In a plot twist straight out of Hollywood, Duke of Tuscany turned the tables on hot favourite John Wick to claim the Gr 2 HPSL Golconda 2000 Guineas, the second classic of the season, at Malakpet on Sunday. It was a scene fit for an action-thriller—only this time, the assassin got assassinated in the final furlong.

Laxman Singh`s ward, Duke of Tuscany, left the audience spellbound with a late but lethal burst of speed. After loitering in mid-pack like a tourist admiring the scenery, jockey Sai Kumar finally got his act together, urging his charge into rhythm. And once the Duke found his mojo, it was game over for John Wick, who had seized control midway through the race under Akshay Kumar but ran out of firepower when it mattered most.

John Wick`s confident cruise into the lead quickly turned into a generous surrender as he floundered under pressure in the final 100 meters. Despite holding a handy lead coming into the straight, he couldn`t conjure that extra gear, ultimately fading into an "abject surrender" as Duke of Tuscany breezed past with a swagger befitting his regal name.

King Immortal played the supporting act well enough to grab third, but it was all about the Duke and his classic coup. For Sai Kumar, the victory was as rare as an honest tip from a racecourse tout. A moment to cherish indeed for the jockey who rarely finds him astride classic winners.

The race may have started with John Wick looking like a star, but in the end, Duke of Tuscany turned out to be the real showstopper.

In this age of global warming where everything is hitting extremes—temperatures, opinions, and apparently punters` love for favourites—logic seems to have gone out the window. Sunday`s Basalath Jah Memorial Cup at Malakpet provided yet another reminder that blind faith in favourites can burn a hole deeper than the ozone layer.

The Division I of the race saw Mukesh Kumar-trained Minecraft attract a frenzy of bets, much like its namesake attracts gamers. The gelding ran earnestly, even taking the lead in the final furlong, giving his backers fleeting hopes of victory. But just when the cheers were getting louder, Imran Khan-trained Berrettini stormed in like a tennis ace on match point, smashing the favourite`s chances with a blistering finish. And at staggering odds, no less—proof that racing gods do have a sense of humour. To add to the drama, Brooklyn Beauty nearly toppled Minecraft as well, but the favourite managed to salvage the runner-up spot by a desperate neck.

Trainer Mukesh Kumar`s woes didn`t stop there. In the lower division, the story turned into a full-blown Greek tragedy as his other heavily fancied ward, The Inheritor, was ousted by another outsider, Reigning Beauty. The Inheritor, who had galloped to a stunning victory last time out, was expected to repeat the feat with ease. And for most of the race, it seemed he would, leading confidently under jockey Gaurav Singh.

But cue the late flourish from Reigning Beauty, who floored the favourite like a veteran politician toppling a rookie in a debate. The Inheritor was suddenly scrambling to stay relevant, barely holding off Ragnarok and Delhi Heights for second place. For Mukesh Kumar and his loyal punters, it was a day to forget—a double whammy of long shots hijacking the script.

The Donald Netto-trained Ayushman was the darling of the betting public in the 1200 metres Megatop Plate (Div I) for maiden two-year-olds, and for good reason. As a progeny of Dreamfield, Ayushman had shown enough on the track to inspire unshakeable confidence. With muted support trickling in for Lake Michigan and Whistledown, it seemed like a one-horse race before the gates even opened.

Dubai Touch attempted a valiant wire-to-wire run, but jockey Kuldeep Singh had Ayushman perfectly poised, stalking the leader like a patient predator. When they turned for home, Ayushman casually shrugged off Dubai Touch, as if to say, "Thanks for the warm-up." While Gold Giver rallied late to offer a semblance of a threat, it was too little, too late. Ayushman cruised to a comfortable victory, leaving Lake Michigan to polish his bronze medal with a respectable late surge. Whistledown, on the other hand, looked more like a spectator who had mistakenly entered the race, plodding home in dead last, as expected from the first stride.

The Vittal Deshmukh-trained Walking Thunder lived up to his name, turning the 1200 metres Megatop Plate (Div II) into a stormy showcase of raw talent. All eyes, however, were initially on Foxy Girl, whose puzzling support in the betting ring belied her unimpressive debut, where she trailed home 15 lengths behind the winner. Punters clearly believed in redemption, but Foxy Girl ended up delivering something closer to slapstick comedy.

Foxy Girl bolted to the front like she was trying to make amends, opening up a sizeable lead by the final furlong. Unfortunately, her script took a tragic turn when her legs wrote a check her stamina couldn`t cash. She folded faster than a cheap lawn chair, leaving the stage wide open for Walking Thunder, who pounced under a well-timed ride by Imran Chisty. Thunderous indeed, the gelding surged past the struggling leader and left the rest flailing in his wake to register an emphatic maiden victory.

Cherie Chevalier, true to her name, made a gallant late bid but had to settle for second, while Ashwa Changez turned in a performance so lethargic it felt like he was in a different time zone, managing only to scrape into third. As for Foxy Girl, her dramatic implosion saw her slump to a dismal fourth, leaving punters shaking their heads and mumbling expletives. Those who backed Foxy Girl ended up muttering never trust a fox that doesn`t know how to pace itself.

In the 1200 metres Bakranangal Plate (Div II), the spotlight was firmly on Robin Reddy Kondakalla`s Park Lane, whose previous runs hinted at a possible winning performance. With her last win coming a good 300 days ago in the same category, Park Lane decided it was time to remind everyone what she was capable of. Meanwhile, early favourites Wind Spirite and Black Warrior fizzled out faster than yesterday`s soda in the betting ring, leaving punters scrambling to adjust their wagers.

True to her unpredictable nature, Park Lane chose to put hearts in mouths by strolling out of the gates like she was on a leisurely morning walk. But as soon as she found her rhythm, she transformed into a beast on a mission, rapidly moving up the field like she had just remembered she was in a race.

Classy Dame and Wind Spirite did their best to set the tempo, but by the top of the straight, Park Lane had them in her sights. Devouring ground with the appetite of a hungry cheetah, she stormed past the leaders and romped home with an authoritative four-length victory. Wind Spirite settled for second, while Pancho scraped into third, clearly outclassed by the winner`s late burst of brilliance.

On a day when favourites dropped like autumn leaves, Srinivas Reddy-trained Pleasant Star offered a glimmer of hope, living up to his name with a hard-fought victory in the Raja Narasimha Rao Memorial Cup. The 1600-metre contest for horses rated 40 to 65 saw jockey Akshay Kumar finally break his jinx. After a day full of frustration, Akshay managed to navigate a narrow opening along the rails to get Pleasant Star into a thrilling battle with second favourite Uchchaihshravas in the straight. The two went stride for stride in the last 300 metres before Pleasant Star prevailed in a nail-biter. Meanwhile, Original Sin did what its name suggested—committing the cardinal racing sin of a sluggish start—only to redeem himself slightly by finishing third.

Trainer Anant Vatsalaya`s Das put up a performance so dominant in the 2000 metres Tribute Plate that it made the competition look like mere spectators. The gelding took over from favourite Freedom Touch in the homestretch and then delivered a parting gift in the form of a six-length drubbing. The favourite faded faster than punters` hopes, while Skyward came from the clouds to pick up the bronze medal for effort.Crimson Rose Outblooms Top In Class

The day`s finale had its share of pre-race drama in the Bakranangal Plate (Div I), with the odds on original favourite Crimson Rose ballooning as Top In Class found late backing. But the market shenanigans were laid to rest as Crimson Rose, under B R Kumar, produced a decisive finish. After taking charge in the final furlong, the filly warded off a stiff challenge from Top In Class to score a well-earned victory. See My Attitude brought up the third position, though with less attitude than its name suggested.

Adding a touch of comedy to the curtain call, jockey Mukesh Kumar lodged a desperate objection against Crimson Rose`s rider for supposed interference. It was more fantasy than fact, and the stewards promptly threw it out with the kind of disdain usually reserved for bad jokes. The day ended with punters yet again getting a lesson that racing doesn`t follow a script, and neither do the stars.