R Ramanathan-trained Gold Ride held off a furious three-horse finish to land the 1200 metres S M Cama Music And Product Pvt Ltd Million, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Thursday’s Mysore races.

NRI Ace was the strong favourite, but the five-year-old mare never really entered the argument. She gradually faded as the race progressed and eventually finished well down the field, leaving her backers wondering where their confidence had gone.

Decacorn set a brisk pace and brought the field into the final furlong. Gold Ride then appeared in the middle of the course under N Darshan, while Perfect Blend launched his challenge along the rails and Art Collector produced a sustained burst of speed.

Gold Ride, who had secured a crucial advantage in the closing stages, dug deep to hold off both Art Collector and Perfect Blend, who were charging home with serious intent. The winner was also the least fancied runner in the field, making the result all the more satisfying for those who had resisted the temptation to follow the market.

Apart from NRI Ace, who started at a shade above even money, the others were available at decidedly nourishing odds. The favourite failed to deliver, while Gold Ride made sure the bookmakers had little reason to complain.

S John-trained Frederika completed a hat-trick with an all-the-way victory in the 1800 metres Gool & Soli Poonawalla Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, and in the process established a new course record of 1 minute 47.907 seconds.

Frederika who was a short-priced favourite, set out to make every post a winning one and refused to change his mind. Maana gave the favourite a tremendous fight and turned up the pressure in the closing stages, but Frederika, with Akshay Kumar in the saddle, found that little extra and prevailed by half a length. Moon Star, who was expected to provide a serious challenge, struggled for speed when the race came to the boil. He just about managed to hold Regal Aristocracy at bay for third place.

Regal Beauty opened favourite for the 1200 metres Belur Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 46, but the market underwent a quick change of mind. Satish Narredu-trained Deep Respect attracted strong support close to race time and eventually went to the post as the firm favourite.

R N Darshan took Deep Respect to the front and the filly never looked in danger thereafter. She extended her advantage in the closing stages to win by a widening four lengths from El Rey, who chased the winner without ever looking likely to catch her. Hidden Dreams, who also attracted some noticeable support, managed to salvage place money by a neck from Regal Beauty.

With several horses declared non-starters, Jolie’s Star, trained by Kishan Thomas, became the short-priced favourite for the Belur Plate (Div II). Under apprentice Vishal, the favourite had little difficulty justifying the confidence. Jolie’s Star travelled comfortably before staving off the challenge of Absolute Conquerer to score an emphatic victory. Natural Beauty finished third.

The 1400 metres Mandya Plate, for horses rated 20 to 45, initially presented a confusing picture, but the betting market soon supplied the answer. As the odds opened and the betting gathered momentum, it became increasingly obvious that there was one horse attracting almost all the attention: D Roman Rings, trained by Bipin Salvi.

Jockey Ayaz Khan brought D Roman Rings into contention on turning for home. Whispering and Sheer Elegance were still ahead of the field at the top of the straight, but D Roman Rings suddenly began eating up the ground. Once he collared the front-runners, the race was effectively over. D Roman Rings stormed clear to win by four lengths, with Sheer Elegance finishing another five lengths ahead of Gimme in third. The betting had spoken, and this time it was not whispering.

Country’s Fire, trained by Feroz M Khan, emerged as the more fancied runner in the 1100 metres One Life To Love Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Apprentice Lava Kumar angled the horse out in the final furlong to secure a clear passage, and Country’s Fire responded immediately. The favourite surged past the long-time leader Fashionista and went on to record an easy victory. Miss Sultana was a well-beaten third.

As happens in so many races, the money talked loudly in the 1600 metres Triveni Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. G Y Rajesh Babu-trained Joyful Spirit attracted one-sided support and duly obliged. The market confidence proved fully justified as Joyful Spirit surged ahead in the final furlong and comfortably held off Augusto. Rising Form finished third.

It was another case of the punters putting their money where their confidence was, and Joyful Spirit making sure they did not regret it.