Donald Netto trained Clarisa just got the measure of front-running Amorous White in the final stride to win the first race for two-year-olds, the 1100 metres Dodla Pratap Chandra Reddy Memorial Million, a terms race, the highlight of concluding day`s races of the Hyderabad Monsoon Season. After a break of about seven days, the winter season will begin on the adjoining track next Tuesday.

Prince Caspian came in for sustained support with the odds easing on Star Style. Clarissa was steady at 7/1. It was a shot in the dark for punters as most horses in the fray looked far from ready and it was difficult to pick any horse with conviction based purely on workouts or paddock looks. In the event, it proved so when long shot Amorous White made all the running and very nearly bringing of a big upset.

Amorous White was led to the starting gate early by the handlers. The two-year-old progeny of Stern Opinion also was reluctant to enter the gates but was coaxed to do so in the end by the handlers. Amorous White hit the front from the start and enjoyed an uncontested lead. Prince Caspian ran green in the straight which hurt his chances as under pressure, he ducked in violently, causing his jockey to check him to prevent him from colliding with the front horse. The best moving horse among the lot was Clarissa who appeared to be chasing a hopeless task. But the front-runner slackened close home and under a forceful ride by jockey Dashrath Singh, Clarissa got the nod by the skin of his teeth. The horse dropped her jockey soon after the post but Dashrath escaped unhurt. Prince Caspian was third.

Prasad Raju trained Rio Rojo who has struck purple patch as a six-year-old recorded the sixth straight win of the season when easily accounting for the opposition in the 1400 metres Charminar Trophy, a Category II race, despite the trip being sharp compared to the wins achieved over long distances. Rio Rojo who had very nearly ruined her career by being a difficult horse to load in the gates, appears to have matured into a solid performance as a six-year-old and this emphatic win assured her the title of being the horse of the season for the maximum number of wins achieved. Suraj Narredu had Rio Rojo chasing Midnight In Paris into the straight before pushing the favourite to take charge inside the final two furlongs. Rio Rojo smoothly cruised into the lead and was in no danger of being overhauled by any of the runners. Blue Eyed Babe chased the eventual winner without hope. Aston Doulton was third.

Laxman Singh trained Mirfield recorded an encore in the 1400 metres Angler Plate, a Category III race in emphatic fashion. Mirfield took over the running soon after straightening for the run in for home and the progeny of Win Legend went storming clear to record an impressive win at nourishing odds. Favourite Indian Dreams was left stranded and had to settle for the second slot ahead of Batur. This win for Laxman Singh enabled the trainer to win the trainers` championship with a one point lead over Vittal Deshmukh.

Laxman Singh`s other ward Rose Eternal came in for big support to win the lower division of the 1200 metres Mahbubnagar Plate, a Category III race, with the odds easing on Sea Castle. In the race itself, Rose Eternal failed to quicken after being prominently placed in front and faded out of the scene as soon as the race came on the boil. Sea Castle showed powerful acceleration to storm clear of the field to win in great style from Chinese Thought and Green Striker.

Athletic Approach came in for big betting in the 1200 metres Belle Dancer Plate (Div I), a Category III race for horses in the lowest category which meant that all the horses in the fray had been poor performers. Such betting on a horse which had not made any mark must be considered as excessive confidence. In the event, those who went blindly in support of Athletic Approach were left to rue their decision as the three-year-old gelding failed to show any substantial speed and was a tame third. When trainer K R K Raju`s horses win, they will be invariably at long odds. Castle Grey in the hands of apprentice jockey B R Kumar came from the wrong end of the field to topple New Comer in the final stride of the race to win at fancy odds. Kumar had a double as earlier in the day he had extricated Enter Canter from a possible hiccup along the rails and brought him on the outside of front-running Jem Star in the lower division of the race. The progeny of Express Wish then stormed clear to win easily from Take A Bow who nosed out Invasion for the runner-up berth.

Akshay Kumar drove out Canberra to contain the challenge of Ice Barrier by a neck to claim the 1600 metres Perceived Value Cup, a Category III race. Canberra got the better of front-running Brilliant inside the final furlong and then held off the late challenge of Ice Barrier. The latter should strike before long as the six-year-old mare was full of running and a more enterprising ride would have fetched victory on the day itself. The victory also enabled jockey Akshay Kumar to win the jockey`s champion by a solitary point lead.