Leo D`Silva trained Winning Streak who had gone down fighting to Superstellar last time out made amends with an easy start to finish win in the 1600 metres Osman Sagar Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, the feature event of races held at Malakpet on Monday. That reputation in racing is too brittle and not to be taken too seriously was highlighted by the shock defeats of those who were perceived unbeatable.

The bookmakers` odds are more often than not misleading these days. The horse possibly with the best form is quoted at short odds but the rest of the horses who have a chance are at such high odds that it makes it difficult for a punter to look for a possible winner among the rest to oppose the favourite. It proved so in the feature event when the short-priced favourite Arthur who had all the credentials went down tamely, with long-shot Winning Streak enjoying an uncontested lead and building up a winning lead by the final furlong. Favourite Arthur did not give hope. It was left to last-start winner Juramento to add some excitement with a typical late finish patented by jockey Akshay Kumar.

Jockey Afroz Khan took Winning Streak to the front from the start and the progeny of Roderic O`Connor was not troubled by any of the runners. Pradeep Chouhan kept Arthur a handy second while the rest were spaced out behind. Winning Streak showed no signs of weakening and kicked on merrily even as Arthur began to send distress signals. Juramento covered acres of ground from way off the pace to snatch the runner-up berth by a neck from the favourite who was found wanting. Arthur`s reputation was built on his close second behind King`s Ransom and the third behind Mojito in the Gr 1 Colts Championship Stakes at Bangalore. The Hyderabad Race Club doesn`t publish veterinary treatment of horses along with the acceptors and one is not sure whether Arthur had any operation or treatment for a wind problem.

N Rawal trained Bedord had been pretty consistent and went to the post for the 1200 metres Gadwal Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, as a well-backed favourite. Bedford did not disappoint, hitting the front from the word `go` and providing jockey Akshay Kumar with an easy win. Beauty On Parade gave a chase all through the stretch without making any impression on the winner, who despite drifting out of a straight course, managed to spare two lengths at the finish. Shazam ran on late but narrowly failed to pinch the runner-up berth.

There was noticeable support for Anant Vatsalya trained Reigning Queen albeit at longer odds in the 1400 metres Solitaire Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lower category. Saint Emilion who was a maiden from nine starts was the strongly preferred horse. After Space Time led the field into the straight, Saint Emillion was in earnest grabbing the lead and keeping it till overhauled by the eventual winner. From about the fifth position at the final bend, Reigning Queen smoothly progressed in the stretch in the capable hands of jockey Ajeeth Kumar and had the race in safe keeping in the final furlong. Exponent ran on late to take the second spot ahead of Air Superior while the favourite faded out tamely to end up in the fourth slot. This was the first win for the four-year-old filly Reigning Queen from 12 starts. The lower division of the race too went the way of Anant Vatsalya whose My Marvel broke the maiden`s rank in her 13th start in the hands of jockey Ajeet Kumar. Last start winner Sea of Class and Good Tidings who is a maiden from 28 starts were the well-backed horses with My Marvel too being in the betting. After Red River led the field well into the straight and weakened, My Marvel overtook the front-runner and stormed ahead. Good Tidings came home with a big run along the rails but My Marvel managed to reach the safety of the post sparing a neck at the finish.

Laxman Singh trained Humanitarian had no worthwhile opposition to challenge her in the 1800 metres Crack Regiment Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 and as such, the bookmakers quoted her at very cramped odds to win the race. Suraj Narredu relaxed the favourite in the third position as Surya Vahan set the pace followed by Dream Station. Humanitarian got a nice run along the rails in the stretch and the favourite cruised past the challengers to record an encore by a widening margin of six lengths. Dream Station battled on to take the second position ahead of Akash who held off Forever Bond by a slender margin for the third slot. In Division II of the race, Vittal Deshmukh trained Superstellar was quoted at short odds but the three-year-old gelding failed to live up to expectations, giving a timid performance. Last start winner Team Player went at a good clip with Superstellar in the chase. The favourite struggled to overhaul the front-runner in the straight. Long shot Carnival Lady easily overtook the front-running duo down the final furlong and marched ahead. Carnival Lady eventually managed to win the race by the skin of her teeth from Exclusive Spark who closed in with a rush covering the big leeway. Team Player stayed on to take the third position ahead of the favourite. This was the first win for Carnival Lady from 11 starts. Superstellar reportedly returned bleeding.

Mir Faiyaz Ali Khan trained Rhythm Selection won the Division III of the Royal Tern Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category by getting the better of Golden Forza in the dying moments of the race. Netto-trained Costello was strongly backed to win the race though the gelding had one win from 18 starts and his recent run was not indicating any imminent return to form. Golden Forza had the speed hit the front within the first furlong and held sway even as the favourite Costello chased the front-runner. While the favourite failed to make any impression, it was Rhythm Selection who showed out with a powerful run down the final furlong to eventually wear down the front-runner in the shadow of the post to record the second win of his career. Costello was a disappointing third.