In the end, the 'Star Team’ proved no match for the collective brilliance of Splendid Surprise, trainer MP Mahaesh and jockey Christopher who combined effectively to win the coveted Gr 1 Poonawalla Mysore Derby in a thriller on Thursday.
For first time owner Santosh Lad who was present at the course for the first time ever, it was a moment to cherish though the magnitude of the achievement is sure to take time to sink in simply because he has not been part of the racing fraternity and the thrill of winning a race as big as the Derby is something that he may take time to comprehend. When Santosh Lad looks into the page of racing history, he is sure to be surprise that many a big investor in the sport has been unsuccessful in winning the Derby despite owning many a prized thoroughbred. The kind of riotous celebration sparked off by the connections of Splendid Surprise and the excitement generated post the Derby win may well result in the young owner in showing greater involvement than merely owning horses. For trainer M P Mahaesh who has been struggling hard to make his mark, the success that he has achieved with Splendid Surprise is sure to boost his career significantly. The Derby success is doubly satisfying for the trainer who picked the horse after all the big players in the game had made their choices. The trainer has silenced many a skeptic en route to winning the classic double.

Splendid Surprise had all the credentials to win the coveted Derby which offered the third highest prize in the country after the Bangalore and Indian Derbys. The prize money on offer was a whopping Rs 48 lakhs plus the trophy. Splendid Surprise had beaten Star Team and as such the latter had some catching up to do. Though many expected Star Team to improve because he had run his last race after a setback, it was going to be a difficult task. Sweeping Success who had won the Deccan Derby was considered as the third best horse in the fray. The rest was considered as mere pretenders.

Things began ominously for the connections of Splendid Surprise as the jockeys began to remount after waiting for the stalling to start. Jockey Christopher jumped off the horse as soon as he got on due to cramps. He seemed to be in pain as he did a few stretching exercises. Certainly this was cause for concern as a half-fit jockey could have proved detrimental to the chances of Splendid Surprise. Fortunately for the connections of Splendid Surprise, the jockey managed to ride through the race though he did confess later that he was in pain and did not know how he went through with the motion of riding the horse to victory. To the credit of Christopher it must be said that he came up with a commendable performance and did everything right.

Confident Victory led the field as the field set about the 2000 metres journey with Milford in close attendance followed by Royal Ambassador, Star Team, Sweeping Success, Retribution and the rest, with Woman On Top gracing the wrong end of the field. The order remained the same when the contestants negotiated the final bend. Confident Victory went wide after taking the final turn, giving Splendid Surprise a dream opening along the rails. Retribution too followed Splendid Surprise in a ground saving move while Star Team and Sweeping Success were caught wide outside.
Splendid Surprise surged ahead of the pack in the final furlong, with Star Team picking up momentum on the wide outside. Star Team had a momentary scare as Confident Victory cut across his path but this did not deter jockey Prakash who swiftly changed course towards the inside and got his horse to respond strongly. Though Star Team came up with a big run, the lead that Splendid Surprise had, held the son of Steinbeck to last out and spare a long neck at the finish. Confident Victory charged home on the wide outside to edge out Retribution for the third spot while Sweeping Success ran below expectations to finish fifth. Retribution who sported blinkers for the first time, reversed the verdict on his conqueror Sweeping Success who had beaten him squarely at the Deccan Derby. Confident Victory’s re-run may make many to believe that with a better jockey, he might have landed the spoils. This is equivalent of a match-deciding mighty heave in cricket which might go for a six or get caught on the boundary line. There is a thin line that separates success from defeat. Splendid Surprise surely deserved to win and the team associated with it deserves fullest praise.

Badge of Gold towered over the opposition in the 1400 metres Daisy Appoo Cup, a terms race for three-year olds. Badge of Gold, who was the highest rated horse in the fray, was favoured by the terms of the race and in the mark that he was in; it was difficult to visualize his defeat barring the uncertainties of the sport. In the event, Badge of Gold won pulling up by a widening margin of five lengths with Raider’s Sun beating Mercurial to the second spot. Raider’s Sun who was out of depth in comparison to the winner, should pick up a race when pitted in a handicap race.

Talk of the Devil recorded a splendid win in the 1600 metres Bangalore Turf Club Trophy. The runners were closely matched as last year’s Derby winner Super Speed who had the best credentials, did not have recent form to recommend his claims strongly. Polar Wolf who had swiftly moved up in the handicap scale was strongly supported to maintain his winning ways.
Super Speed who had the first run on his rivals, took charge at the final furlong even as Stone of Destiny and Polar Wolf were battling the issue with great vigor. But in the end, it was top-weighted Talk of the Devil who flew home to win with a measure of comfort from Super Speed, Stone of Destiny, Polar Wolf and Lionheart who came into contention with a good run along the rails. . There was nothing much to separate the second, third, fourth and fifth placed horses.

Though Armament had been knocking on the doors of success and had the record of running against some formidable sprinters in the past, Prince of Hearts with some relatively modest performance received inspired support, causing the drift in odds on the former. In the event, the Sajid Quereshi trained Armament who led the field from the start, burst clear to win the Good & Soli Poonawalla Memorial Gold Trophy (Div I) with great comfort from Bravo Bedford who seems to have struck good form. Winfoot finished third ahead of Prince of Hearts who was never in contention. The lower division went the way of West Coast Eagle who ran out an impressive winner at the expense of a late-finishing Ardmore, both the first two placed horses having in the past done well only over trips longer than a sprint. Ambiens and Stilton had good forward runs.

Awesome Beauty showed greater speed and resolve to win the 1100 metres R M Puttanna Memorial Gold Trophy from favourite Spirit of China. Jersey Power led till the final turn at which point Awesome Beauty surged ahead and held on to win from Spirit of China who was picking up momentum when the cause was lost.

The long drawn card of 10 events on the concluding day had its share of upsets but generally it was not a bad for punters who chased the favorites.