinting at ability last time, finally achieved salvation by annihilating the opposition. Ajay Kumar rode with confidence, kicking clear to win by five lengths. Foxy Girl followed from a safe distance, while The State Man, the shortest-priced horse of the day, lived up to no part of his name—plodding into third. One wonders why punters still chase such horses, mesmerized like moths around a streetlamp, only to get burned.