Hazara Stud Farm is having a good run at almost all the racing centres this winter. Its latest was an impressive win by Ace Bucephalus (Rebuttal-Shantay) at Mysore, in the Mysore City Gold Cup, which featured the concluding day’s ten races card. Western India based rider, A.Sandesh was brought down specially to guide the fortunes of this Vishal Yadav trainee. The son of Rebuttal, though looked a bit shaky near the distance marker, got into a terrific gallop to win the seven furlongs trip in a fast time which was short of the course record by a minute 0.03 seconds.

Coffee Time was withdrawn near the gates on veterinary grounds and the small field of seven horses was further reduced to six. Zareer Darashah trained Keturah, who was on a hat-trick bid, was installed as the firm favourite, while Ace Bucephalus was the second in demand. Ace Princess set a fast pace in front, closely followed by Azure Fire, Keturah, Yakeen, Ace Bucephalus and Rising Affairs tailed off last.

Rounding the final bend, the first five horses closed up and Keturah was quick to get to the lead near the 300 metres pole. Ace Bucephalus was the only challenger at sight approaching the distance post, moving alongside strongly. Ace Bucephalus suddenly looked a bit shaky, running green for a few strides but young Sandesh was quick to gather his mount and with a big heave flashed past Keturah, to be the winner by three parts of a length. Yakeen was third, a distance behind. Jockey M.Rajesh Kumar was well clear in the jockey’s tally but the fight among the trainers’ was still on, with S.Rakesh just one point behind J. Saravanan. Rakesh saddled a double while Saravanan won one race and the two finished the season with equal points. Saravanan with more number of second places was adjudged as the Champion trainer.

Saravanan was delighted to receive his first Championship Trophy. Speaking to India Race he said, “This is the first season that I have done well. I am thankful to my owners for supporting me and trainer Sharat Kumar deserves a special mention for shaping my life as a trainer. He was the one who stretched his hand to support me when I was down and almost out”.

Although Saravanan had quite a few horses with good chances, it was the lesser fancied Virat (Hurricane State-Career Collection) which provided him a win, in the Adelisa Plate. The 4 year old who two wins to its credit this season, won the third one in spectacular fashion. Virat carried a back breaking 66.5 kilograms en-route to a start to finish victory. Cute Style and Sky High tried to get to the leader but Virat kicked on gamely till the finish. Shk High improved towards the closing stages to finish second, ahead of Cute Style.

Rakesh’s two winners came through Mother Ewa and Artisan. Mother Ewa (Juniper-Wine N Song) came out of her maiden ranks in the Ashwapriya Plate, the opening race of the day. Set To Storm was in front from the start and kept the tempo till the top of the straight. Mother Ewa started to bridge the gap steadily on the straight and surged past with ease. Rickety Rock moved to take the second spot, ahead of For Your Eyes and Chapandas.

Artisan (San Francisco-Sherie rose) won the higher division of the Fist of Iron Plate. Gaining momentum inside the last 200 metres, Artisan flashed past Flip Your Destiny in the last 50 metres. Prost and Passage Of Time finished third and fourth respectively. The 8 year old Son of The Sun (Classic Tale-Dream Image)ended its career with a win in the higher division. Setting off on a start to finish mission, Son of the Sun was a clear 3 lengths in front as the field approached the last 200 metres. Bolzano began to get closer in the last 100 metres but failed to collar Son of The Sun by a ‘short head’ at the finish. Maverical finished third in front of God is Great. D. Gnaneshwar who rode the winner, was the most successful rider with a treble. Always on Top and Caldera were the other two winners.

C.D.Monnappa trained Always on Top (Inner City-Maria Sharapova), who had found one better in its last two runs, made amends in the Nicollete Plate. The race favourite Money Bay was well in front inside the last 300 metres on the wide outside with Faustian making a bid towards the fence. Sugriv was also up with a challenge and Always on Top getting stronger on the extreme outside. With Gnaneshwar riding out vigorously, Always on Top flashed past Money Bay in front of the grand stand. Sugriv ended up third while Euphoria finished fourth.

Vikram Appachu’s ward Caldera (Hurricane State-I Have A Dream) creped up steadily along the inner rails, on the straight and surged forward to justify the favouritism in the Flashpoint Plate. Sun Device came up fast from behind to finish second. Theworldismine and Formidable finished third and fourth respectively.

T.Natraj trained Flirting King (Alnasr Alwasheek-Habib) scored an encore in the lower division of the Classic Sky Plate. Amber Star and Perfect Analysis cut the wind together and brought the field to view into the final straight. Just Great slipped in along the rails to take charge 100 metres from home. Flirting King was beginning to raise a gallop on the outside but Redshift was drifting out alarmingly and hindering Flirting King’s progress. Jockey M.A.Milan managed to get Flirting King out of trouble and flew in late to win the race by half a length from Just Great.  Redshift finished third.

Happiness (International-Claribel) from Ranjeet  Shinde’s stables won the higher division. Huckleberry Finn had taken charge mid-way up the straight and was being ridden out to retain the lead. Happiness was at the tail end till approaching the final bend, moved through the horses in front and came up with a big run to flash past and win by three parts of a length. Supreme Strength rallied on to finish third behind Huckleberry Finn.

The top weighted Big Hero (Juniper-Enchante) went to the lead on entering the home stretch and kicked on to give its trainer T.Natraj a double. Travelling in third position behind Penalty Kick and Stardom Girl till the top of the straight, Big Hero moved forward near the 300 metres board and stayed well. Born to perform came up late to finish second.