R Karthik trained Megasthenes from Ooty romped home in the 1400 metres Mysore Colts Trial Stakes, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Tuesday`s Mysore races. Megasthenes proved much better than the local challengers as also those from Bangalore when easily claiming the rich prize for owner M A M R Muthaiah. Favourite Autocratic was the biggest disappointment, finishing a dismal fourth.

Autocratic has enjoyed hype more than substance. After a debut in winter at Bangalore, Autocratic was campaigned ambitiously at Hyderabad and Mumbai without success. He had the benefit of a race run during the ongoing summer season at Bangalore and it was reckoned that the company in Mysore was a modest one and it could help the progeny of Autocratic to bounce back. However, it proved to be only a hope.

Lord Buckingham was the pace-setter followed by Admiral Act, Megasthenes, Autocratic and the rest with local challenger Ascendent racing a detached last. Jockey John quickly alerted the lesser fancied runner to the task on straightening for home and Megasthenes easily collared the front-running Lord Buckingham and went storming ahead to win easily from Ascendent who made a late rally on the wide outside to finish second. Lord Buckingham weakened to finish third while Autocratic failed to pick up momentum and was a tame fourth.

Rakesh trained Savannah Sound recoded an encore in the 1600 metres Paschmavahini Plate, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Poet was widely reckoned to have the best chance but there was a malfunctioning of the saddle equipment, resulting in jockey Dhebe trying to ride the horse sitting on it. Luckily, he came back unscathed as the favourite completed the course, eventually finishing fourth. Savannah Sound who got strong in the final furlong, held off Markus Sittikus to win at nourishing odds. Castle King was four lengths adrift in third position.

Girinath trained Jersey Bride was being hailed as a winner before he was shocked in the final stride of the race by Deltin in the 1100 metres Aristocrat Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Jersey Bride led all the way and shaped to win but closer home, he began to slacken which enabled Deltin who came up with big strides in the final furlong to get the nod in the concluding stride of the race. Dr Scully who was sluggish to begin with, ran on to take the third position while Chase The Ace gave a poor account of himself.

Vishal Yadav trained Vroom Vroom came up with a big effort with 200 metres left in the race and emerged a facile winner of the 1200 metres Ashwajaya Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Honey Wen Money was unable to pace with Vroom Vroom who proved too good in the end. Ice Sprint was third ahead of favourite Flaming Spear who despite having all the chances, did not have an extra gear.

The well backed Just By Chance from the stables of Tejaswi packed punch in his finishing efforts by catching up with Class Above in the waning yards of the race to win the 1400 metres Konark Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Sufficient Proof was third. Generous Gesture refused to come out of the stall.

Favourite Saturn flopped miserably in the 1200 metres In The Spotlight Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Lesser fancied Aliboxer swept past the opposition in the final furlong and bounced clear to win the race quite easily from Bandito. Long-time leader Nikka was nosed out for the third position by Abderus.

Zagato quickened faster than Clouds after racing together into the final furlong and that made a critical difference to the outcome of the 1800 metres Varanasi Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Zagato shot into a useful lead in the final stages of the race and though Clouds closed with a rush, she fell short by a narrow margin. Trust Me Boy was in third position, a neck ahead of Go Man Go.

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Megasthenes (S John up) winner of The Mysore Colts Trial Stakes

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Zagato (Kiran Rai P up) winner of The Varanasi Plate

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Vroom Vroom (Ajeet Kumar up) winner of The Ashwajaya Plate

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Deltin (Praveen Saini up) winner of The Aristocrat Plate

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Savannah Sound (S John up) winner of The Paschimavahini Plate

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Aliboxer (Rayan Ahmed R up) winner of The Spotlight Plate

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Just By Chance (Nitin Singh up) winner of The Konark Plate

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