Monnappa trained Murcilago stunned favourite Constantine in the 1200 metres Stewards Cup, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Thursday`s Mysore races. The trend of long shots dominating the proceedings continued for the second day. With the races catering mostly to older horses whose form fluctuations are far more than can be expected from younger lot of horses, upsets will always be par for racing at Mysore especially during the mini seasons that are held in between the main season that runs from August through October.

Constantine had run an impressive third in the Sprinters Cup at Chennai. However, the five-year old looked far from ready as his track works did not indicate rigorous preparation. It is possible that he was slightly underdone for this race which may perhaps explain why he weakened in the final furlong when challenged by Murcilago. Zervan had Constantine lead from the start and the progeny of Holy Roman Emperor had a good cushion over Murcilago, Castle King, Storming Home and Class Is Class. The last named who was mainly expected to be the threat for the favourite, lost precious ground at the start and he was not up to covering up the leeway and yet be effective at the finish. Constantine began to slacken approaching the final furlong and Murcilago pounced on him with a powerful effort. Constantine went down without a fight as Murcilago went on to record an easy win. Class Is Class ran on to finish third ahead of Storming Home while last start winner Castle King was out of depth both in terms of the distance he was tackling and the class and he ended a poor last.

Trainer Ranjeet Shinde appears to have perfected the art of saddling long shots as the friendless Speartooth brought off a big stunner in the 1400 metres Goa Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Aspasia whose last run was noteworthy was backed to the exclusion of the rest but the favourite was not spotted at the busy end and pulled up in distress. The favourite reportedly bled. Jockey Shoban Babu had Speartooth in front and the six-year old gelding who proves a handful when he enjoys an uncontested lead, kept making merry in front and checked in well clear of Gutsy Wind and late finishing Ruthba. The winner paid a dividend of 50 to 1 on the tote.

With punters at the receiving end not just because long shots won but also their inability to identify the possible winners as form is definitely no barometer for such an exercise. They had relief coming their way in the last race of the day, the 1200 metres Alberetto Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Feroz Khan`s Country`s Princess was backed wildly and with enthusiasm to recoup some of their losses. The three-year old filly went to the post as cramped on money favouritism as big bettors hoped for a recovery. The filly did not disappoint as she led from the start and skipped away to win in fine fashion. Matteo who was at long price, finished second ahead of Silken Water. Sajid Quereshi trained Gascony rallied strongly along the rails and nailed the front running Ole close home to win the lower division of the race at nourishing odds. Order Order failed to sustain his foray in front and weakened to finish third.

The well-bred Out Space, from the yards of Michael Eshwer, finally came good in the 1400 metres Hiriyur Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25, in the hands of apprentice Abhilash after 10 disappointing efforts. Outer Space hit the front from the start and skipped clear in the straight to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Fantasy Living. Now that the five-year-old mare has broken the ice, she could repeat if campaigned over a longer trip which suits her style of running. Felix Legion nosed out Dazzle Away for the third place. C V G K Kishore trained Concentration produced a powerful effort from way off the pace in the hands of another raw apprentice Ajay Kumar to win the lower division of the race also at good odds. Peppr had no answer when Concentration swooped on her with a strong run.

Trainer Feroz Khan led in the winner in the first race of the day through Country`s Sher who won the 1200 metres Kapila Plate, a race for maiden three year olds. Clouds began as favourite but the drift in odds indicated that the favourite may not be a force to reckon with. Clouds also lost precious ground at the start and was a beaten cause right from the beginning. Country`s Sher hit the front as soon as the runners took off from the gates and though he looked vulnerable when Green Meadow essayed a strong challenge in the straight, the former had enough reserves to pull away. Erebus took the third position.