Patience pays in racing. The wait for a little more than a year paid ample dividends as Golden Fortune obliged at lucrative odds, winning the H H Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup that featured Thursday’s Mysore races. In last year’s edition of the season, Golden Fortune had run game races behind seasoned performers but thereafter, the connections decided that they would rather wait and not fancy and lose against what they reckoned as tough opponents. Golden Fortune thus had come down a great deal in scales since his last win and the six-year old gelding readily obliged, getting the better of Pretty Move and Augill Castle close home despite veering out of a straight course.

Golden Fortune was better supported than the rest in the field of 12 runners because the field consisted of horses, which did not stand out in terms of surface form. Blue Hare had never won over a mile and added to that the fact that he has soundness problems ensured that the support on him was going to be misplaced. Iflookscouldkill had in recent times not lived up to his name, looks not sufficing to win. Jockey Prithviraj raced Golden Fortune prominently in front in second or third position. The son of Twist And Turn appeared to have frittered away his chances when he started drifting out in the straight but the fact that Pretty Move was on his outside helped the jockey to correct the drift. On being straightened out, Golden Fortune swiftly moved to win with a great deal of comfort from Pretty Move and Augill Castle who shaped like a winner but weakened close home.

Staranzano was always highly rated but perhaps he was far from ready when he raced at Mumbai was the reason why he did not live up to the expectations. Though he did win a race at Mumbai, he spent the entire summer season getting into shape. A mock race and race run had the desired effect as he dictated the pace from the word `go’ to win as he pleased, the Mysore Jewellery Mart Gold Cup, the supporting event of the day. There was inspired support for Sunlight King who had run behind Crown Court in his last essay. The fact that Sunlight King was closing in on Crown Court was the reason he cornered lot of support. The run behind Crown Court was indeed flattering for Sunlight King because the former was far from ready and won on class and as such, the run of the latter had an exaggerated look to it. Sunlight King was never a serious threat though he managed to overhaul Saddler’s Quest for the runner-up berth.

Apprentice jockey Gnaneshwar’s inability to keep favourite Dakshinam on a straight course cost the Darashah ward dear in the Bangalore Plate (Div I). Dakshinam was traveling so well inside the final furlong that he was being hailed as a winner but he drifted out of a straight course, enabling Adriel to shoot through in the middle and win by a narrow margin. Adriel flashed home though the trip was reckoned to be sharp for him. Everblazing had all the chances but lacked the steam. The lower division of the race however went the way of favourite Alagi who managed to land the spoils as jockey M R Singh on Fragrant Bouquet took things on his mount. Ikon Brown has been a let down thus far.

Jockey Harish who has been in the eye of the storm more often than not, however, had a fruitful day, booting home a double for the day. Apart from Staranzano, he drove out Gem of a Lady to a facile win over Faizah and Star Trustee. Allectus who had failed as a favourite at Bangalore, had no problems in winning as he liked the Srirangapattana Plate (Div I).

Loknath’s Dancer’s Quiz recorded a fluent win in the Agumbe Plate where Dust On The Bottle was a reluctant second. The five-year old mare has struck great form. In the day’s other action, Adam won at nourishing odds from Emerald Forest while Solace finally obliged winning with an ease that was unexpected.