Absolute Reality (Mr.Mellon- Yes No Maybe) sprang a surprise by winning the Hyderabad Race Club Gold Trophy, a mile trip for horses rated 80 and above, which featured the small card of six races on Wednesday, at Mysore. Only six horses had accepted to vie for this trophy and Lad Lady who has a high billing at this centre was the overwhelming favourite at a short price. Vishal Yadav trained Absolute Reality had run along with the entire bunch, except Lad Lady, in his earlier run and finished well behind them. On the merits of that run Absolute Reality had very few who dared to lay a bet on him.

The race was run in almost a single file till half way stage, with Time Flies setting the pace, while Absolute Reality, Askhan, Iron Marshall, Lad Lady and Flaming Arrow in tow. As the heads turned towards the finish on the home straight, Absolute Reality shot into the lead and kept up the momentum till the winning post. Askhsn and Iron Marshall tried to make a race of it but was no match to the winner. The favourite Lad Lady looked to be searching for a clear path in the small field and when she finally did find one, moved swiftly to snatch the runner-up berth from Askhan.

Pratap Kamath schooled Esoterical (Ajaad-Carra Mia) finally managed to shed her maiden ranks, winning the opener of the day, the Harangi Dam Plate. Rey and Golden Slipper were withdrawn on veterinary grounds after reaching the starting gates. Rey was taken off after the veterinary doctors were not satisfied with the trotting action. Golden Slipper, who looked to be the main threat to Esoterical, dislodged the rider near the gates and bolted which resulted the filly being scratched from the race. The field being reduced to seven, Esoterical went on a start to finish mission and successfully completed it with stable companion Always Inspiring earning some money by finishing second.

Western India based jockey T.S.Jodha opened his account in Mysore with a double through Real Potential and Enforcer. Bipin Salvi’s Real Potential (Ajaad-Private Emotions) was taken to the front from the word ‘go’ and made every post a winning one. The favourite Ice Splendour came under pressure when asked to accelerate on the straight and lost places rapidly. Take My Word and Seriously Perfect improved towards the closing stages to finish second and third respectively. Maximum City was withdrawn on veterinary grounds.

Jodha partnered P.C.Tejaswi’s Enforcer (Polar Falcon-Vee Alley) in the higher division of the Takshashila Plate, to score an encore. A winner over a similar distance in its last start in winter, Enforcer settled well in fourth behind Cesaria, Surya Putra and Simple Dangerous till showing up on the straight. Surya Putra was the first to take the initiative on the straight but was overpowered by Enforcer quite easily. Simply Dangerous finished second ahead of the late finishing River Gem. Cesaria filled the frame.

Ranjeet Shinde trained Visual Element (Sir Bordeaux-Royal Tour) won the lower division under apprentice Srikant Kambale. Flirting King, who was a measure of a big gamble, backed down from ‘eights’ to ‘twos’, was quick at start and got down to business in right earnest. Inside the last two furlongs, Missiszippy and Ace High threw a challenge and Visual Element made his move on the extreme outside. Picking up speed in the last 150 metres, Visual Element sped past all of them and pushed Flirting King to the second position. Missiszippy and Ace High took the third and fourth places respectively. 

Dinesh Pujar’s Spirituality (Alnasr Alwasheek-Azilfi) showed a clean pair of heels while pulling off her second successive win, in the Aristocrat Plate, the concluding race of the day. Skyway made a bid right through the home stretch but could only finish second. Noble Sacrifice, who was lethargic at start, missing quite a few lengths, was full of running towards the finish, ending up third.