The longest racing season of the Indian soil eventually came to end on Tuesday. Delhi races, which starts in the month of August takes nine months before being folded down in the first economic month of every year - April. Like other racing schedule, the handicapper did not have to ask for final entry and in fact found sufficient number of horses to make a card of seven races on the 50th day or the last day of the racing calendar.

Barring two favourites, Te Quiero and Sunehree Parinda, the other two hot favourites, Saphire and Romario left the goers with a hole in their pockets. Saddler Magan Singh and apprentice jockey Jai Prakash shared a brace each.

At the outset, it appeared that the track would be fully dominated by the outstation horses who have now been brought for racing at the National racing circuit. And Te Quiero looked to be setting the trend for the colleagues with whom she ran at the Western India. The eight year old mare took a quick start and showed no tiredness of travelling as she arrived a little over a week. Spicy Move woke up late for the runner-up berth.

The following event had Virginia Woolf, who was imported from Mumbai a couple of years ago. However, lack of preparation saw the mare finishing in hind group. Hello Dolly stunned the field in a start-to-finish bid. Incidentally, it was the maiden victory for the six year-old mare in the season. The last juvenile race was at the mercy of Sarir, who never allowed Saphire - the hottest runner of the programme, to take over in a pillar-to-post affair. The Colt Trials runner-up Sarir was available at nourishing odds. Saphire, who was hanging in, will be in different shape in the next season probably with some change of equipment may make a sea change. Subroos ran consistently to be third.

Dilnawaz upset the apple cart of Ashwa Prabha over the distance which was not his forte - 1,000m. He actually utilised the advantage of handicap. Weights were lowered by two kilos in actual and further putting an apprentice with lighter by 3.5 kilograms made all the difference. Though he ran third over six furlongs in the previous outing, yet his strides suits longer trips as he had tasted his last victory in the previous season over the mile. Sitting fourth behind the early leaders till the top of the home straight, Jai Prakash did not have to do much in guiding his way. And when he came to his terms, Ashwa Prabha had no other way to play the role of onlooker. The jockey of the loser did try some trick by lodging an objection for interfering his way between 200m and 300m but the stewards were wise enough not to pay any heed on it. The aged Dilnawaz should earn more laurel before bidding adieu in the next year. Ashwa Prabha, who recorded a facile victory, is also from Mumbai.

Yet another Mumbai-based runner, Fidel Defensor had to work hard to meet with success. With less work as he did not get sufficient time after arrival, was within the striking distance of Romario. Seeing the latter fading away, he took charge but had to first tackle the owner and stablemate Nucleus till the distance post and however got succeeded in keeping the late finishing western counterpart Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay should reach top class.

Sunheree Parinda staged a brave show by annexing the senior division of the Good Bye Cup. The three-year-old runner made the massive weight of 61 kilograms lighter. In his first attempt in an open class he was expected to face a little challenge from Game of Talent, but it proved wrong. Hero's Power made a late dash from rear group to finish second ahead of Game of talent, who never looked to be serious in business.

Melba, who started her career in Mumbai, was favoured by the connections that so huge betting on it and she lived up to expectations. Opera Royale, who is also from Mumbai, was alerted to the task very late otherwise could have turned the table on Melba. Dazzling Light ran on to be impressive third.

With a lot of horses coming from Mumbai, the next season will witness a new class of racing.