Irfan Ghatala trained Iris overcame a poor start and recorded her fourth straight win in amazing fashion in the Gr3 Rajyotsava Trophy, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. The progeny of Lord Admiral who had scored in handicap company made the switch to the graded race company with ease. Less heralded Anjar Alam who has been associated with all the wins of Iris was once again astride the lesser fancied winner.

The race was widely expected to be a three-horse race with New Moon heading the betting charts followed by Accolade. Iris was available to nourishing odds. Iris was subjected to a veterinary check at the gates before being certified fit to race. The race itself was eventful with Iris losing pace after taking a jump and trailed the field. Inside the final two furlongs, Iris had considerable leeway to cover on the front-runner but the ones who were expected to be in the thick of things were not showing the spark. Longshot Ultimate Warrior who led from the start had a good lead going to the final furlong. Anjar Alam had to switch Iris to the wide outside to get a clear run. Iris produced the patented late burst of speed and easily overhauled the front-runner close home and won by a margin of one length. Siobhan was third ahead of New Moon who ran below expectation.

The seven furlongs Broadacres Stud Plate, a race for horses rated 30 to 50, was expected to be a touch and go race between Cerise Noire and Game Changer. The latter came in for big support to become the first favourite. Cerise Noire made the race hopelessly one-sided as the daughter of Win Legend led all the way and won by a widening margin of nine lengths. Game Changer did not look the part and struggled. Lycurgus who was gracing the wrong end of the field, came up with a good stretch run to snatch the runner-up berth from Game Changer.

Neil Darashah trained Mongolian King who had gone down by a whisker in the Colts Championship Stakes at Kolkata was made a strong favourite to win the 1200 metres Kabini Cup, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Mongolian King was coming back in distance and was taking on a decent lot of handicap horses. Turf Star who was in the penultimate position and Hot N Fire who lost some ground at the start and raced a detached lost, came home with powerful efforts, the former on the wide outside and the latter along the rails to occupy the first two slots. Mongolian King had the lead going into the final furlong but once Turf Star unleashed a powerful run on the wide outside, the writing was on the wall. Hot N Fire improved places rapidly along the rails and pushed the favourite to the third position. Apprentice jockey K Nazil from Mumbai was astride the winner. Thus, he had a double for the day as in the day`s opener, he had won on Hunters Moon.

The 1100 metres Inauguration Plate which was for the horses in the lowest category, saw Tudor Prince and Desert Gilt corner more support than the rest. Hunters Moon was quietly fancied at long odds. Hunters Moon raced with the forward bunch and quickly bounced clear in the straight and had enough lead to sail through. Tudor Prince covered a lot of ground in the straight to beat Desert Gilt to claim the second position. Sheer Magic was a close fourth.

Prithviraj trained So Mi Dar lost a winning opportunity in the 1200 metres Badami Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 by being lethargic at the gates. So Mi Dar raced a detached last but in the straight, made good ground to come into strong contention. However, in the bobbing of heads, long shot Ramon prevailed by a whisker. Favourite Aine had all the chances but could not produce that bit extra to make a difference to the outcome of the race and had to settle for the third slot though not far from the winner. Ramon is trained by R V Manohar.

Neil Darashah trained Alpha looked so superior to the opposition in the 1100 metres Adichunchanagiri Plate, a race for horses rated 15 to 35 that even if one wanted to take a chance bet, there was no horse worthy of even a tenner. Jockey Arshad Alam took no chances on the favourite as Alpha straightaway shot ahead and was not troubled by any of the runners when checking in by four lengths clear of the rest without having to be exerted. Kudla Punch took the second place ahead of Secretsuperstar.

*******************

---

Hunters Moon (K Nazil up) winner of the INAUGURATION PLATE

---

Ramon (Dhanu Singh Deora up) winner of the BADAMI PLATE

---

Cerise Noir (S Zervan up) winner of the BROADACRES STUD PLATE

---

Iris (Anjar Alam up) winner of the RAJYOTSAVA TROPHY (GR.3)

---

Turf Star (K Nazil up) winner of the KABINI CUP

---

Alpha (Arshad Alam up) winner of the ADICHUNCHANAGIRI PLATE

---