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Bobby trained Flying Show who had been comprehensively beaten by Greek Goddess in her last effort, avenged the defeat by easily staving off the effort of her adversary to win the 1200 metres Nelamangala Plate, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Wednesday’s Mysore races. Apprentice jockey R N Darshan had a rewarding day, booting home a treble.
Jockey Sandesh took the speedy Greek Goddess on a start to finish mission and the favourite appeared to be on course though under constant threat from Flying Show who was in hot pursuit. Inside the final furlong, Flying Show got stronger as the favourite began to falter and collared the front-runner in the closing moments of the race to record a comfortable win to provide apprentice jockey Darshan, the first of his three wins for the day. Tiger of Mysore who lacked the pace to race up with the field, ran on from behind to take the third position. His turn should come when he is raced over a slightly longer trip as his third-placed effort indicated his readiness to strike.
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Pratap Kamath trained Azure Fire had more supporters than the rest in what appeared to be an open affair in the 1200 metres Nairn Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Apprentice jockey Darshan rushed his horse to the front within the first furlong and Azure Fire enjoyed his foray in front and in fact got stronger at the finish to win easily from late-rallying long shot Chicago and Even Money. The lower division of the race was won by Sajid Qureshi trained Al Dorado who produced a powerful burst in the final furlong to storm clear of the front-running Teri Adah. The speedy customer Teri Adah led from the start and battled on resolutely, but her reserves ran out closer home. Al Dorado measured the front-runner inside the final 100 metres and then broke clear to win from the late-finishing Catchy Charger. Teri Adah stayed on to take the third position ahead of Six Ace Red. Favourite Maserati struggled for speed from the start and despite jockey Trevor working hard to improve, there was no desired response. The favourite was out of it well before the final turn.
Bon Fire had good credentials to win the 1600 metres Kolar Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 as the six-year-old mare had won in her last effort besides the experience of having raced in good company in his formative years at Bangalore. However, it was Rakesh’s other horse Momotaro which attracted all the betting. One of the fancied runners Kaguya Himei who raced a handy second behind Be Bold into the straight stormed ahead on turning for home and held the lead deep into the straight. Down the final furlong, Bon Fire produced a strong effort and sailed past the front-runner to record a comfortable win. Imitation Game held off the late-rallying Sufficient Proof who attempted to make it from the penultimate position at the bend. Favourite Momotaro who was under pressure to keep up the pace was baulked for a clear run along the rails and with it whatever chances the gelding had, evaporated.
Sajid Qureshi trained Scorpene was well backed to win the 1200 metres Balamuri Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Scorpene shot off from the gates like a scalded cat and bounced clear of the rest to win by a widening margin of eight lengths over Engelberg and Flaming Spear. Despite the winner enjoying a big lead, jockey Arshad Alam made free use of the whip to stretch the winning margin.
Surender trained Swiss Pearl brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres H Krishna Naik Memorial Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Swiss Pearl who had a handy lead in the final furlong, managed to stave off the late rally of favourite Unbelievable to land the spoils at long odds. Excelonce and Skyjet also finished in the cluster to take the third and fourth positions.
Sandesh drove out favourite Arak to an easy win in the 1400 metres Prince Regent Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Arak chased I Do It For You well into the straight before storming ahead inside the final 200 metres to record an easy win despite veering out of a straight course. Don’t Trust Any One rallied late to edge past the long-time leader to get the runner-up berth. The win helped Sandesh reach a personal milestone of reaching 800 winners.
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Scorpene (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Balamuri Plate
Flying Show (Darshan R N up) winner of the Nagamangala Plate
Al Dorado (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Nairn Trophy (Div-II)
Bonfire (Afsar Khan up) winner of the Kolar Plate
Azure Fire (Darshan R N up) winner of the Nairn Trophy (Div-I)
Swiss Pearl (Manish R up) winner of the H.Krishna Naik Memorial Plate
Arak (A Sandesh up) winner of the Prince Regent Plate
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