Sharath Kumar trained Emperor Cruise (Top Class-Star Divine / Mukteshwar Stud) won the Nergis Darashah Memorial Trophy, the feature event of Friday’s races at Mysore. The 3 year old gelding who had impressed while winning the Juvenile Sprinters’ Million at Bangalore in a blanket finish had failed to show his true colours in its subsequent runs. Youngest among the dozen runners for the sprint, Emperor Cruise almost shared the favouritism with Ice Cutter.

As the field took the start Emperor Cruise was eager to get to the fence and in the process caused severe interference to Ice Cutter who had jumped off from the adjoining gate. Sweet Secret cut the wind in front with Spark of Beauty in second and Emperor Cruise racing a close third followed by the rest. Approaching the distance post Emperor Cruise caught up with the leader quickly and proved to be a class apart while stretching out to extend the margin to 6 ¾ lengths at the finish. Amazing Desire just beat Sweet Secret for the runner-up berth.

Wind And Flight (Mr Mellon-Go Go Go / Equs Stud) trounced the opposition in the Justice P.Medappa Memorial Trophy. Hitting the front right from the start, Wind And Flight travelled easily in front and extended the lead to six lengths on the home stretch with jockey Y.S.Srinath holding the bag gelding on tight reins. Fioritta was second all the way up the final straight while Thejaguar came from the wide outside to finish in the money.  Starstruck was a non-starter in the race.

 Trainer P.C.Tejaswi had a successful day, saddling a treble through Albatross, Young Gallant and Guapo. All three of them were well backed favourites with big money flowing in towards race time. Albatross (Royal Gladiator-So Ravishing / Pratap Stud) scored its maiden win in the Chamundi Hills Trophy. Sancy tried start-to-finish tactics over the 1200 metres sprint. Albatross started to get stronger from the outside and with jockey V.R.Jagadeesh riding out, forged ahead and went clear to win by 1 ¾ lengths. Sancy who finished second reportedly burst its blood vessel. Kallistrate and So Famous finished third and fourth respectively.   

Guapo (Senure-Athymia / Manjri Stud) carried the public purse to a resolute win in the Nandi Plate. Time to Time set the pace with Guapo tracking him close behind along the inner rails. Inside the last 250 metres Guapo moved alongside from the outside and surged forward without any fuss. Queens Colour finished second half a length in front of New Sunrise while Time to Time took the third spot.

Young Gallant (Tejano-Aldiora / Sans Craintes Stud) won the higher division of the Esquire Plate. The 4 year old chestnut gelding tracked the leader Smart Mistral till the last 250 metres and surged ahead to take charge. Brown Panther began to gallop with a flourish from behind, covering ground at a rapid pace but failed to catch Young Gallant who was safely home by a ‘neck’. Smart Mistral finished third three parts of a length away while the well supported Amazon Bay filled the frame with a late bid.   

Jockey P.Kiran Rai who rode Guapo and Young Gallant had earlier in the day piloted Vikram Appachu trained Beautiful Life (Flitch-Life is Beautiful / Galloping Acres Stud) to victoryin the Lakshadweep Plate. Memorable Moment led the field till the last 300 metres with Caterina in close attendance. The favourable Musical Treasure was being ridden out from the outside. Beautiful Life in the meanwhile slipped in along the shortest way and with a strong gallop headed past the front runners inside the last 50 metres. Musical Treasure rallied on to be second in front of Honourable Empress.

Micheal Eshwer trained Glorious Light (Arabian Gulf-Strassbourg / Manjri Stud won the higher division of the Nandi Plate in a decisive manner. After a good jump from the gates Glorious Light settled well in fourth along the inner fence while Delta Delight and Charming Night disputed the lead with Black Dragon in third. With about 300 metres left from home jockey Y.S.Srinath brought Glorious Light from around the horses in front and drew away to extend the winning margin to four lengths. Delta Delight, Charming Night and Pamushana filled the judge’s frame in that order.

Sharath Kumar trained Smilestone (Juniper-Alam Jehan / Track Supreme Stud) winless from fourteen starts, picked up its maiden win in the first race of the day, the lower division of the Esquire Plate. Racing a handy second behind Beautiful Fin till entering the straight Smile Stone surged forward and kicked on well from first timer Arthurian. Go Man Go finished third in front of Viva Diva.