Samar Singh trained Ciraja showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the 1200 metres Smt Malinirajae Prasad Memorial Gold Trophy, a race for horses rated 30 to 45, which was the highlight of penultimate day’s Mysore races held on Thursday. The son of Diffident was backed to the exclusion of his rivals and Ciraja had no problems in recording his second straight win. Ankole chased him in the final furlong without hope while Condor showed his amazing liking for the Mysore track with a flattering third.

Ciraja had won well last time and considering the fact that he was left with just the locally based older horses to take care of, his win was more or less assured. Apprentice Afasan Quereshi had no problems in bolting to the front and the favourite stayed put without coming undue pressure. 

The trainer-jockey combination of Samar Singh and Quereshi had a double for the day, having been earlier associated with the upset win of Princess Chand in the 2200 metres Western Outdoor Gold Cup. Esperante who had flattered to deceive last time out with a late dash, once again disappointed at cramped odds. Princess Chand who assumed command in the final furlong held on quite competently to win without fuss.

After playing truant for most part of the season, two of the runners from the gold and brown brigade decided to put their best forward in two races of the day before lapsing into old ways with Frangrant Boquet and in the concluding race of the day with Universal Price. The drifting price on these two horses was a clear give away. If the Stipes had been serious about their job, it would not have been difficult to pull up the erring jockeys of this brigade for there has been a definite pattern to their riding. If the horses are fancied, they stick to the forward bunch but if the stable lacks interest, this has been clearly demonstrated in the way the jockeys have held the horses in the rear of the field either by slow getaway or lackluster approach.

Mighty Flash who was well backed in the opening race won quite well from Ondhu Ondhu Ondhu. Streak of Fire drifted out of a straight course and ran the final furlong on the sand track but for which he could have troubled the winner. Streak of Fire had last won at Bangalore, finishing on the sand track but managing to beat a poor quality of opposition. Since this has become a habit with Streak of Fire, it is safe to keep off from him. The other horse from Foley’s yard to win was Noble Flash who was left with no worthwhile opposition.

Saturn Star had been badly let down by his jockey Md Shafiq last time out when strongly fancied against Ben Brown. Now assigned to Suraj Narredu, the Sharath Kumar trainee encountered no problem in recording a facile win. Princess Gabriella brought off the biggest upset of the day where Fragrant Bouquet was a disinterested passenger. The fancied Amazing Warrior and Patrichian too added to the misery of the punters. There was a flood of money on Devil’s Own in the last race of the day but the favourite’s chances were undone as the saddle reportedly shifted position. Arthi could have prevailed but jockey Ashwin Rao failed to exercise sufficient control and went on to the favourite. Happy Times profited by just about edging out Arthi. Rashid Byramji who saddled Happy Times had another winner earlier in the day through favourite The Phenomenon.