There isn`t a single race day in Hyderabad where long shots fail to catch punters off guard. At times, horses with considerable merit are overlooked when observing the betting activity in the ring. On other occasions, horses delivering ordinary performances manage to surprise, dealing a significant blow to the punters. Coupled with this, professionals engaging in their strategic maneuvers, can anticipate racing enthusiasts finding themselves on the losing side.

Following an extended period of leniency, authorities have suspended Akshay Kumar, Hyderabad`s undisputed champion, extending until the end of the season. This decision, subsequently upheld by the Board of Appeal, is intended to serve as a deterrent to other erring professionals who must now reassess and ensure the highest levels of integrity.

The highlight of the day, the Pronto Pronto Plate covering 1200 meters and for horses rated 40 to 65, witnessed an unexpected victory by a long shot from trainer Ravinder Singh`s stables. The triumph came at significant odds, overshadowing the heavily supported King`s Best, Juramento, and Bangor On Dee. Ravinder Singh has established a knack for consistently producing long shots, leaving many to ponder whether anyone can accurately gauge their chances.

Stag`s Leap, after a previous performance over seven furlongs where it finished 12 lengths behind the winner in a sprint, defied expectations racing over the same distance. Few anticipated a significant improvement since Stag`s Leap was in the same category. The horse`s prior race was the subject of an inquiry, with questions raised about Akshay Kumar`s riding and the horse`s subpar performance.

Stag`s Leap, under jockey B R Kumar, displayed remarkable speed to take an early lead. Maintaining a comfortable advantage, Stag`s Leap surprised onlookers. Bangor On Dee positioned itself in second place, ahead of Juramento and King`s Best—horses that had strong backing in the market. Although Bangor On Dee closed in on Stag`s Leap, the latter surged ahead and held its ground.

In the final furlong, under persistent urging, both Bangor On Dee and Juramento made a late charge, but Stag`s Leap successfully resisted their challenge, securing a victory. Juramento narrowly edged out Bangor On Dee for the runner-up position, while King`s Best was not prominently featured in the bustling finish.

Under the training of Raza Shezad, Shah of Iran, a four-year-old gelding, had been absent from the racetrack for 456 days possibly due to physical niggles. Consequently, the gelding was not considered a contender in the 1600 meters Bold Gesture Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Despite these odds, Md Ismail, who achieved a double for the day, took Shah of Iran on a start-to-finish mission.

Against expectations, the long-shot Shah of Iran outperformed the field, securing a victory without encountering any significant pressure, effectively sealing the race well before reaching the home stretch. In a late rally, Sundance Kid managed to surpass Aerial Combat and the heavily supported Das, securing the runner-up position. Shah of Iran`s triumph defied the scepticism surrounding its extended absence, highlighting the unpredictability inherent in horse racing. For the record, Shah of Iran was reported to have come back lame after the race. The lower division of the race went the way of well-backed Life Is Good who shot into the lead in the final furlong and successfully repelled the challenge of favourite Honorable Lady who warmed up to the task late in the day and came tantalizingly close to toppling the front runner. D World was third.

Leo D`Silva trained Santa Barbara, who had narrowly missed victory in her previous outing, redeemed herself in the 1100 meters Alekona Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. From the outset, Santa Barbara took command of the race, maintaining control and fending off a late surge from Thunder Night and That`s My Love to secure victory as the favorite. In the lower division of the race, the anticipated strong performance from market favorite Diamond Rain proved disappointing, as the horse seemed to struggle well before the race reached its climax. Donald Netto trained Shadow Fax, whose odds were nourishing, won the race with ease in the hands of Bangalore apprentice jockey Likith Appu. Shadow Fax proved too good for Mix The Magic and Warwick and won convincingly. Diamond Rain was a tame fourth.

The unfortunate interference on Strauss`s last occasion had hindered the four-year-old`s performance, preventing him from showcasing his true capabilities. However, in the 1100 meters Smart Chieftan Plate, a race tailored for horses rated 40 to 65, the Magan Singh Parmar trainee Strauss demonstrated his overwhelming superiority. He delivered a commanding performance, winning with ease by an impressive margin of four lengths. Top In Class secured a position ahead of Fara, who had attracted significant betting and became a joint favorite with Strauss. However, Fara`s performance did not align with the substantial weight of money placed on her back.

Likith Appu had a successful day with a double, and his persistent efforts on Ragnarok yielded a positive outcome. In a gripping race, the second favorite, Ragnarok, secured victory against Dyanoosh, who surged ahead inside the final furlong and even managed to gain about 3/4th of a length advantage. Despite Dyanoosh`s menacing run, Appu remained determined, continuously urging Ragnarok. In a remarkable turn of events, Ragnarok staged a comeback, overtaking Dyanoosh and securing a victory by a head in the 1200 meters Lagarde Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The well-supported Minecraft failed to live up to expectations. In the lower division of the race, Miss Maya, trained by Sequeira, dominated the competition winning by an impressive margin of over eight lengths. Showing no mercy to the opposition, Miss Maya surged ahead at the top of the straight and won convincingly. Pontefract trailed far behind in second place with D Minchu occupying the third slot.