Micheal Eshwer trained Sofast Phoenix Tower-Shiseido / Manjri Stud) stole the show in the C.P.Chinnappa Memorial Trophy, the main event of Wednesday’s nine races card at Mysore. South African jockey Keanen G Steyn who is back in India this winter to ride for the ‘Manjri’ silks put up a fine display of jockeyship while pulling off a double. The other winner of Steyn was Bandito in the concluding race of the day.

Precious Replica who was disqualified after winning a race last time out found the popular support in her favour, being installed as the favourite for the seven furlongs trip. The only concern probably was the overweight of two kilograms that the filly had to carry with jockey R.Vaibhav who had replaced J.H.Christopher, not able to do the declared weight. Sofast was quoted liberally at 7-1. Sofast was held back towards the rear, travelling second last till the last 500 metres. As they turned for home Precious Replica came up with a strong run to grab the lead. Sofast tried to force her way through the field but finding the gaps closing up Steyn pulled her out quickly to make a bid from the wide outside. Rising Rani in the meanwhile weaved through a packed field and shot through to head past Precious Replica with 100 metres left. Keanen Steyn rode out Sofast from the extreme outside and the filly responded with a flourish to down Rising Rani by a length. Precious Replica finished third three lengths away.

M.Bobby trained Visionist (Warrshan-Star Profile / Ruia Stud) did not find any difficulty in scoring an encore an in the Wynad Plate, a 1200 metres sprint for horses rated 80 and above. The bay gelding ridden by Mohammed Shoaib was the universal choice to be the favourite after Beyond Thankful was withdrawn on veterinary in the morning. Racing in third about four lengths behind the leaders Class Is Class and Royal Shaan, Visionist forged to the front with ease inside the last furlong. Royal Shaan finished second with Class Is Class taking the third spot.

Jockey V.R.Jagadeesh was the most successful among his tribe, booting home a treble. Siddhani, a chance ride was the first one followed by Country’s Beauty and Spiritual Blue.

The new crop of 2 year olds came on to the race track for the time in their career in the Nanjangud Plate. Siddhani (West Virginia-Royal Guest / Nakul Stud) from S. Rakesh’s stables sent off as the second in demand at 2-1 took a good start and led all the way to finally stave off the challenge of the favourite Red Magnum. Siddhani who was going well inside the last 200 metres was joined by Red Magnum and the two broke away from the rest. The rider of Red Magnum went for the stick to get closer but jockey V.R.Jagadeesh on Siddhani nursed the filly well till the winning post. Silent Trust was a faraway third.

Chestnut filly Country’s Beauty (Roi Maudit-Jazz Dancer / Country Stud) from trainer Feroz M Khan’s yard who had scored her maiden win exactly two months ago returned to win the lower division of the Big Deal Plate in almost similar fashion. Country’s Beauty moved swiftly to get to the front and made every post a winning one. The filly was well clear on the home stretch and extended the lead effortlessly. With no worthy challenge emerging from behind, jockey V.R.Jagadeesh eased her up in the closing stages. Abbas Dreams beat the rest to be second ahead of Jolie who improved from the wide outside. Ice Brown filled the judge’s frame.

The third win for V.R.Jagadeesh came through C.V.G.K.Kishore trained Spiritual Blue (Sedgefield-Spiritual Hymn / Jai Govind Stud) in the Great Cherisma Plate. Spiritual Blue raced a handy fourth till approaching the last 600 metres and making quick headway shot into the lead on top of the straight. Nanuk was in chase throughout the last 300 metres with As Always also making an attempt from the outside but jockey V.R.Jagadeesh had Spiritual Blue going well till the winning post. Nanuk and As Always finished second and third respectively, with First Light taking the fourth spot.

Trainer C.V.G.K.Kishore had earlier in the day led in Rocketeer (Senure-Aquila Oculus / Manjri Stud) in the Kakanakote Plate to be the only trainer to score a double. Jockey R.Vaibhav who had replaced Christopher on Rocketeer kept the gelding a handy fifth till the top of the straight and covering ground from around the foursome grabbed the lead in a hurry with 400 metres left and won impressively. Flirting King and Little Athena were left fighting for the minor places and headed past the winning post in that order.

Zareer Darashah’s Bandito (Phoenix Tower-Athymia / Manjri Stud) pulled off a stunning win with jockey Keanen Steyn riding a superb race in the higher division of the Big Deal Plate, the last race of the day. After a sluggish start losing over three lengths, Bandito stayed close to the fence and moved up to be with the field. Inside the last 400 metres Bandito was again blocked of a clear run along the rails and Steyn pulled him out to make a bid. In the meanwhile Bournbon Street had grabbed the lead but that was short lived as Galaxy Queen galloped strongly from the outside to take charge. Just when it looked like Galaxy Queen would pull it off Steyn steered Bandito again towards the inner path and with a scintillating gallop snatched the victory in the shadow of the winning post. Bourbon Street and Kentucky Rose filled the judge’s frame in that order. 

G.Srinivas Babu trained Jump In The Red (Opportunist-Malaga Cove / Country Stud) received strong support nearing race time and the filly did not disappoint in the opener, the lower division of the Manasagangotri Plate. Jump In The Red took a good start and rushed to hit the front. As they showed up on the straight Jump In The Red had a sizable lead of over three lengths and the filly maintained that till the last 100 metres and then looked to be tiring out. Rosie’s Dream who had taken a sluggish start and improved gradually around the field all the way began to raise a fast gallop inside the last furlong. Rosies Dream covered plenty of ground and charged towards leader but the winning post came to the rescue of Jump In The Red who managed to win it by a neck. Stone Warrior, the slowest at the gates came in late to finish third.

P.C.Tejaswi trained Neron (Ikhtyar-Social Place / Nanoli Stud) who had no recent form to go by pulled it off in the higher division of the Manasagangotri Plate. Sunline set off in front with Neron settling well in second. Inside the last 400 metres Neron headed to the front and kicked on gamely. Tandav started to bridge the gap late to end up second by a neck. Caterina took the third spot in front of Stride To Success.