Imtiaz Khan-trained Isn`t She Beautiful completed a thrilling hat-trick of wins by edging out Iron Clad in a photo finish to claim the Gr 3 H H Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Trophy, a prestigious terms race for four-year-olds and over. Held on Friday, the feature event of the second day of the Mysore Regular Season left spectators on the edge of their seats. Tackling the extended seven-furlong trip, Isn`t She Beautiful showcased not just her stamina but her heart, responding to jockey Saqlain`s urgings in a spectacular final furlong after being boxed in for much of the stretch.

The race was a tale of form and fortune. Iron Clad put in an improved effort, while Knotty Charmer, once a shining star, is still struggling to recapture the form that dazzled last winter.

Having delivered an ordinary performance in Pune, Knotty Charmer was still the favourite heading into the race, despite the presence of the in-form Isn`t She Beautiful, who had shown significant growth and maturity of late. D Gold Star set the early pace, while jockey Suraj Narredu kept Knotty Charmer poised just behind the leader. As the field rounded the final turn, Knotty Charmer made his move but couldn`t produce the expected burst of acceleration. A swarm of contenders closed in, turning the final furlong into a battleground.

Coming from about sixth or seventh position, Isn`t She Beautiful struggled to find a gap and Saqlain had to hold back, letting the outside horses pass before launching his bid wide. In the meantime, Iron Clad, flashing shades of his old brilliance, stormed ahead and seemed set to pull off an upset. But in the final strides, Isn`t She Beautiful found her rhythm, hitting top gear in a determined burst that saw the five-year-old daughter of Excellent Star nose ahead at the wire in a dramatic finish.

Imperial Blue finished third, ahead of Something Royal, while several others crossed the line in close succession. The victory solidifies Isn`t She Beautiful`s status as a rising force, with her performances this season pointing towards domination in graded races.

As for Knotty Charmer and Imperial Blue, both once feared competitors, their current form leaves much to be desired, as they continue to chase the brilliance of their past.

Riding high on her victory in the Bangalore Summer Season, Golden Peaks, trained by Parvati Byramji, was the clear favourite heading into the 1400 metres Udhagamandalam Plate, a contest for horses rated 60 and above. Jockey Akshay Kumar played it cool, keeping Golden Peaks settled until the home stretch. When the moment came, he gave the favourite a slight nudge, and she responded with electrifying speed, pulling away from the field and leaving her rivals gasping in her wake.

Prime Abbess drifted out under pressure but found her rhythm late, managing a strong finish to take second place ahead of Fondness of You and Peyo. Golden Peaks, who had previously bested notable horses like August and Royal Mysore—both of whom have since risen in the ranks—looks primed for further successes this season.

Meanwhile, in the 1600 metres J H Foley Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, Bobby-trained Athulya showcased her consistency, building on a stellar last season where she won twice and placed third in her other two starts. Apprentice jockey Koshi Kumar barely broke a sweat as he guided Athulya from a comfortable third or fourth at the final bend to a commanding lead on the outside. By the final furlong, the race was already in the bag.

Natural Speed closed with a late surge to edge out Dabeet for third place, a mild upset as Dabeet had been the race favourite.

Monnappa-trained D Roman Reigns dominated the 1400 metres Somanathapur Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45, with a performance that lived up to his name. Jockey Ryan Ahmed adopted a patient strategy, letting the frontrunners burn themselves out with a blistering pace. Biding his time, Ahmed made his decisive move at the top of the straight. D Roman Reigns swiftly closed the gap on Joon and Asgiri, who had been leading the pack, before effortlessly pulling away to secure an emphatic victory by over four lengths.

In the lower division of the Somanathapur Plate, S Ramesh-trained Hidden Treasure lived up to the expectations with a convincing win. Sea of Adventure tried to steal the race with a bold front-running tactic but was swiftly overtaken in the final furlong by Hidden Treasure, who unleashed a remarkable burst of speed to storm ahead, winning with ease. Coyote Girl was a distant third.

Bipin Salvi-trained Flying Falcon, who had shown promise with a notable second-place finish in his previous outing, capitalized on that form to deliver a commanding victory in the 1100 metres Viraja Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. After a long 800-day wait, Flying Falcon soared to his second career win in 24 starts. Apprentice jockey Abhishek Mhatre sent him straight to the front, and the aptly named gelding flew away from his rivals, crossing the finish line well clear of Golden Bird, who took second, while D Romance settled for third.

Mhatre continued his winning ways in the lower division of the Viraja Plate, piloting favourite Mystical Merlin to a start-to-finish triumph. Though Felicita mounted a strong challenge, she drifted out in the closing stages, allowing Mystical Merlin to claim a comfortable victory. D United rallied well along the rails, but despite a spirited effort, had to settle for third, just half a length behind Felicita, who clung to second place.