It was yet another day at the office for One N Only, who casually clocked his sixth straight victory, making his rivals look pedestrian. The Donald Netto-trained superstar swatted away the competition like an afterthought in the T Chandrasekhar Reddy Memorial Cup (1200m) for horses rated 80 and above at Malakpet on Monday. If there was any doubt about who the boss was, One N Only settled that discussion with a performance dripping in dominance.

Black Onyx, once a terror on the track, had been getting nostalgic about his good old days, finishing a respectable fourth in his last run. The money poured in for him as if the punters had just discovered time travel and were convinced, he was back in his prime. Unfortunately, One N Only had other plans and didn’t care for sentimental favourites. By the time Black Onyx woke up from his afternoon nap and decided to get moving, One N Only had already sent out a postcard from the finish line.

Jockey Kuldeep Singh had little to do except enjoy the ride. From a wide draw, One N Only positioned himself smartly behind Proud Mary, who was playing her usual role of early pace-setter. Meanwhile, Black Onyx was at the back. Once Kuldeep Singh hit the accelerator, the Akeed Champion progeny shifted gears with the authority of a seasoned sprinter and waltzed past Proud Mary like she was standing still. Black Onyx did attempt a grand rally, but it was a classic case of too little, too late. One N Only won by more than four lengths, with Black Onyx barely managing to grab second by necking out Encore.

Jockey Akshay Kumar, known for his habitual last-minute heroics (or headaches, depending on whom you ask), finally decided to show up on time aboard the short-priced Hurricane Bay in the 1800m Pocharam Plate for horses rated 60 to 85.

For most of the race, Hurricane Bay was parked in the penultimate position, while Brooklyn Beauty attempted to pull off a catch-me-if-you-can stunt at the front. The plan seemed to be working—right up until Akshay Kumar decided to switch on beast mode.

Once the favourite was unleashed on the wide outside, the script wrote itself. Brooklyn Beauty fought hard but was left gasping as Hurricane Bay breezed past in a no-contest finish. True Icon managed to grab third, possibly wondering how he ended up playing a supporting role in Hurricane Bay’s effortless demolition job.

The betting boards at Malakpet witnessed a last-minute plot twist in the 1600m Charon Plate for three-year-olds. Leo D’Silva’s Corte Madera walked in as a second-favourite but left as the punters’ new best friend, toppling NRI Blaze from the favoured position.

However, Corte Madera didn’t exactly burst out of the gates with enthusiasm. If anything, he looked like he had been forced to attend a Monday morning meeting. Akshay Kumar had to play the role of motivational speaker, coaxing the reluctant colt into action. Meanwhile, Screen Shot led the charge with NRI Blaze hot on his heels. As they turned for home, NRI Blaze took over, but instead of accelerating away, he seemed to have a crisis of confidence.

Enter Corte Madera, who finally got the memo that this was, in fact, a race. Once he hit top gear, the result was a foregone conclusion. The D’Silva trainee swept past NRI Blaze with ridiculous ease, leaving his stablemate Gold River to complete a 1-2 for the yard, while a tired-looking NRI Blaze settled for third.

Patience, as they say, is a virtue—and Sadiya rewarded those who had enough of it by snapping a 400-day losing streak in the 1400m Malvado Plate (Div I) for the bottom-tier runners.

With the field moving at what could best be described as a leisurely gallop, it was Lucky Fiero leading the way, with Master Touch breathing down his neck. Mukesh Kumar was busy plotting an overthrow when, out of nowhere, like an uninvited guest at a party, Sadiya arrived on the wide outside. With Deepak Singh in the saddle, the grey filly launched a blistering late charge, making the rest look like they were dragging carts instead of competing in a horse race.

By the time the dust settled, Sadiya had bolted clear for an emphatic win, while Desert Sultan, who realized a little too late that he was in a race, finished second. The runner-up and third-placed Silver Arrow were both long shots, much to the delight of bookmakers and the dismay of punters who had backed the tiring Master Touch.

In the lower division of the Malvado Plate saw a betting frenzy for Battle On, the well-known late closer from Prasad Raju’s yard. Perhaps the punters thought he’d finally figured out the concept of timing. He hadn’t. Secret Option was the next best-backed runner, while Politics decided to make the race all about himself, leading deep into the straight.

Just when it seemed like Politics might pull off an upset, Ajeeth Kumar decided it was time to get serious. Secret Option, trained by Sequeira, loomed large, and with a perfectly judged late burst, swooped down on the tiring leader and grabbed the race at the wire. As for Battle On, well, the name remains ironic. He did make his trademark late move, but by the time he arrived, Secret Option was already celebrating.

The Mir Fazilath Hussain Memorial Cup (1400m) had all the makings of a straightforward affair—at least on paper. Hilton Sequeira’s Emperors Charm had done enough this season to earn the backing of punters, while Linda was the second choice at more generous odds. Star Forever? The betting public gave it a hard pass.

From the moment the gates flew open, Aashad Asbar decided Linda wasn’t going to wait around for invitations and went straight for the jugular. Akshay Kumar, aboard the hot favourite, did his best to stage a rescue operation, but Emperors Charm found himself in a dilemma: chase Linda or admit that today simply wasn’t his day. He chose the latter. Linda kept shifting gears like a well-tuned engine, while the favourite found himself stuck in neutral. By the time they hit the wire, Linda was home with a comfortable cushion, while Emperors Charm had to settle for second, proving once again that odds-on favourites don’t always come with a warranty. Life’s Journey, who had been keeping up with the action, did enough to secure third.

Jockey Alex Rozario must have been wondering what all the fuss was about as he guided Silver Lining to a no-nonsense, catch-me-if-you-can victory in the 1200m Onnu Onnu Plate (Div I).

While the rest of the field was still figuring out their strategies, Silver Lining had already executed his—hit the front and don’t look back. By the time Vital Sign realized he was in a race, Rozario and Silver Lining had disappeared into the sunset. Under Akshay Kumar’s desperate urgings, the favourite did his best impression of a late closer, but the only sign Vital Sign showed was of running out of time. He arrived on the scene when the party was already over. Elegant Lady finished third, possibly wondering how she ended up in a race dominated by Silver Lining’s solo performance.

The lower division of the Onnu Onnu Plate turned into a battle of determination versus finishing power, with Knotty Senorita emerging as the ultimate heartbreaker.

Glimmer of Hope did everything right—grabbed the lead, dictated the pace, and gave it a real go. But just as the long-time leader started dreaming of victory, Knotty Senorita had other ideas. Jockey Sai Kumar timed his challenge to perfection, and in the final 100 meters, the ‘Senorita’ proved a little too ‘knotty’ to handle. To add insult to injury, Gloria arrived with a late flourish, snatching second place and pushing Glimmer of Hope into third—a cruel twist for a horse that had led for so long.