G.T.Surender trained Formidable (Placerville-Bold Bird) bounced back to winning form in an incredible manner in the Native Tactics Cup, which featured the opening day’s winter races at Mysore. Followers of money had a tuff time picking winners, as only three of them made it to the wire while the rest were stunning upsets. Formidable was one such favourite on whom the right money came pouring. Settled in mid field till the final bend, Formidable moved freely to surge ahead and drew away from the pack like a champion. Time To Time led the field from the start till overtaken by Formidable and held on to finish second, in front of Express It. Sanatana clipped the front runner and dislodged the rider near the 600 metres.

The Kaiga Plate, a seven furlongs trip for horses rated 80 and above witnessed a thrilling three way finish. Franco Fransisco Da Silva rode out Bipin Salvi’s Gazaki (Burden of Proof-Acer) to prevail over Shaka Zulu and Rising Rainbow. Honey Buzzard, on a start to finish bid, was the first to show up on the home stretch. Shaka Zulu who was tracking the leader closely surged ahead near the distance post. Gazaki, racing along the inner rails, was pulled and Da Silva was beginning to ride hard. Rising Rainbow also started to get closer in the last 100 metres and the three went past the winning post in a cluster. Gazaki with a final heave got the nod at the wire from Shaka Zulu and Rising  Rainbow. The rider of Shaka Zulu lodged an objection against the winner for interference 25 metres from home. The stewards not finding  any substance in the objection overruled it in no time.

Sharavanan’s Vrajanandan (Hurricane State-Little Miss) flew in from  out of the blue to upset the apple cart of the ‘on  money’ favourite  Golden Slipper in the lower division of the Vishakapattana Plate. After a good jump from the gates, Golden Slipper wassettled well in  third, while Stardom Girl and Singham called the shots in front. Golden Slipper went past the front runners easily as they came in for the final run and was looking good when Vrajanandan came up with telling strides on the extreme outside to score a big upset in the shadow of the winning post.

Mumbai import Historica (Tiger Hill-Balimaya) from Darashah’s yard was made to sweat it out to earn her maiden win in the higher division. Running for the first time at Mysore, Historica was sent into the race  as an overwhelming favourite. Always Inspiring was in the lead all the  way from the start and stable mate Heavenly Divas came up with a  challenge for a short while with 400 metres left but could not exert that extra to go past. Historica in the meanwhile found a wide gap  along the rails and Trevor started to give all he had to inch closer with every stride and beat the unrelenting Always Inspiring close to  the winning post. Heavenly Divas was a tame third.

Another favourite that lost what seemed to be a victory, 100 metres  from home, was Lotus Pond. M.Bobby’s Aristocratic (China  Visit-Adored), racing in the rear till the top of the straight was alighted to make a run on the wide outside and the six year old Mumbai import came with lightening speed to earn his first corn bill on this  track. Wynn finished a close third.

Pratap Kamath’s Seriously Perfect (Serious Splender-So Perfect) won the Erode Plate quite convincingly from the favourite Money Bay.  Although Seriously Perfect had finished on board in her last three  runs, the filly was ignored in the betting, with Money Bay garnering most support in the betting. Seriously Perfect, handily with the front  bunch till entering the home stretch emerged from the pack with 200  metres from home and stayed well till the finish. Money Bay was jostled for a clear run near the 1000 metres marker and lost position. Into the straight Money Bay found a wall of horses in front and had to  be pulled out to make a run. Seriously Perfect was clear by over two  lengths and Money Bay had to settle for the runner-up berth. Queen’s Colour finished third.

C.D.Monnappa’s Ace High (Ontario-Indira), a habitual front runner, who had shifted base from Hyderabad two years ago, kicked on in the higher  division of the Bramhaputra Plate, to register his first win at  Mysore. Bejewelled Beauty, Maximum City and Son of the Sun filled the frame.

Supreme Strength (Case Law-Inking) won the lower division, the first race of the day. Bahman and Supreme Strength came into the straight  together and they battled it out till the last 200 metres from where  the latter stretched ahead. Sun Rich warmed up late to finish second,  pushing back Bahman.