Dinesh Pujar trained Cosmic Touch proved overwhelmingly superior to the opposition in the 1200 metres Elusive Pimpernel Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Tuesday`s Mysore races. With rains keeping off, the winter season could finally get underway much to the delight of race goers who had been itching for racing as rains had played spoilsport not only in Mysore but at Bangalore as well.

With the withdrawal of Evalina from the fray, on the book of form, it was clear that the race was going to be a straightforward fight between Cosmic Touch and Arrete who was a bidding for a hat-trick. The son of Alnasr Alwasheek, Cosmic Touch showed so much speed from the gate that he had outpaced the rest from the word `go`. Cosmic Touch was so far ahead of the rest well before the final furlong that jockey Arshad Alam could afford to take easy on the favourite. Arrete showed up late and wide and his finish effort bridged the runaway lead significantly. Class Above was third six lengths behind Arrete. Vijays Best burst his blood vessels. The winner reportedly came back lame on his left fore.

There was a Stewards enquiry pertaining to the start of the race as jockey Harish who rode the runner up complained that the start was given even though he was calling out to the starter that he was not ready. Repeated viewing of the race revealed that the horse had stood still in the gates and posed no problems to the jockey. However, the jockey`s legs were not in the stirrup when the horse jumped out, causing the second favourite to lose precious ground. The way the horse covered ground in the straight despite being in an impossible position, indicated that but for this incident, Arrete would have won the race quite easily. One of the Stipendiary Stewards opined that there seemed to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the jockey not to get a good start and that there was no reason for the jockey not to have been ready as the horse posed no problems. He wanted the horse to be declared as a non-starter. However, after due deliberations, the Stewards decided not to alter the results. Jockey Harish has surely put himself into serious trouble as the Stewards have opened an enquiry into the incident.

Strongly fancied KIr Royale was driven out to win the 1200 metres B R Hills Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 by veteran jockey Srinath. After Sivanta led the field into the straight, Saturday Affair came into strong contention, with Indian showing up strongly on his outside. In the meanwhile, Srinath pushed Kir Royale to take the gap on the inside of Sivanta. Kir Royale quickened well thereafter and engaged Indian in a stiff battle for supremacy. It was always on cards that Srinath, with more vigorous effort, would get that bit extra from Kir Royale which eventually transpired. KIr Royale got stronger in the end and spared a length at the finish to Indian. Saturday Affair weakened to finish third. Favourite Rustic Sunrise took a poor jump and thereafter the jockeys desperate effort to get into position by use of the whip did help his cause. Rustic Sunrise reportedly returned with burst blood vessels. Beautiful Effect won the lower division of the race at nourishing odds. Favourite London Eye, Beautiful Effect who got a nice run along the inside on turning for home and Felix Legion had a good chance of pulling it off going into the final furlong. All the three were racing abreast before Beautiful Effect managed to get the better and neck out Felix Legion by a narrow margin. London Eye was a close third.

Bobby trained Run To Win proved that he was several notches better than the opposition that he was taking on in the lower division of the Gadag Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. After chasing Magic Wave into the straight, Run To Win quickly stormed into the lead and had the race sewn up long way from home. Run To Win spared six lengths at the finish to Always United who held off late finishing Diamond Attraction for the runner up berth. Run To Win should repeat notwithstanding the penalty that he may attract for this runaway win as the son of Admiralofthefleet appears to be endowed with lot of class. The upper division of the race was also won by another Bobby trained Bestow. The favourite`s cause was aided by front running Classic King going miles wide in the straight and in danger of slipping into the sand track. With the only realistic danger cutting an erratic course, Bestow made good the opportunity and recorded a comfortable win.

Dark William had impressive credentials but the burden of being a favourite fell on Amazinglady in the 1200 metres Dharwad Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Arshad Alam had Dark William chase Salzburg well into the straight before driving out aggressively to storm clear. Dark William responded well to the urgings and was spotted a winner well before the final furlong to provide one of the senior most trainers in the country, Zareer Darashah, with yet another winner. Salzburg withstood the late onslaught of Starsturck to retain the second spot. Amazinglady was a tame fourth.

Another ward of Darashah namely Ophira won the day`s opener, the 1200 metres Fantasy Dream Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Mark who rarely gets to ride a winner, had Ophira dictate the pace from the start and had a healthy lead going into the final furlong. Favourite Jump In The Red found foot very late and by the time, the five year old mare came home with a big rush, the winning post had been sighted. Ophira spared a shade less than a length at the finish. Act of Glory and Ceasaria finished in close order.

Demanding Format brought off an upset in the 1400 metres Sharavathi Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Charming Night and Tulip were the fancied duo. Color Proof held the lead till the final stages of the race. Charming Grey made a significant rally to come into strong contention but before she could assert herself, Demanding Format showed up on the wide outside and snatched the race from the fancied runner in the dying moments of the race. There was a cluster finish for minor places, with Gunpowder getting the third slot ahead of Tulip and Color Proof.