B. Mukesh Kumar-trained Minecraft showed up and showed out in the 1200 metres Telangana Cup (Div I), a race for horses rated 60 to 85, clinching the feature event on the opening day of the Hyderabad Winter Season at Malakpet. Backed with unwavering confidence, Minecraft didn`t just meet expectations—he comfortably left them in the dust, taking control in the straight and warding off a late bid from Gretsy to secure a resolute victory in the hands of jockey K Mukesh Kumar.

Fresh off an impressive win, Minecraft carried high hopes, especially after Gatiman, the horse he trounced in his last outing, had since gone on to win decisively, further bolstering his credentials. True to form, jockey Mukesh Kumar rode Minecraft with poise, tracking the early leader, Best Buddy, from a snug second position before pouncing midway down the straight to take the lead. Gretsy made things interesting with a spirited charge, but Minecraft had the reserves to keep him at bay and cross the post with authority. Meanwhile, Gretsy edged out Baisa to settle for second in a close finish.

For those backing favourites, it was a day to smile; the victory of One N Only in the day`s opener, setting the tone on a card that saw punters rewarded for their faith in the top picks.

The Thunder promised a storm but fizzled out like a damp squib, leaving punters scratching their heads in the 1200 metres Telangana Cup (Div II). The five-year-old mare, confidently backed by punters riding high on three winning favourites, seemed ready to clinch her hat-trick—until she didn`t. Odds wobbled a bit before the start, an early red flag, perhaps, but hope held firm as The Thunder took off to the front as expected. However, just when the crowd anticipated a strong finish, she deflated faster than a bad balloon trick in the final furlong, dropping out of contention with all the impact of a misfiring firecracker.

Encore, that unassuming veteran, didn`t just seize the day—he grabbed it with both hooves, gliding past the faltering frontrunner to score a comfortable win over the late-charging D Minchu and Adbhut. As for The Thunder, backed heavily by an optimistic crowd, her sudden fade turned out to be more than just a missed beat. The mare returned to the stables with a bleeding issue, explaining her abrupt collapse in the final stretch and dashing any hopes of a dramatic hat-trick finish. This unfortunate twist left punters feeling more rattled than rewarded.

Donald Netto`s One N Only kicked off the winter season by delivering precisely what the punters ordered—a no-sweat, front-running clinic that left the opposition wondering if they`d stumbled into the wrong race. As a progeny of Akeed Champion, and on the brink of a hat-trick, One N Only faced about as much resistance in the 1100-metre Srisailam Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, as a hot knife through butter.

Charging home in glorious isolation, One N Only crossed the finish with a five-length cushion, looking like he`d just finished a Sunday jog rather than a competitive race. Behind him, Calsista Girl dutifully followed along to claim second, while Star Forever brought up the rear of the podium. Both were merely filling the ranks, trailing far enough behind to keep the winner`s shadow out of sight. In the end, One N Only didn`t just win; he waltzed, adding a decisive exclamation mark to what was supposed to be a contest.

In what turned out to be a heart-stopping thriller, three contenders dashed to the wire in the 1400 metres Amarnath Gupta Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, leaving onlookers gasping. Lesser-fancied True Icon from trainer Anant Vatsalya`s stable, like an underdog superhero, clinched victory by the slimmest of margins over Happy Soul, trained by Vittal Deshmukh, with the race favourite, Golden Gazelle from Srinivas Reddy`s stable, just a whisper away in third.

Happy Soul, showing some early spirit, took over from pace-setter Wind Spirite at the top of the straight, looking set to snatch victory as Golden Gazelle lumbered behind, seemingly trying to remember why she was there. Meanwhile, True Icon`s jockey, Ajeet Kumar, played the waiting game, praying for a clear passage as he trailed with some ground to make up. Luck smiled on him as the rails parted, and True Icon surged ahead, setting up a thrilling battle with Happy Soul and the belatedly inspired Golden Gazelle.

All three thundered down to the finish locked in a three-way duel, and even the judges held their breath. When the dust settled, the photo confirmed True Icon as the winner, while Happy Soul, left to ponder what could`ve been, settled for second. The favourite, Golden Gazelle, bred from the Epsom Derby-winning Authorized, found the distance a tad brisk—her late rally was too little, too late.

Laxman Singh`s Home Run, debuting in the 1100-metre Beginners Plate for two-year-olds, was the darling of the punters, backed with almost comical confidence in a cozy six-horse field. The rest? Let`s just say they were generously left for anyone feeling unusually charitable with their wagers.

This “sure thing” wasn`t the smooth-sailing victory the odds hinted at. Jockey Akshay Kumar found himself breaking a sweat as Home Run laboured down the stretch to catch up to the tenacious Zuza, who had the audacity to lead and even dared to keep it interesting. For a moment, it looked like Zuza might have the last laugh, but the relentless front-running did her in, and as she hit the final furlong, she began to fizzle out.

With Zuza losing steam, Home Run managed to close the gap and trot past her with a dash of relief – and, thankfully, a touch of comfort by the finish line. American Affair, meanwhile, held a steady third, content to amble along and call it a day.

The early winter days have always seen the favourites dominate, thanks to a more forgiving track than the monsoon season`s sand pit. Mountain Touch, fresh off a respectable showing in the Deccan Derby, went into the 1600-metre Tenacity Plate as the firm favourite. Frankly, the odds just shy of even money were practically a gift to the punters. Perhaps the only reason the price wasn`t shorter was the presence of last-start winner Vital Sign, who, while impressive in his own right, was about to find out he`d brought a knife to a gunfight.

Jockey Aashad Asbar let Mountain Touch bide his time, hanging back in fifth or sixth position as Grey Sky led the parade. But once they hit the straight, Mountain Touch moved up effortlessly, hardly breaking a sweat. With a powerful surge in the final furlong, Mountain Touch brushed off any competition and stormed home three lengths clear. Vital Sign held onto second. Skyward, meanwhile, did just enough to hang on for third, rounding off the board in what was essentially the Mountain Touch show.

Trainer Laxman Singh, after a lacklustre monsoon season, finally found his stride with the start of winter, thanks to the surprising victory of My Challenge in the 1200 metres Armagnac Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Going off at long odds, My Challenge stunned everyone with an eleventh-hour surge in the betting ring, becoming a close second favourite—a remarkable turnaround considering the original favourite, Gloria, had been rock solid at the top.

It`s often said, “Money makes the mare go,” and that seemed truer than ever in this 14-horse field. Jockey Akshay Kumar with a bolt-from-the-blue strategy, guiding My Challenge to the front with intent. The horse stretched out to a formidable lead, leaving Gloria and High Heels struggling to keep up with even her shadow. Gloria eventually eked out a narrow runner-up spot over High Heels, but neither came close to challenging the runaway leader.

For context, My Challenge`s form had been anything but promising, with forgettable, out-of-the-money finishes—most notably a dismal run over 14 lengths behind Arion One just 55 days prior. But winter`s fresh start worked wonders, and Singh`s patience has paid off with this eye-catching upset.