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The four-cornered blanket finish in Tuesday`s feature event, the 2,000m Monsoon Cup, brought about a logical end to the most exciting season in recent memories. Trainer Vijay Singh retaining the championship crown was, however, a foregone conclusion but the young jockey`s, Nikhil Naidu`s, emergence as a champion may have surprised many. On a positive note, it was a welcome sign in a turf centre that had, of late, been banking heavily upon the top saddle-artists from the other parts of the country.
Incidentally, Naidu shattered the dream of his elder cousin, Suraj Narredu, in the process of bagging the riding title. Suraj was eying for a double-crown, simultaneously with the Hyderabad title.
In the same breath, the other talented rider who deserves mention is apprentice Sujit Paswan. The apprentice may have a long way to go and refine his finishing touches but he collected 14 winners during the season, just about four short of the title, speaks volume about his talent.
Fortune favours braves and trainer Imtiaz Sait`s B Fifty Two was the perfect example. B Fifty Two, despite his advancing age and suspect fitness, made every post of the 2,000m Monsoon Cup trip a winning one. Among his victims were the younger outstation champions in their own right, the likes of Whomakestherule and Big Orange, combined with the local old war hero, Shivalik Showers.
Naidu`s brace of wins, in fact, rocked Suraj`s boat after they had started the day at almost even terms. Suraj, however, drew a blank, having come very close to score on Vijay`s debutant and the course-favourite, Abhya Gama, in the Zip Off Plate for the maiden three-year-olds. Suraj drove the favourite into a commanding lead but failed stop Naidu`s Nandish, a stable-mate, by a narrow margin.
Trainer Javed Khan`s The Kiss, a 6/1 shot, ensured the champion designate with the crown, as the final try of Suraj, a 16/10 favourite, Adhirit, in the concluding event, the Sreepriya Handicap, couldn`t have changed the winning count of Naidu`s ‘seconds` that were far too in big numbers. The race was won by Montecasino (Akash Rajupt), for trainer Vikash Jaiswal, who, incidentally scored a treble, including with Shivayy and Uncrowned King. Shivayy won from the start while Uncrowned King was ridden off the pace for an easy victory.
Trainer Bharath Singh also pinched a smart but narrow victory when Bojangle (Neeraj Rawal) made every post of 1,600m Amberdue Handicap. Bojangle found strong challengers in Joss (Suraj) and Apna Time Aayega (Shezad Khan).
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Shivayy (Sujit Kr Paswan up) winner of the Flower Dust Handicap
Bojangles (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Amberdue Handicap
Nandish (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Zip Off Plate
Uncrowned King (Sujit Kr Paswan up) winner of the Mercury Handicap
B Fifty Two (C S Jodha up) winner of the Monsoon Cup
The Kiss (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Hall Of Glory Handicap
Montecasino (Akash Rajput up) winner of the Sreepriya Handicap
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