James McKeown-trained Trafalgar ran true to expectations when dominating the Gr 3 Maharaja`s Cup 2022, a terms race for four-year-olds and over, the feature event of Saturday`s Mysore races. Jockey Pradeep Chouhan had no problem in steering the favourite to a facile win. The day`s racing ran kindly for punters, with the favourites dominating most races in the seven-event card. Six of the seven races were won by horses from Bangalore highlighting the fact that whenever the local horses meet an outstation challenge, they will invariably come short.



Trafalgar who is a multi-classic winner had been laid low by physical niggles and despite racing after a gap of a year, had bounced back with a thrilling win in his last effort at Bangalore over a trip reckoned to be sharp for his style of running. Now racing over a more suitable trip of a mile, Trafalgar was also favoured by the terms of the race as he was set to receive weight from those reckoned to be his primary opponents.

Pradeep Chouhan raced Trafalgar in the third position as Havelock Cruise ran like a scalded cat in front, leading by many lengths before running out of steam approaching the final furlong. Knotty Dancer, the second favourite, tracked Trafalgar. Chouhan made his move approaching the final turn as he went after the pace-setter whom he tackled with ease. Despite Trafalgar veering out under pressure, the favourite gathered steam in the final 100 metres to assert his supremacy with a measure of comfort. Knotty Dancer ran on strongly to neck out Chashni to snatch the runner-up berth. Havelock Cruise took the fourth position ahead of the well-performed My Opinion and Jake.

Azhar Ali trained Michigan Melody came up with a late dash to get the better of O Hansini in the shadow of the post to win the 1200 metres Dr M A M Ramaswamy. O Hansini who has been running almost every week, looked poised to score when she shot ahead in the stretch but could not sustain the lead to the post as she tired out in the end. The relatively fresher Michigan Melody managed to win close to home. Wild Spell nosed out Brunhild to save place money.

Knotty Woods came in for one-sided betting in the 1400 metres Jaganmohana Palace Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The Prasanna Kumar trainee proved too superior for the local opponents as Knotty Woods always had control of the race to with ease from local challenger Kushaq. Nazerul Alam rode the winner. Braxton was third. A similar trend was noticed in the lower division of the race where Bangalore challenger Wild Emperor, trained by Faraz Arshad and ridden by veteran Srinath, appeared a cut above the rest. Wild Emperor led all the way to check in by a widening margin of five lengths over Worldly Wise who gave a chase in vain. Break Away was third some four lengths adrift.

Capital Gain from the stables of trainer Dominic who had failed to impress in all her outings at Bangalore looked far superior to the local opposition in the 1400 metres Nainital Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Capital Gain took control of the race in the final furlong in the hands of apprentice jockey Arul to eventually win by a margin of over eight lengths. Regal Force was second ahead of Like My Daddy.

Bangalore-based Sekhmet was the only strongly backed horse to fail. The Darius Byramji trainee made no impression sticking to the rear group and failing to make any progress in the straight. The race was won by Warren Singh trained High Opinion at lucrative odds. Apprentice jockey Saqlain brought High Opinion the shortest way home and the progeny of Stern Opinion quickly asserted his supremacy, storming clear in the final furlong to win as he pleased. Osibisa ran on to take the second position with Love another five lengths plus adrift. The local challengers were not spotted.

Bobby trained Jabbar was the only local horse to win during the course of the day`s races. Last start runaway winner, Jabbar had no problem in tackling an ineffective local opposition en route to a facile win in the hands of apprentice Saqlain who had a double for the day. Vijaya Miracle necked out D Fire to save place money.