Friday`s Mysore races offered little by way of excitement, with Grizzly and Star of Light repeating their successes, while the betting ring witnessed a couple of spectacular disappointments. Marshmallow and Incio, both backed with confidence, failed to justify the support, reminding punters that even a well-directed plunge can go hopelessly astray. Vibrant Queen`s defeat in the feature event also raised questions about the tactics employed, as Grizzly made every post a winning one.

Mysore served up one of those afternoons when the racing offered little in the way of excitement, but the betting ring had a few stories to tell. Grizzly and Star of Light repeated their victories, while the punters who placed their faith in Marshmallow and Incio discovered that money, however confidently invested, does not always translate into a winning ticket. The day`s feature race provided its own talking point, with Vibrant Queen looking capable of winning but seemingly denied the benefit of more enterprising handling.

Somashekar-trained Grizzly recorded an encore in the 1200 metres A R Subramanya Raj Urs Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s Mysore races. While the six-year-old won with authority, the performance of favourite Vibrant Queen left plenty of room for debate.

Jockey Rafique was clear about his mission, sending Grizzly into the lead and keeping the gelding rolling from the start. The front-runner responded admirably, holding on to win at nourishing odds. On the other hand, Prasad appeared to make unnecessarily hard work of Vibrant Queen`s task. He kept resorting to the whip while the filly raced behind Grizzly, struggling to secure the clear run that might have brought her into contention. Full of running at the finish, the favourite could perhaps have benefited more from tactical enterprise than repeated urgings. Mystikos, a failed favourite on his previous outing, was ridden out by Antony Raj but could manage only third despite being well positioned throughout.

Sebastian-trained Star of Light made it back-to-back successes in the 1600 metres Round Table India Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, and did so in considerably more convincing fashion than last time. On that occasion, the gelding had come from well off the pace. This time, Antony Raj kept the favourite prominently placed, allowing him to strike the front early enough to settle the issue without suspense. Star of Light kicked clear in the final furlong to win by six lengths, leaving Lords Grace to hold off Mystic Divine for the runner-up berth. Sometimes, the simplest change of tactics produces the most emphatic result.

In Mysore, the betting money is often remarkably well directed, with plunges finding their mark with disconcerting regularity. But even the most confident punters are entitled to the occasional reminder that the betting ring does not issue guarantees. The 1400 metres Ladies Circle India Cup (Div II), a race for horses in the lowest category, supplied just such a lesson.

Marshmallow, backed to the exclusion of almost everything else, travelled prominently until the bend before promptly vanishing from the scene. Whatever had been expected of the heavily supported runner, a winning finish was not part of the eventual script. Lokanath-trained Lg`s Star, meanwhile, made no such fuss. Showing out early in the homestretch, the runner drew clear in the final furlong to score a fine victory over Vagadar and King Carlos.

The upper division produced a similar blow to the betting brigade. Incio, another heavily backed favourite, performed an equally convincing disappearing act, leaving his supporters wondering where their money had gone. Rajkesh-trained Shamsheer seized the opportunity, storming clear in the final furlong to win by a whopping seven lengths or more over Carter and Elveden. The betting ring had backed the wrong horse twice over, while the winners ensured that the afternoon was not entirely devoid of financial consequences.

The 1200 metres Mount Everest Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 in which the use of the whip was prohibited, was expected to revolve around Excellent Warrior, the preferred choice of the punters. The horse, however, was conspicuous by his absence when the serious business began. Sebastian-trained Moonlight Scotch needed no such encouragement, racing prominently and having the race sewn up a long way from home. Aamber Storm finished second ahead of One Diamond.

The lower division offered a more straightforward outcome. Arvind V-trained Cauvery, well backed to win, readily justified the confidence reposed in her, scoring by over four lengths under apprentice jockey Asivatham. The youngster`s task amounted largely to steering the five-year-old mare home, with Cauvery doing the rest. Crazy Love and Mighty Hero occupied the next two places.

Lokanath, who ended the day with a double, had already struck in the opening event, the 1200 metres Nyveli Plate for horses in the lowest category. Long shot Meghann made the most of the opportunity, bowling along freely in front and threatening to pull off an upset. The front-runner looked capable of holding on until Legendary Impact, the recipient of sustained betting support, unleashed a powerful late run. Jockey Aleemuddin timed the challenge well, getting up in the closing stages to snatch victory from Meghann. Double Scotch finished third.