Hurricane Bay (Young Senor-Annella) produced a blistering gallop inside the final 100 metres, to lift the Octogonal Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, which featured Wednesday’s races at Mysore. Hurricane Bay had problems aplenty when it arrived from Hyderabad a year ago into C.V.G.K.Kishore’s yard and the trainer has done a commendable job to get the gelding to top form. Hurricane Bay picked up his third win at this centre.

The speedy Miss Ruby set out on a start to finish bid and led till the last 150 metres. Honey Buzzard started to move forward as they entered the home stretch and went for the gap between Miss Ruby and the inner rails. The gap narrowed down and Honey Buzzard being hampered for room lost precious strides. Flaming Arrow had in the meanwhile moved strongly, to surge ahead inside the last 100 metres but lost out to Hurricane Bay, who galloped resolutely to snatch the race close home.

Apprentice Saddam Hussain hogged the limelight, booting home three winners. His pursuit started with S.Santosh Rao’s Samrat (Hymn-Meryl), in the higher division of the Ajantha Plate. Prince Ashwin who was back on the race track after a long lay off got to the front within
the first furlong and brought the field into view on the straight. Kukanof and Time Matters were the first to throw a challenge on the straight but their effort was not enough to get past the leader. Samrat improved steadily and shot ahead in the last 100 metres. Prowl King, trailing the field till the last 400 metres made headway widest of all to finish an eye catching second, in a close finish with Prince Ashwin and Calculated Move.

The second win came through Vikram Appachu’s Nermai (Juniper-Irrestible You) in the lower division of the Formal Invitation Plate. River Gem, Del Gratia and Cute Style were all in a line 300 metres from home, trying to out beat each other. Nermai started to quicken from behind and shot ahead to win from the late finishing Refuse to Bend, on which jockey Vivek had replaced G.Y.Rajesh Babu as he could not do the weight. Gambit and Boston Ranger were withdrawn on veterinary grounds before the race.

Saddam rode Feroz Khan’s Wynn (Placerville-Fair Ways) to victory in the higher division, in an exciting finish. Wynn and Precept started to drift out from the top of the straight and finished on the stand side. Speedy Amigo moved strongly, close to the inner rails, and the three went past the winning post in a tight finish. The view at Mysore being deceptive, spotting the winner was difficult. Wynn had got the nod from Precept and Speedy Amigo. Kingdom of Love was withdrawn on veterinary grounds before the race.

Jockey A.Ashhad Asbar was down in Mysore to ride Dream of Gold and Esteghlal for trainer Micheal Eshwar. Ashhad was successful on Dream of Gold in the Mysore Zoo Plate but failed to make it on Esteghlal. Dream of Gold moved swiftly from fourth position to take charge near
the distance marker. Theworldismine rallied on to finish second ahead of Chinab. The favourite High Treason burst its blood vessel and fell back rapidly after being prominent till midway up the straight.

C.Girinath’s Sequana (Tirol-Progressing) kicked on in the home stretch after being in front from the start to lift the lower division of the Ajantha Plate, the opening race of the day. Give Me The Money moved to be second as they rounded the final turn and chased the winner in vain.

M.Bobby’s Luckynumberslevin (Anasbach-Nicole) flashed on with a flourish to nail Vertex on the last stride, in the Gerusoppa Plate. Vertex took charge on entering the home stretch and started to drift out of the straight course. Luckynumberslevin, huddled towards the rear, 300 metres from home, found the way opening up in front and charged through the gap towards Vertex and got his nose ahead at the wire. Snow Peaks finished third a further length behind.

The top weighted Sterling Cruise (Eljohar-Tamure) was ridden to a start to finish victory in  the Vijayawada Plate, the last race of the day. Prezzie, Best Move and Supreme Arch warmed up late to fill the frame. The favourite Esteghlal looked to be under pressure in the final straight and finished off the frame. Esteghlal was observed to have come home lame on left fore.