Castle King (Hymn-Castle Beauty) from the stables of S.Rakesh registered an overwhelming victory in the Committee Cup, the main event of Wednesday’s races at Mysore. The six furlongs trip for maiden two year old horses had a field of six runners, all first timers, set to take the start. Castle King had been blazing the track in the trials and was rightly backed to the exclusion of the other runners.

Real Potential set the pace from the start closely followed by Fricka, Castle King and the other three. On the home stretch Real Potential tried hard to hold on to the lead but the favourite Castle King ridden by Harish rallied along the inner ground and scuttled away in the last 100 metres. Fricka with a sustained run managed to peg Real Potential for the second place.

The Treasure’s Nest Plate, a race for horses rated 80 and above turned out to be a stirring clash among four runners, Ashkan, Ohiyesa, Iron Marshall and Flaming Arrow. Zareer Darashah trained Ashkan (Bee’s Prospector-Persian Delight) set out on a start to finish mission and showed no signs of tiring as the race got to a boil on the straight. Stable companion Ohiyesa was in strong chase throughout the straight with P.S.Chouhan going all out, while Iron Marshall was on with a challenge on the far side. Flaming Arrow looked to be lost for room with the three horses in front and the rider desperately looking for a gap. Ashkan held on gamely to pull off an upset from Ohiyesa while Flaming Arrow moved late along the inner rails to finish a close third in front of Iron Marshall.

Darashah completed a double through Honey Buzzard (Rebuttal-Dance Royale), in the Nagarahole Plate, the concluding race of the day. P.S.Chouhan got Honey Buzzard to hit the front quickly at start and led all the way to the finish. On entering the straight, Honey Buzzard accelerated and left the field cold. Time Flies, on whom a lot of money came, finished second while Lake Emerald took the third spot.

Trainer Ranjeet Shinde saddled a back to back double with The Contender and Vertex. The Contender Mudeer-Lyrical Bid) was quietly fancied in the higher division of the Bandipur Plate and the gamble paid off. Surya Putra led the field till the last 300 metres from where The Contender took charge and drew clear. Time Secret got the better of Surya Putra close to the winning post to take the runner-up berth.

The lower division was won by C.D.Monnappa’s Miss International (International-Hurricane Jane). Queen’s Cruise was quick to take the lead at start with Chamcha In Chief, Miss International and Color Me in close attendance. On top of the straight Queen’s Cruise started to drift out and Miss International kept a straight course to grab the lead and run away to score an impressive maiden victory. Queen’s Cruise finished second ahead of Color Me who finished in the money on her first attempt.

Vertex (Young Senor-Alzira) pulled off an upset in the Sakaleshpur Plate. Racing in about fifth position as the runners entered the home straight, Vertex flashed on with a fast run on the wide outside to give the rider Irvan Singh his first win. Mr.Hurricane rallied on to finish second.

T. Natraj trained Own Way (Warrshan-Shirley Valentine) justified the favourirism in the Pandavapura Plate. The price on Own Way drifted slightly during race time as Mumbai import Skyway garnered strong support. Own Way trounced the opposition with a powerful gallop on the straight. Sun Device warmed up late to finish second, ahead of Bright Star. Skyway disappointed her supporters finishing off the board. The Gain and Sterling Speed were withdrawn before the race.

Feroz M Khan’s Ariana (Brave Act-Auberge) got to challenge Artisan inside the last 200 metres and quickened 50 metres from home to get the better by a neck at the finish.

Trainers Zareer Darashah, Ranjeet Shinde and jockey Harish were the professionals who scored a double each.