A sensational finish marked the ninth running of The Poonawalla Mysore Derby 2012 (Grade I) on Sunday, when Wind Stream came storming from behind to put it across a pair of fancied runners. In the hands of John, this Tharun trainee galloped relentlessly in the last two furlongs and got up in time to beat Super Storm and Borsalino near the winning post. It was after a very long time that railbirds were treated to such a finish. What looked almost impossible at the top of the straight was transformed into reality by this fine rider. In fact, Sunday happened to be a special day in the life of this jockey. John not only won the Derby, but also scored the first fifth-linker in his career. The race had a very clear favourite in Padmanabhan’s Borsalino. This colt had beaten Super Storm by a widening margin in the Kingfisher Derby at Bangalore. Thereafter he had finished ahead of Maths Baby at Malakpet. Based on their performances against each other in recent months, there was a line that one could draw through the other five. On all known form, Borsalino stood tall amidst this small group of eight runners. He had won two Derby’s over a mile and a quarter, and had remained unbeaten over the said distance. With the bookmakers having a similar opinion, the colt was solidly supported at 75/100 in the betting rings.

After a slightly sluggish start, Borsalino moved steadily on the wide outside and got down to business. He did his usual front-running and showed the way to Courage In Red and Super Storm. Unforgettable, Simply Stylish and Wind Stream followed at longish intervals, while Own Asset and Maths Baby graced the rear. The field was fairly strung out in single file as the runners tackled the rising ground near the three furlong marker and started to take the final bend. Borsalino still held a firm grip on this race and was a couple of lengths clear of Super Storm at this stage. The others were getting tired by their efforts and most of them were floundering under pressure. With David Allan pulling out his stick on Borsalino, and Suraj urging Super Storm relentlessly, we were in for a close finish. Not many noticed a move by Wind Stream from the back. Even though he was four lengths adrift, he was responding to the stick and gaining ground on the leaders. The first horse beaten in the last furlong was Borsalino. He caved-in under pressure and surrendered the lead to Super Storm. At almost the same juncture, Wind Stream came flying on the wide outside. With the scene altering at such a fast pace, we suddenly had a new “star”. Wind Stream had managed to get up in time and beaten Super Storm by half a length at the wire. Favourite Borsalino stopped in his tracks and ended another length and a half behind the pair of them. It was later confirmed that Borsalino had lost a shoe during the running of this race. Whether or not that had made a telling difference to the final outcome of this race, is something that will remain a mystery. The fact remains that Wind Stream had won today’s Derby with a superb display of speed and stamina.

John began the day in stirring fashion by winning the first three races astride Sharat Kumar’s horses. He played a huge role in Sharat winning the trainer’s championship for the season. After being placed behind Neil Darashah and Satish Narredu at the start of the day, Sharat was soon ahead of them. However, with the others picking up points during the course of the day, the three of them were locked together with eleven winners apiece. On the basis of an extra second placed finisher, Sharat Kumar was able to squeak ahead of Neil Darashah and Satish Narredu and get his hands on the coveted trophy. All three horses won with a degree of comfort. While Perfect Speed and Angel Queen won the two divisions of a sprint reserved for horses in the lowest category as on-money favourites, Recharged did some solid front-running to beat Its My Party out of sight. Both Perfect Speed and Angel Queen had ended second in earlier starts. John rode them in identical fashion today. Holding them back till the bend and popping them the question thereafter, was all that was required. They marched clear of their hapless opponents to seal convincing victories.

Recharged had flopped against younger horses a week ago and was being given another chance in age group company. Since he was known to be better suited over a sprint, he was second favourite behind Amit Caddy’s Its My Party. The latter had run a good race under apprentice Ramu, and now that he had the services of an in-form Valdir DeSouza, there were many who went nap on him. Its My Party was in no mood to gallop today, and made a hash of things. Despite being whipped and pushed, he failed to budge and settled for the third spot behind Recharged and North Cape. On the other hand, Recharged enjoyed his solitude in front and strode clear of the pack. He enjoyed a commanding lead near the distance post. After a couple of looks at those behind him, John enjoyed the luxury of easing his mount much before they crossed the wire.

After a fine double yesterday, Warren Singh scored another point with Mark Of Genius on Sunday. This was the final leg of a fifth linker scored by John today. Knowing the potential of his mount, because he had been working him regularly, John decided to play the “waiting game”. He allowed Caldera, Winning Desire and Sweet Timer to lead on sufferance. The leaders began to feel the pressure near the bend and started to spread across the track. John knew that he could go wherever he wanted. He chose the shortest way home and brought Mark Of Genius along the inner rails. Without even a nudge from his rider, Mark Of Genius moved ahead of the others. He continued his forward march and ended almost seven lengths clear of Sweet Timer and Caldera. The trainer could exploit his fine form and try to pick up a similar race during the early stages of the Bangalore Winter Season.

Both the divisions of a seven furlong handicap for horses in Class IV witnessed well backed horses posting comfortable victories. Neil Darashah’s Prom Queen had served notice of an early triumph by ending a fast finishing second in her previous start. Since she had got caught in a traffic jam on that occasion, Imran Chisty chose to ride her differently today. She overtook early leader Real Potential at the half-way marker and moved steadily towards the winning post. The long lead that she established at this stage helped her cause at the all important end. Prom Queen held the belated challenge from Abarth by a length at the finish. Strongly supported Mellonsdelight performed poorly to finish a very tame third.

The lower division of this race enabled Suraj and Satish Narredu to open their account for the day. Recently acquired Wind Of Soul was one of the easiest winners on Sunday. The race was marred by a serious accident in which first-timer Take Off brushed the inner rails and landed on the grass. Franco DaSilva took a serious toss and was rushed to hospital. Wind Of Soul tracked Big hero for most of the way, and was a joint leader at the bend. First favourite Dance Of A General was making heavy weather of his move from behind and was struggling to go close to the leaders. Suraj changed gears in the straight, and Wind Of Soul cantered ahead of the others. Just riding her hands-n-heels, he managed to steer Wind Of Soul to an effortless victory. This filly is sure to win her share of races in the winter season.

The father-son duo had further success in The Bangalore Turf Club Trophy. Three year old Shivalik Star had won his first three starts and moved straight into class I. After failing to concede weight to some equally talented youngsters in a terms event ten days ago, Satish Narredu had chosen to run him at his own mark today. The fashionably-bred horse had won all his races over a sprint, and this was the second time that he was being seriously tested over a slightly longer version. Since Shivalik Star knew only one way to run, and that was to race in front, racegoers were eagerly waiting to see what he would be able to do against top class horses. The free striding fella moved smoothly from an outside draw and took command of the proceedings. He moved well within himself till they entered the final furlong. With Imran Chisty making free use of his whalebone, Thoughts N Actions improved through the middle and went in chase. However, he was unable to go anywhere close to the winner. Shivalik Star maintained his momentum and skipped clear of the pack. The timing of a little over One Minute Twenty Three Seconds by Shivalik Star was a fine effort, and it will be interesting to see where Satish campaigns him in future. 

The Gool And Soli Poonawalla Memorial Gold Trophy was another valuable race on offer this afternoon. On the basis of some fine trackwork, Darius trained I Say received strong support in the betting rings. Even though it was known that the speedy Entertainer was going to set a strong pace in this race, it was felt that I Say would be good enough to handle such a situation. The race unfurled on familiar lines. Suraj took Entertainer to the front and stayed there. Imran Chisty hustled I Say to quicken at the bend, but the filly was unable to do so. The one that revealed tremendous potential was Neil Darashah’s Mr Carpe. Conceding almost eight kilos to Entertainer, Mr Carpe responded to Chouhan’s urgings and came alongside. For a moment it seemed as though he would forge ahead, but that was not to be. Despite moving sideways, Entertainer clung onto his advantage and lasted out to win by a narrow margin. Chouhan’s efforts to have the result reversed in the Steward’s Room were unsuccessful. The TV footage clearly showed that the two horses had stayed away from each other and had made no contact as alleged in the objection. Meghalaya ran on to finish a suggestive third. This was incidentally the middle leg of a treble scored by Suraj Narredu on Sunday.

The Gayatri Devi Memorial Trophy, a mile handicap for older horses in class II, attracted a competitive set of a dozen runners. Last outing winner One Time Magic headed the scales with a heavy load on his back, and he was seen conceding chunks of weight to most of his rivals. On sheer class, he stood tall amongst the present group of runners. Since there were no doubts about his staying abilities, the one question that needed to be considered was about his heavy impost. However, the punters chose to stick with him and sent One Time Magic as a clear favourite ahead of Top Secret and Sudden Magic to the starting gates. Time Flies and Top Secret set a good pace ahead of Sudden Magic and One Time Magic as the runners traversed the first half of their journey. The one that moved smoothly in a close fifth spot throughout was Dhariwal’s Panamera. While most of the jockeys had started using their whips, PS Chouhan was yet to make his move. He brought Panamera through an easy passage on the wide outside, and skipped clear of the pack. The filly wasn’t unduly extended to hold a late finishing One Time Magic and Deep Blue Sky. One Time Magic is in fine nick and he looks capable of winning a race at a low weight in a higher category. Now that Panamera has re-discovered her winning ways, it may pay to follow her fortunes in future.