The Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship (Grade III) featured a long card of ten events held at Mysore on Thursday. The terms race attracted some of the best sprinters stationed at Bangalore and Mysore. Since most of them had been racing against each other over the last few seasons, it was difficult to pick a winner. They were closely matched at the weights, and their present form was equally good. Some of them had last clashed in The Sprinter’s Cup in March at Bangalore, while the others were seen running in summer. On the basis of his second to Attila in March and some fine track work in recent weeks, Satish Narredu’s Sprint Star was the obvious choice of the punters. They were able to draw a clear line in his favour through Optimus Prime. Sprint Star had comfortably beaten Optimus Prime at level weights in their last meeting over six furlongs. Thereafter, Optimus Prime had managed to trounce most of the others that he was supposed to be facing today. The only difference was the fact that Optimus Prime was carrying a stiff penalty for his summer exploits. Even though Sprint Star was seen sporting bandages in the paddock, and the fact that he was running after a gap of over six months, there were many who felt that he was too good for the present set of opponents. He started as a clear favourite ahead of Optimus Prime, D’artagnan, Successor and Secret Punch. 

A strong initial pace set by a runaway Dancing Touch saw the runners getting strung out in single file. Successor, Secret Punch and D’artagnan raced in close order, while Sprint Star and Optimus Prime were seen toiling to catch up with the front-runners. The scene altered at the bend. Successor, Secret Punch and D’artagnan forced their way ahead of the others and got involved in a battle for supremacy. For a brief moment it seemed as though Valdir De Souza and Secret Punch had gained the upper hand, but it was only the “camera angle”.  Neil Darashah’s Successor was battling hard towards the inner rails, while D’artagnan and Sprint Star were moving menacingly through the middle. Successor and Secret Punch were besides each other as they crossed the wire. A length or so behind them were Sprint Star and D’artagnan. The camera angle was so deceptive that it was almost impossible to call the winner. The only clue available to the public present at the course was the “celebratory waving of the whip” by Valdir De Souza. He felt that he had won the race astride Secret Punch and had started his victory celebrations. However, the final result was dramatically different. Successor had managed to hold Secret Punch by the proverbial “whisker” at the wire. A delighted PS Chouhan was also pleasantly surprised by this announcement. The leading jockey is enjoying a brilliant run in the last couple of years, and this was another indication of his good fortune. Sprint Star’s performance was a bit below par. He will be a different proposition in his next start. 

The Garden City Cup, a seven furlong terms event for three year old Indian horses, attracted a number of well performed youngsters. Since there were penalties for earlier triumphs, top weighted Treasure Mountain was seen conceding nine kilos to Samara Sun. Treasure Mountain, Quick Enough, Shivalik Star and Castle King had won a minimum of three races, and were therefore assigned to carry the top weight in this race. Jersey Girl and Chase The Sun, who were racing over their most favourable trip, were saddled with three kilos more than Showin’off. Both Chase The Sun and Jersey Girl had figured on the board in Equine Lover’s victory in The Mysore 1000 Guineas. Showin’off  came into this race with a lot of hype. Even though she had won a solitary start, there were quite a few things in her favour. Her low handicap, a suitable trip and a good performance in a mock race amongst top class horses on the local track, were supposed to enhance her chances. She was backed confidently to start as a joint favourite alongside Shivalik Star and Chase The Sun. Showin’off played up in the  gates and delayed the start of this race. She took a lethargic start and lost most of her chances by doing so. Virat and Shivalik Star showed early intent, and set a strong pace ahead of Jersey Girl and Chase The Sun. The other six raced in single file till they moved towards the final bend. Thunderbay and Showin’off were the last two at this stage. The runners began to get closer thereafter. Chase The Sun came with a big run through the middle and led into the final furlong. Puttanna trained Jersey Girl responded to Chouhan’s stick, moved powerfully through the pack and joined the issue. Thunderbay and Showin’off galloped on the outer strip of grass, but they seemed to be fighting a lost cause, as they had traveled much longer than the others. One was assured of a close finish and that is exactly what happened. Chase The Sun on the rails, Jersey Girl in the centre and Showin’off on the very wide outside were locked together as they flashed past the line. Digital technology was required to separate the three of them. The print confirmed that Jersey Girl had got up in the nick of time to beat Chase The Sun by a “nose”. A neck behind in third was Showin’off. The one that really impressed was Thunderbay. By finishing a little over a length behind the first three, she confirmed that she will be too-good-to-miss the day she runs at her own mark. 

The Delhi Race Club Cup, a scurry restricted to three year olds rated between 20 and 45, saw a couple of winners being opposed by those who were still searching for their maiden triumphs. On the basis of her second at Bangalore, and the fact that she was favourably handicapped today, Dhariwal’s Ultimate Desire cornered a bulk of the betting. The small made specimen was expected to put it across Knowledge and Fantastic Star.  Making heavy weather of an outer draw, Ultimate Desire was forced to travel wide in the back-stretch and by the time she started to gallop, the race was over. The action in front unfurled on expected lines. No-hopers Stardom Girl and Always Inspiring set a strong pace ahead of Knowledge for the first half of their trip, before they got tired. PS Chouhan took Knowledge to the front near the bend and pushed him strongly to pick up his first prize of the afternoon. Fantastic Star was dethroned from his second berth close home. Favourite Ultimate Desire came with a long stretch run on the wide outside to take this spot. 

Knowledge’s victory enabled trainer Nityanand to complete a well-backed double, as he had already won an earlier event with Samajdaar. This horse had been carefully brought down in handicap , and had run a suggestive fourth in a higher class a few days ago. Despite going wide in the straight on that occasion, his jockey was unable to stop him from figuring on the board. Since he was facing horses in the lowest category today, Nityanand felt that he had a great chance and entrusted him to Trevor. The leading jockey gave him a neat ride and brought him with a late bid to go past the front-runners. The only other horse that ran a suggestive race was the second placed Noughtandcrosses. He showed late intent to take this spot. Favourite Go Green put up a dismal performance and ended in the ruck. She should be ignored from a betting perspective until she shows some sort of form in an actual race.

 The other professional who shared the day’s honours with Chouhan by riding an equally thrilling treble was John. The young man had three rides during the day and he won on all of them. Starting the long afternoon astride public choice Style Of Signature in the first race, John did not have to do much astride this runner from Sharat Kumar’s stable. Holding him comfortably behind early leader Montag till the top of the straight, John released his grip near the bend. Style Of Signature bounded forward and won by a huge margin from an exhausted Montag. Red Hot retained her hold on the third spot ahead of a bunch of dis-interested participants. 

In the very next race, he was riding Sharavanan’s Infatuation. After a number of dismal efforts in maiden company, Infatuation had run only once this season. While carrying a back-breaking weight, she had failed to hold Heartofsuccess in the lowest category. A change of stables seemed to have done wonders for this three year old filly. Tracking the speedy pair of Golden Slipper and Heavenly Divas till well into the straight, John gave her a tap near the furlong marker. Infatuation lengthened her strides and sailed past the leaders. Zamindar and What A Warrior were strongly fancied by their respective connections. Both of them performed pathetically and failed to figure on the result boards. 

John had obviously reserved his best for the end. The Nergis Darashah Memorial Trophy, a seven furlong handicap for horses in class II, saw a pair of talented youngsters cornering the betting. With more and more support flowing in her direction, Neil Darashah’s Auburn Beauty started as the shortest priced favourite of the day. After back-to-back victories at Bangalore, this talented filly had run twice this season. Her fifth’s in The Mysore Million and subsequently in The Mysore 1000 Guineas were considered to be good enough to win this race. Attaollahi’s Anonymous was the only other runner considered by the punters. Both Anonymous and Auburn Beauty raced prominently and were at the helm of affairs in the straight. Trevor astride Anonymous came the shortest way home and tried his best to skip clear of his rival. Chouhan got busy on Auburn Beauty and asked her for an effort. The favourite floundered under pressure and looked beaten at that stage. Not many had noticed the action at the back. John brought Prasanna Kumar’s Thoughts N Actions with a balanced run through the middle and came alongside the leaders. With some strong whipping and pushing, he managed to nail Anonymous on the post. Auburn Beauty could do no better than end a tame third. 

Satish Narredu’s last outing winner Sound was the only other favourite to oblige during the afternoon. This dickey-legged six year old had shown good form by winning over a trip that was considered to be slightly short for him in his last start a fortnight ago. He was now running against horses in his own age group, and was tackling a more suitable mile. Allowing Cash Is King, Rubellite and Beautiful Life to do the early running, Suraj positioned Sound in mid division and asked him to quicken near the bend. He was unlucky to get caught in a traffic jam near the two furlong marker. However, with luck favouring him, Sound was able to extricate himself and come with a smooth gallop to beat Beautiful Life near the winning post. Glitterato found late foot to take the third spot.

The Racingpulse.in Website Trophy witnessed a speedy display from the Ranjeet trained Ceasaria. The five year old mare put it across some useful youngsters while running away with the first prize. Sanatana, Jazzbythebay and Speedy Amigo were the fancied runners in this open betting event. Apprentice Irvan Singh pushed Ceasaria into an early lead from the gates and showed the way to Jazzbythebay, Sanatana and Speedy Amigo. Even though Ceasaria enjoyed a two length lead at the bend, her outward drift caused concern to her supporters. Sanatana and PS Chouhan, who were racing right behind her till that stage, had no option but to duck inwards. Speedy Amigo galloped strongly through the middle and joined the fray. With all three jockeys pushing actively, the trio moved towards the winning post. There was little doubt in anyone’s mind that Ceasaria was moving the best of the lot. She proved to be too strong for this set and won comfortably from Speedy Amigo and Sanatana. After numerous lacklustre efforts in higher classes, seven year old Gris Rapide showed good form to end a close fourth. He can be noted for an early victory the day he runs over a sprint against older opponents.