The followers of money had to run for cover at Mysore on Wednesday as fancied runners were at the receiving end. Only two favourites – Precious Replica and Gran Turismo- obliged in a card of eight races resulting in the combined jackpot pool being unsolved. The second named put off many supporters as the price started to drift upwards during race time. The performance of the day was an encore by Best Move.

Dinesh Pujar trained Spaniard (Mathematician-Fort Collins) pulled off a stunning upset in the H.R.C.Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, which featured the day’s card. The favourite Sofast lost out by half a length despite jockey Y.S.Srinath trying his best from a saddle that had loosened and shifted backwards. After a good jump out from the gates Sofast was blocked of a clear run by crowding of the horses and lost a prominent position. Spark of Beauty and Crrisp led the field with Spaniard following the duo two lengths behind while Sofast had fallen back to seventh or eighth. As they entered the final straight Spaniard rallied around the leaders and surged ahead to the lead. Sofast found Spaniard drifting out from the straight course and shifted towards the inner ground by failed to get the better. Crrisp finished third ahead of Bold Police.

The two divisions of the Harangi Dam Plate, five and a half furlongs scurry for maiden three year olds, were won by prodigies of Oath, both being rank outsiders. While the first division was won by C.D.Monnappa’s Always United (Oath-One Way) with returns of nearly 23-1, S.Rakesh schooled Divine Love (Oath-Royal Haven) paid a whopping Rs.2275 on a tenner in the second division.

The piping hot favourite Ayahuasca started off on a start to finish bid but was a spent force as they neared the last 150 metres. Always United took charge quickly and carried on well till the finish. Catchy Charger beat the tiring Ayahuasca for the second place.

It was again a case of failed tactics of the favourite Country’s Beauty in the second division. The youngster was on a pillar to post bid but started to show distress signals nearing the distance post. Kallistrate and Divine Love gathered momentum and rushed to challenge with The Back Bencher also joining them towards the closing stages with a late surge. Divine Love the widest of the three necked out Kallistrate at the finish with The Back Bencher ending up third in the same frame. The rider of The Back Bencher objected against both the winner and runner-up for interference and the Stewards after a review of the race upheld the one against Kallistrate. The Back Bencher moved up to be second ahead of Kallistrate in the revised order of placing

Trainer G.Srinivas Babu who was licenced in the beginning of the season led in his second winner with his ward Best Move (Greensmith-Pretty Move) scoring an encore in the Takshashila Plate. While its rider had to be reprimanded for ‘extravagant’ use of the whip in the first win, apprentice Ajeet Kumar handled the 6 year old in a mature way. Haute Ecole and Perfect Speed headed to the front early to dispute the lead and Best Move settled well in third. Into the last 2 furlongs Haute Ecole went clear by about two lengths. Best Move bridged that gap effortlessly and sped past to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Miss International finished second place in front of Haute Ecole. Historica played up violently inside the gates and was withdrawn after bolting.

Vishal Yadav trained Defining Moment (Gaswar-Bluegrass Gal) whose only win from eighteen starts was nearly two years ago came good under Keanen G Steyn to lift the Aristocrat Plate. Brillante set off to lead the field over the mile trip right from the start. Mother Ewa, Defining Moment, Always On Top, Supreme, All For Cash, Chronicle and Ice Splendour followed the leader in that order as the headed past the half-way stage. As they entered the home stretch Defining Moment was pulled out to challenge Brillante and with the rider timing his final assault to a nicety, got the 5 year old to stick its neck in front at the all-important end. Always on Top and Mother Ewa filled the frame while the favourite Supreme finished fifth without raising any hope throughout the race.

Precious Replica (Kingda Ka-Licata) from the stables of T.Natraj which had missed out narrowly in its previous outing won the lower division of the Somwarpet Plate in a decisive manner under jockey Y.S.Srinath. Out of draw 11 from as many runners, Precious Replica did not show unwarranted urgency and settled well in mid-field and had moved up gradually to be fourth at the final bend. Class Above had taken charge nearing the last pole and Precious Replica got up well from around the front runners to take charge in the last 150 metres. Pepper King and The Alchemist both ran on with intent towards the closing stages to finish second and third respectively.

Mumbai import Gran Turismo (Glory of Dancer-Octagleam) which had joined trainer Zareer Darashah’s yard as a maiden, trounced the opposition in the higher division. Gran Turismo started off as a firm favourite at ‘evens’ and the price eased up although he continued to be the first favourite. Racing towards the rear in the initial stages, Gran Turismo improved gradually and once they came into the straight, moved effortlessly to head past Society Music and lengthen the margin with minimum effort by P.S.Chouhan on the saddle. Society Music stayed on in second while Grand Success and Ayman filled the frame.

Ranjeet Shinde trained Its My Party (Mischevious Music-Shift Over) put up a winning performance in the opener of the day, the Ranibennur Plate. Racing in the front with Shining Fame, Montag and Archer close behind as they rounded the final bend; Its My Party broke away with 300 metres left from home, to win by seven lengths. Samajdaar, Lake of Magic and Brigade’s Paradise finished second, third and fourth respectively.