M Bobby trained Yakeen (Hurricane State- Excitement), one among the best sprinters at Mysore lifted the C Dasharatharama Shetty Memorial Trophy, the main event of the nine races card on Wednesday. Ten horses lined up for the 1200 metres sprint for horses rated 60 and above. Absolute Pleasure among them garnered the most support in the betting, installed as the ‘odds on’ favourite. Yakeen was second in demand at 4-1. Absolute Pleasure after racing a handy third till turning for home slipped in along the inner rails and surged clear to take over the running. Yakeen in about seventh position as they came into the straight improved quickly to her bid on the extreme outside and with a fast gallop flashed past Absolute Pleasure inside the last 50 metres. Alizadeh was third in front of Rio Grande.

Trainer C.D.Monnappa who has been doing immensely well with youngsters this season, pulled off another impressive win with debutant Gelignite (Mathematician-Hyacinth) in the Himalayas Plate. A 1100 metres dash for 3 year old maiden Indian horses. Class Above led from the word ‘go’ with Gelignite racing in second about three away from the fence with Vroom Vroom and Stylish Charmer in close attendance. Gelignite bridged the gap that Class Above had established as they approached the last 200 metres and with an impressive gallop surged forward to draw clear by two lengths in a smart timing. Beautiful Effect finished third while Stylish Charmer took the fourth spot.    

 Trainer Dinesh Pujar and jockey V.R.Jagadeesh teamed up to be the most successful with a treble. Their winners came through Brigade’s Passion, Speedy Amigo and Brillante. Trainer M. Bobby was the only other professional to score a double. Bobby’s Ben Ten (Emerald Cat-Canadian) was the surprise packet in the higher division of the Gonikoppa Plate. The fancied Oscar Sparkler tracked Bucethalis till the final bend and stepped up momentum to take charge and kept going well on the straight. Ben Ten after a lethargic start, being the last to jump out, raced in the rear till the last 400 metres. Jockey M.A.Milan let  Ben Ten gallop on the wide outside and the 6 year old flashed from out of the blue win with two lengths to spare. Euphoria and Grand Success finished second and third respectively pushing back Oscar Sparkler to the fourth spot.

On a day when fancied runners took a back-seat, Pujar’s Brillante (Ivory Touch-Anntari) scored an encore in the B.Khanna Memorial Plate at nourishing odds. The 5 year old Brillante, youngest among the ten runners for the mile trip defied the 11 points penalty for its earlier win a fortnight ago. Brillante went to the lead on entering the home stretch and extended well to be over four lengths as they headed past the distance marker. The favourite Always on Top and Royal Prodigy started to get closer inside the last 100 metres and Brillante’s lead was beginning to diminish. Gunpowder came tearing down on the extreme outside from a second last position but Brillante had by then past the winning post by half a length. Royal Prodigy which was hampered for a clear run on the straight finished third in front of Always on Top.

The higher division of the Sirsi Plate was won by Speedy Amigo (Diffident-Abish). The right ‘money’ came on Speedy Amigo after the horses left the parade ring to bring it down to 7-2 from 7-1. Speedy Amigo rushed to hit the front along the fence after jumping out of the gates. Leading all the way by about three lengths, the 7 year old stretched out easily on the final 400 metres to extend the margin of victory to six lengths. Byzantine improved late to be the best of the beaten brigade. Amiable Lady and Virtuoso filled the judge’s frame in that order. The race favourite Beautiful Green was never in the hunt.

Pujar and Jagdeesh started off with a start to finish win on Brigade’s Passion in the lower division of the Antequera Plate, the first race of the day. Youre A Legend started to chase Brigade’s Passion on the straight but the leader quickened well and moved away in the last furlong. Small Cruise managed to beat Youre A Legend for the second place.

The 8 year old Snow Peaks (Inner City-Is It True) which has just about a month’s racing before retiring, won the higher division. Queen’s Cruise grabbed the lead as they turned for home and looked to be good as they came into the last 300 metres when Snow Peaks improved in the centre of the track with a strong gallop to go clear with 250 metres left from home. Brigade’s Paradise, Rusty and Rocket Ronnie filled the frame in that order in a close finish.

The lower division of the Sirsi Plate was won by Ranjeet Shinde trained Cesaria (Hurricane State-Simply Sensual). Ridden by apprentice M.Prabhakaran, Cesaria just about managed to snatch the race from Herculean in the shadow of the winning post. The top weighted Herculean set out on a start finish mission. Herculean was still about two lengths in front with 150 metres left from home. Cesaria was beginning to get closer in the centre and Its My Party also gaining ground from the outside. Herculean’s lead started to narrow down and Cesaria with a final thrust put its head in front at the all important end.

Trainer T.Natraj and jockey M.J.Goutham Raj Urs who have been having a lean season pulled off a win with Speartooth (Chatham Straight-Winning Talk) in the lower division of the Gonikappa Plate, the concluding race of the day. Spaertooth, a failed favourite in its last essay was at a liberal 5-1 for the 1400 metres trip. Tracking Huckleberry Finn till the last 500 metres, Speartooth surged ahead to take over the running. Ice Splendour challenged strongly on the straight but Speartooth galloped with renewed effort and went past the winning post by a length. Galaxy Queen finished on to be a close third.