Jockey Akshay Kumar was once again in the limelight booting home a double on a day of lacklustre day`s racing at Malakpet on Monday. Since almost all the races catered to the lower-category horses, racing action was devoid of excitement. The wet track also posed a problem or two in picking winners but those who put blind faith in Akshay Kumar to strike it rich were amply rewarded as his winners were also at lucrative odds. Trainer Hilton Sequeira continued his dominance with another double.

Srinivas Reddy trained Ashwa Raudee was strongly backed to win the 1200 metres Helen of Troy Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45 but the favourite played truant with a timid performance, buried at the back after staying in touch with the leaders till the final turn. Hilton Sequeira trained Watch My Stride who was also reckoned to have a chance as per the market estimation was driven out for an easy by Akshay Kumar. Watch My Stride assumed command with a furlong left in the race after chasing pace-setter Hard To Toss well deep into the straight before storming clear for an easy win. Trump Star got the better of long-time front-runner Hard To Toss to snatch the runner-up berth.

Akshay`s other winner also came at the expense of the heavily supported Flamingo Fame in the 1200 metres Hill Fort Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated up to 25. Flamingo Fame did not have great credentials in a modest set to receive such one-sided support but the market believed that the five-year-old mare was invincible especially with Trevor Patel in the saddle and the weight of money that it attracted. In the event, the lesser fancied Top In Class produced a strong gallop down the final furlong to record an easy win over the favourite who was hard-pressed to keep the runner-up berth from California Beauty. The well supported Star Babe was driven out by apprentice Rohit Kumar to prevail in the Division I of the race. Star Babe was so superior to the field that despite getting blocked for a clear run in the final furlong and having to switch on the wide outside, the four-year-old filly covered the ground with raking strides and had the race in her control all the way in the final 100 metres. Fancied Sheldon made a late rally on the wide outside but had to settle for the second spot ahead of Big Day.

Trevor who found himself on a couple of well-fancied losers, however, had a consolation win coming in the 1600 metres Hidden Bloom Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Moringa, under a strong ride, gathered steam in the stretch and managed to sail clear in the final stages of the race. NRI Touch was no match for the eventual winner though the lesser fancied winner was more than five lengths clear of the third-placed Grand Finale.

The day`s opener saw the fancied duo of Gall and Burano biting the dust. Galwan was strongly backed to win the 1200 metres Silver Phantom Plate (Div II), a race for maiden three-year-olds. The support for the eventual winner from trainer Laxman Singh`s stable Jean Lafette was muted. Ashhad Asbar took Burano on a start to finish mission and had a healthy break over the rest in the final furlong. However, Jean Lafette picked up tremendous acceleration after being angled out to get a clear run. The progeny of Knight`s Tour finished with a rush to nail the front-runner with a measure of comfort. Burano held off Bandit King and Miss Little Angel to keep the second position. Galwan weakened in the straight and made no show.

A quiet gamble was brought off by trainer Faiyaz Ali Khan in the 1400 metres Hyperion Plate, a race for maiden three-year-olds. Jockey Neeraj Rawal drove out Moonlight Ruby to measure Able Love and then go on to record an easy win. Able Love stayed put in the second position pushing Zamazenta to the third slot. The market fancy Zeus was a disappointing performer.

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Jean Lafette (R Ajinkya up) winner of THE SILVER PHANTOM PLATE

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Watch My Stride (Akshay Kumar up) winner of THE HELEN OF TROY PLATE

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Moonlight Ruby (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of THE HYPERION PLATE

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Star Babe (Rohit Kumar up) winner of THE HILL FORT PLATE (DIV-I)

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Moringa (Trevor Patel up) winner of THE HIDDEN BLOOM PLATE

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Top In Class (Akshay Kumar up) winner of THE HILL FORT PLATE (DIV-II)

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