The Mysore Winter Races 2013-14 came to a close on Tuesday with a long drawn card of ten races framed for the concluding day. Indiarace bagged the Tipster Trophy with a tally of 43 winners and 23 seconds. This is the first time Indiarace is participating in the Tipster’s competition at this centre. Trainer S.Rakesh was the champion trainer with 19 winners while Y.S.Srinath emerged on top among the Jockeys with a tally of 11 winners.

The other highlights of the day’s races was a splendid display of speed by Fink en-route to a hat-trick in the Mysore City Trophy, a treble by trainer C.D.Monnappa and jockey Imran Chisty combination and a brace by trainer S.Rakesh.

Micheal Eshwer trained Fink (Phoenix Tower-Fleurissimo), winner of both its star over 1200 metres was sent in as an ‘odds on’ favourite in the Mysore City Trophy which featured the day’s races. Six youngsters took the start for this seven furlongs trip. As the field came into the home stretch Rising Romeo, Obelinna Princess and Rising Rani were almost abreast in front and Fink was looking to sneak in along the fence. Fink having gone into a blind hole was hampered for a clear run and jockey Srinath realizing this decided to pull him out to make his bid. Obelinna Princess in the meanwhile had moved away from Rising Rani and was looking to wrap it up. At one stage it looked to be a tough ask for Fink but the son of Phoenix Tower displayed tremendous speed when urged by Srinath to fly in and beat the ‘Princess’ by three parts of a length. Rising Rani was third another length behind. This win enabled Y.S.Srinath to move to the top in the jockey’s tally after starting the day on tied scores with R.Vaibhav.   

S.Rakesh trained Divine Friendship (Sharp Attack-Bribe N Prejudice) which is in rousing form completed a hat-trick in the Reshmi Art Plate, a six furlongs sprint for horses rated 60 and above. The 4 year old gelding which started the season with a rating of 26 made light of the stiff penalty while decimating the opposition. Settling well to run a close third along the inner rails behind Flying Tricolour and Daring Dynamite, Divine Friendship moved quickly to grab the lead as the rounded the final turn and stretched out easily in the last two furlongs under apprentice Ajeet Kumar. Alizadeh was in second all the way up the straight. Flying Tricolour held on to be third.

Rakesh had earlier led in Ice Brown (Red Clubs-Born Beautiful) in the lower division of the Nagpur Plate. Concentration was the first to take the initiative as they entered the final straight, going ahead by about two lengths. Jockey Ryan Marshall on Ice Brown started to work his way and the 5 year old responded readily to bridge the gap and surge forward. Happiness warmed up late to fly in and dead-heat with Theworldismine for the second place.  

Bipin Salvi trained Big Hero (Juniper-Enchante) whose last win was exactly a year ago justified the favouritism in the higher division. Big Hero was taken to the front at start and was the first to come into the straight. Inside the last 300 metres Big Hero started to drift out of the straight course with Thrillseeker making a strong bid. Jockey D.K.Ashish continued to ride out Big her while ensuring that he did not hamper Thrillseeker and sped past the winning post three parts of a length in front. Born To Perform finished a close third.

C.D.Monnappa and Imran Chisty’s success came through Montag, Silver Oak and Flash Time. Silver Oak (Charmo-Majestic Ceeson) came out triumphs in the Nagarjunasagar Plate, a six furlongs sprint for maiden 3 year old horses. King’s Dream, Beautiful Effect, Silver Oak and Charm And Dream were all in a line as they raced towards the last 300 metres. Silver Oak traveled the best among them to win by a length at the finish. Charm And Dream managed to beat Beautifull Effect for the second place. Always United finished fourth.

Montag (Highland Ruckus-Not Tobe Forgotten) wo the Bhagamandala Plate, the first race of the day. Racing a handy third as they showed up on the straight, Montag galloped well to grab the lead inside the last 300 metres and draw away by three lengths. Flirting King rallied on to finish second while the favourite Best Move came in late to take the third spot.

Flash Time (Mathematician-My Time) prevailed in a blanket finish involving five horses in the Aihole Plate, the concluding race of the day. The first five places were covered in three parts of a length. Blue Zone set out on a start to finish mission, racing close to the fence all the way. Flash Time fell back in the early part and was third last even as they came into the straight. Maneuvering his way though horses Flash Time hit the front with about 150 metres left from home but was beginning to veer out. Chisty continued to ride out Flash Time and the 4 year old gelding necked out Blue Zone at the wire. Star Mountain, Beyond Thankful and Sunspirit finished in that order in a cluster.

Dinesh Pujar trained Shubkamna (Itaquere Power-Bee Fearless) backed to the exclusion of the other runners in the lower division of the Shimmering Gold Plate made every post a winning one to shed its maiden ranks. Racing in front along the fence from the word ‘go’, Shubhkamna was joined by Vettel as they approached the last 600 metres. In the last 400 metres Shubhkamna quickened well to build up a good lead. Vettel finished on being second while Black Dragon improved late to take the third spot.   

J.Saravanan trained Robinhood Pandey (Mull of Kintyre-Lovely Fantasy) scored a stunning upset in the higher division. The favourite Teri Adah had taken charge after a duel with Smart Mistral as the came into the final 300 metres and was looking good when Robinhood Pandey came with big strides from out of the blue to flash past. Paris finished third.

The biggest upset of the day came through Vishal Yadav trained Oblique (Mr.Mellon-Born To Dance) in the Manipal Plate, paying a whopping Rs.484 for a tenner. Running a close fifth all the way till approaching the final bend, the 8 year old Oblique moved around the field in front to take charge and draw clear. Natural Nine, Spark of Blue and Artisan filled the judge’s frame in that order in a close finish with a ‘head’ and a ‘head’ separating them.