In the current racing scene, “favourite” is less about form and more about the bookies` sense of humour. Horses that wouldn`t normally qualify as favourites even in their own stables are being quoted at cramped odds, right alongside the genuinely deserving ones. The poor punters, dazzled by the shiny “favourite” tag, believe it`s a shortcut to profit—until they realise that a couple of costly flops can wipe out four winners. Monday`s six-race card was a perfect case study: three odds-on favourites, three lesser fancied winners, including a 15-to-1 bombshell in the last race that emptied the wallets at the end of the day.

Faiyaz Ali Khan-trained Crimson Flame was supposed to cruise in the 1100m Asaf Jah VII Memorial Cup (Div I), but instead decided to give her backers a cardiac workout as the horse missed the jump under Akshay Kumar. Backed to the exclusion of everything else, she stumbled out of the gates as though she`d overslept. Shadow Fax stormed ahead in the final furlong, only to be mugged at the finish. Crimson Flame scraped home by a neck, proving that luck is sometimes a better jockey than skill. High Reward was third, while High Heels proved she was better off staying in the closet.

In the lower division, Kalki from Bharath Singh`s yard was the on money favourite, but clearly not in the mood to honour his billing. Rolls Royce did his ritual front-running before sputtering like a second-hand scooter. Imran Chisty then sent Exclusive Black ahead and sped away stylishly, leaving Kalki huffing and puffing in the rear-view mirror. Rolls Royce at least got a bronze medal for showing up; the rest took part as distant spectators.

Bharath Singh had some redemption when Andre bossed the 1800m Mount Pleasant Plate for maiden three-year-olds, dragging along stablemate Sanaya for an exacta finish. Akshay Kumar steered Andre all the way, though La Fleuiere, who briefly looked threatening, folded up at the final bend, finishing more than eight lengths adrift of the second placed Sanaya.

Anant Vatsalya added spice to the card when Sunny Day lit up the 1400m Nice Fella Plate, leaving hot favourite NRI Range completely out of range. Ajeeth Kumar had to dig deep as Peanut and Dream To Fly came flying late, but Sunny Day had enough solar energy stored to escape with the prize at nourishing odds.

Meanwhile, Donald Netto`s NRI Triple Power proved to be exactly what the name promised—plugged in, switched on, and too good for the 1600m Fateh Maiden Club Cup (Div I). Mukesh Kumar hit the accelerator in the straight, and the rest simply disappeared from the frame. Gold Giver, after throwing away ground at the start, made up for lost time to finish second, while Sargent trailed in third. Akshay Kumar, however, seemed to be practicing yoga at the gates again—sluggish in two starts. Someone might want to check if the horses need gate drills, or if the jockey himself needs a wake-up alarm.

The lower division of the Fateh Maiden Club Cup saw shortest-priced favourite Bhairava blow up in spectacular fashion. Ajeeth Kumar had him in front early, but the horse decided to moonwalk sideways in the straight, dragging Perfect Light along for the ride. Unfazed, B R Kumar pressed on with Perfect Light, who coolly overtook the drifting Bhairava. Desert Sultan, who missed the start by miles, still sneaked into third, mostly because the others seemed content to run their own private race in another postcode.