Donald Netto-trained NRI Doublepower, who had gone a year without a win, made a triumphant return by clinching the S Rangarajan Memorial Cup, a 1600-metre race for horses rated 40 to 65, the highlight of Monday`s Hyderabad races. Jockey Suraj Narredu expertly guided the favorite, unleashing a powerful final furlong burst to secure a comfortable victory.

Unlike the previous day, where picking winners was relatively straightforward, Monday`s races saw a mix of outcomes, with some long shots prevailing and the majority of fancied horses—albeit at higher odds—claiming victories.

NRI Doublepower was heavily backed, with only Blazing Gun attracting a few supporters hoping for an upset. Suraj Narredu rode patiently, keeping NRI Doublepower relaxed in the rear group, unaffected by the pace ahead. Malibu initially led the way, holding the front spot midway down the stretch. However, as the horses straightened for home, Suraj urged NRI Doublepower forward. The favorite emerged on the wide outside, easily overtaking the competition to win decisively. Blazing Again overtook the long-time front-runner Malibu to claim second place, while Reigning Beauty finished close behind in the pack.

Trainer Ananth Vatsalaya celebrated a second in consecutive days, as the well-fancied Warwick secured his second career victory in the 1200 metres Palampet Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Warwick had shown promise with a strong forward run earlier in the season. However, it was Adbhut from trainer Leo D`Silva`s stables who attracted the most betting interest, given his impressive speed and favorable form leading up to the race.

Jockey Akshay Kumar took Adbhut straight to the front from the start, while Warwick, lacking early speed, settled into the fifth or sixth position until the final turn. Adbhut continued to lead with determination, but Warwick, ridden by jockey Ashhad Asbar, made a strong move on the wide outside before shifting inside. In a thrilling finish, Warwick managed to edge out the front-runner in the dying moments of the race. These two horses were well ahead of the rest, with the third-placed Dyanoosh trailing by more than six lengths.

It was tough to pick a winner in the lower division of the race, as the form of the horses was anything but clear-cut. Santa Barbara, another runner trained by Leo D`Silva, was the firm favorite, with the rest of the field available at generous odds. However, in a twist that left punters scratching their heads, it was the stable`s "wrong `un" that came out on top.

Apprentice jockey Ekram Alam had Santa Barbara racing freely at the front, enjoying a substantial lead over the rest. But, as they say, "the early bird catches the worm, but the early horse runs out of steam." Santa Barbara`s bold tactics backfired in the final furlong, as she ran out of gas. Meanwhile, her stablemate Pontefract, who had been lurking quietly in the wings, made her move on the wide outside. With a well-timed surge, Pontefract swept past Santa Barbara and comfortably finished ahead of Wind Sprite and Far, proving that sometimes, it`s the underdog—or in this case, the underhorse—that has the last laugh.

The Rawal brothers secured a victory in the 1100 metres Ascot Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Trainer Nilesh Rawal`s horse cruised to an easy win, outpacing the strongly backed favorite, Rolls Royce, who fell short of expectations under trainer Satheesh. Given Satheesh`s horses often play spoilsport at long odds rather than clinching victories, this result was in line with the usual trend.

Ariette took command early in the race, leading with Rolls Royce in pursuit. However, Ariette pulled away as Rolls Royce struggled to find the necessary speed, ultimately settling for second place. Bellingham finished third.

Nilesh Rawal secured a double for the day as his other charge, Ampere`s Touch, claimed victory at generous odds in the 1600 metres Jangaon Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Ampere`s Touch, who had recorded back-to-back wins during the winter and benefited from a recent run, delivered a narrow but decisive win.

Jockey Neeraj Rawal demonstrated great determination, guiding Ampere`s Touch to victory over the long-time leader and strongly fancied Caraxes. The task appeared challenging in the final furlong, as Caraxes held a strong lead while Ampere`s Touch struggled to find his stride. However, in the closing stages, Ampere`s Touch rallied under Neeraj`s strong ride, overtaking Caraxes just in time. Meanwhile, a group of horses, including Grand Dukes and the fancied Federer, made a late but ultimately unsuccessful charge.

The fancied duo of Mix The Magic and That`s My Love were left disappointed in the 1200 metres Somawarpet Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45, as the long-shot Pancho from trainer Ravinder Singh`s stable delivered a surprising blow to those who backed the favorites. Ridden by jockey Ajay Kumar, Pancho employed catch-me-if-you-can tactics and successfully held off the competition.

Pancho faced no real threat from the favorite, Mix The Magic, who chased in vain all the way down the straight. Assured Success finished in third place.

Those hoping to recover losses on favourite Planet Super in the final race of the day, the 1400 metres Fairway Plate for horses rated up to 25, were in for a surprise. Despite being prominent throughout the race, Planet Super faltered in the final furlong. As Desert Sultan appeared to be gaining the upper hand, Alcohol Free made a dramatic late surge from the rear of the field, finishing strongly on the wide outside under jockey Rafique. The late charge secured an upset win for trainer B. Mukesh Kumar. Planet Super ultimately finished a disappointing third.