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COMMANDING HEIGHTS WINS ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL TROPHY

By Mirror Image | 12 Nov 2014 | MYSORE


Trainer C D Monnappa leading Commanding Heights (Vishwanath Up), winner of The Elusive Pimpernel Trophy

The Mysore Winter season 2014-15 that consists of fifteen race days commenced on Wednesday and will go on till the end of February 2015 with one race day every week. The opening day’s races went well for favourite hunters as four of them obliged in a card of seven races.

C.D.Monnappa trained Commanding Heights (Hymn-Bumper To Bumper / Jai Govind Stud) put his age behind while slamming the Elusive Pimpernel Trophy, the feature of the day. Capri who had won her first start in Mysore after shifting base from Western India was sent off as the favourite among the eleven runners at 14-10. Capri set off on a start to finish bid with Yakeen moving up to be a close second. The two began to fight it out on the straight with Yakeen having a slender edge. Commanding Heights racing along the rails all the way till the final bend was pulled out by A.Vishwanath on entering the straight and the 7 year old galloped strongly to beat Yakeen by half a length at the wire. Capri was third another half a length away.

P.C.Tejaswi trained Carisa (Home Affairs-Blues Clues / Country Stud) stormed home to lift the division I of the Sharavathi Plate. The Stewards had pulled up the rider of Carisa after the 4 year filly had ended up second to Supreme in her last start. Not being satisfied with his effort, the Stewards had suspended the jockey till the end of April 2015. The decision of the Stewards was vindicated when Carisa justified the short price in a convincing fashion. Clever Trick and Mother Ewa disputed the lead till the last 200 metres. Cash is King began to get stronger from the outside and Carisa who was company to the backmarkers till approaching the bend improved through the shortest way and burst ahead through horses inside the last 100 metres. Cash Is King finished second while Lad Lady with an impressive late surge ended up a close third. Pepper King filled the judge’s frame.

Ice Splendour (Black Cash-Eau De Vie / Equus Stud) who was favourably placed in weights among the ten runners in the lower division of the Sharavathi Plate was strongly supported to be the favourite at Evens. The S.Rakesh trained filly went on a start to finish mission and pulled it off successfully but not before a scare in the closing stages. With a furlong left Ice Splendour was travelling well with a lead of about two lengths over her nearest challenger. Jockey J.H.Christopher put down the stick and got down to just using his hands probably not to extend the filly. Young Kiran Rai on Hard To Pin Down sized the opportunity and drove his mount along the inner path and almost caused an upset but the winning post came to the rescue of Ice Splendour who held on by a neck. Albatross rallied on to finish third.

Vishal Yadav trained Lagoona (Mull of Kintyre-Zerbilla / Capricon Stud), a 8-1 shot pulled it off in the higher division of the Gadag Plate. Fancied runner Mahiki grabbed the lead as the horses turned for home and Lagoona who raced a close fourth all the way was asked for an effort from the extreme outside. Looking to be a shade ahead of Mahiki passing the distance post, Lagoona drew further despite drifting out of the straight path. Queens Colour edged out Country’s Nobility for the third place. The favourite Rising Little Star was kept too far behind to have any say on the straight and disappointed his supporters.   

Go Man Go (Danehill Star-Game On / Galloping Acres Stud) from Vikram Appachu’s stables did not disappoint its supporters in the lower division. Kir Royale and Jazzbythebay set out together in front with Go Man Go following them about two lengths behind in third position. On the final straight Kir Royale was ridden out to keep its lead and Go Man Go who moved up steadily sped past inside the last 100 metres to justify the favouritism. Dominica followed the winner in its shadow all the way up the straight to finish second. Kir Royale was third ahead of Jazzbythebay. There was a mishap in the race with jockeys of Beautiful Effect and Lincon Continental being dislodged near the 800 metres. Beautiful Effect stumbled and came down on the ground heavily and Lincon Continental travelling behind also came down. Jockey Melvyn Maseyk of Lincon Continental came back unhurt but Nassar Alam was shifted to the hospital with serious head injuries.

The season started off with public choice Triple Victory (Burden of Proof-Shenandoah / Kunigal Stud) making amends for its close loss in its last start. The Alchemist set the ball rolling with Triple Victory settled nicely along the fence close behind. As they turned for home Triple Victory got down to business and surged past the leader. Afternoon Delight improved from the wide outside and began to challenge strongly with a furlong left. The two were involved in a keen tussle till the winning post with Triple Victory pulling it off by a neck.

Natural Nine (Epicentre-Seranova / Track Supreme Stud) successfully pulled off a quiet touch for the connections in the B.R.Hills Plate, the concluding race of the day. The 4 year old set off on a start to finish mission and had a lead of over a length with a furlong left. Catwalk Queen started to get closer with its jockey in full flow but jockey Irvan Singh on Natural Nine kept riding out to wrap it up by a neck. Chandini and Nuala finished third and fourth reapectively. Time To Time was withdrawn after being troublesome at the gates.