Spectacular Quest edged out Adesina to win the Gr 3 Mysore 2000 Guineas which featured Friday’s races. The Robert Foley ward did not sport a great coat but defied his looks by getting up in nick of time to edge out Adesina who was shaping to cause a big upset. Berlioz who stumbled thrice during the race, was a faraway third while Full Speed, going into the event without a race run, put up a pathetic show, with his jockey Silva also contributing to the mess.

Spectacular Quest had everything going for him as he had gone down to Berlioz by a shade less than two lengths when conceding seven kgs to Berlioz in the Nanoli Million. Now at level weights, he towered over the opposition. Berlioz was expected to put up a stiff fight along with Full Speed who was one of the most consistent horses in summer. The connections of Full Speed, obviously boosted by the confidence of a Derby win last year by directly going for that race without the benefit of a run, decided to take the same route. Coincidences can not become precedents in horse training is a time old theory but then in the euphoria of success and the aftermath of endless celebration, wisdom is given scant respect. Adesina’s strong performance only confirms the belief that her last run had to be taken with a pinch of salt or simply, most runners ran below form! Either of these would make people see red!

It rained quite heavily on the morning of the race day and the going was not firm. Ministrel Heights, the pace maker, hit the front though he did not set a scorching pace. Full Speed was sluggish at the start, losing good ground while Adesina raced in close attendance of the front-runner, with Berlioz and Spectacular Quest tracking each other. Having lost considerable ground, the option for Silva would have been to wait rather than expend the energies of the horse by moving up quickly on the wide outside to be in touch with the front runner.

As could be expected of Silva, she brushed up the horse so much so that she forgot that the horse had to travel the mile long distance! Full Speed was a spent force by the time the runners took the final bend so much so that Staranzano who lost pace to be last at the turn, finished well clear of Full Speed. One has seen over the years that Malesh Narredu runs into problem in big races while most other champion jockeys, have a trouble free ride. Berlioz stumbled thrice, the last one quite badly at around the 700 metres marker. For a casual observer, it looked as though Prakash on Spectacular Quest gave him a check while making his move. Though Malesh is extremely talented, more often than he has been found wanting in classic races, his temperament giving way and the jockey making mistakes. The recent mess up on Estonia comes readily to one’s mind. Berlioz may not be a world beater but the fact that Adesina who was beaten fair and square by Camarioca finished about eight lengths ahead is suggestive of the fact that nothing went right for Berlioz who finished third.

Darius Byramji had told the Stipes that the instruction to the jockey of Adesina was to sit behind and ride off the pace the way she was expected to run in the 1000 Guineas. Perhaps the horse disregarded the instruction by taking a striking position or got keen due to the way the race was run.However, it was clear that Adesina relished the way she ran and could have pulled it off but for the better class of riding by Prakash as contrasted with that of Alford.  

Spectacular Quest moved up briskly approaching the final bend to join issue with Adesina who had taken charge on turning for home. The latter did not give up easily and only the forceful riding of Prakash had the desired effect as the favourite managed to get better at the finish. Spectacular Quest won well but the performance was still below par for a horse of his caliber. It remains to be seen how he will tackle the Derby trip. With Fantabulous King expected to be in the fray, one need not wait for long to get the answer.

Karan Singh trained Amazing Velocity has been a game performer. The daughter of Ajaad extended the sequence of wins by recording a facile win over the rest in the 1400 metres Hyderabad Race Club Cup, a race for horses rated 40 and above. Amazing Velocity’s sparkling acceleration in the final furlong had everyone floored, including the bottom weighted Chant Royal who was found wanting when challenged by the eventual winner. Son of Light ran on to finish third ahead of After Glow.

Mohan Valavi trained Arthi won at fancy odds, the Justice P Medappa Memorial Cup (Div I), proving too good for the heavily supported Princess Chand. The lower division of the race went the way of Tunisia who after letting down on a few occasions during the summer season, won end to end from Artistic Blue. There was a big touch on Air Marshall despite little known Basheer being the pilot but the money went downthe drain as Suraj Narredu drove out High Commissioner to land a good touch. 

Formal Invitation who let down as a favourite due to poor handling by jockey C Alford during the summer season, swamped the opposition in the 1800 metres Margrove Estate Gold Cup, proving that the critics of the jockey were justified in putting the blame on his doors for the defeat of the favourite on the last occasion. Al Qamar was a faraway second.