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Glorious Light impressive in Grey Gaston Cup

By Mirror Image | 26 May 2015 | MYSORE


Trainer Pratap Kamath M leading Esoterical (Sahanawaz Up), winner of The Melukote Stakes

The start of the Mysore Summer Races which had to be put off by a week following inclement weather kicked off with an extra race day filled with a card of eight events run on firm ground on Tuesday. Trainer S. Rakesh had a dream start to the season with a treble, all of them partnered by M.Madhu Babu. The only other professional to score more than once was trainer M.Pratap Kamath who ended the day with a brace including a shocker in Esoterical.

Manjri Stud bred Glorious Light (Arabian Gulf-Strasbourg) sported the home colours to a classy win in the Grey Gaston Cup, the main event of the day’s card. The filly who was backed to the exclusion of the others among the dozen runners was declared to start from the outermost draw. After a smart jump out jockey Keanen G Steyn brought her quickly towards the inner fence without hindering the field and in no time had settled to be third behind the pair of Catharsis and Divine Friendship. On top of the straight the rider just gave a couple of taps and Glorious Light raced away comfortably without being extended. The one to impress here was the runner-up Spiritual Blue who came from last position to finish a length behind the winner. Spiritual Blue was last on top of the straight and had to be checked on a couple of occasions while getting hemmed up in traffic. The gelding still managed to extricate from the mess and from the wide outside swept past all to finish second. Gran Turismo who looked good for the second place with a furlong left had to settle for the third place.

G.Srinivas Babu trained Flash Drive (Sedgefield-Fabulous Fiorella / Jai Govind Stud) was another impressive winner of the day in the Bombay Plate. The 5 year old who was racing on this track for the first time after shifting from Western India won with a measure of comfort. Flash Drive was always prominent behind the leader Skyjet till rounding for home. On entering the straight it was Monnappa’s Murcilago which made the first move and surged clear. It looked like he had this race well under his belt but the burst of speed was short lived and Flash Drive assumed command and had the rest gasping for breath. The mile trip doesn’t seem to be within the compass for Murcilago and it would be prudent to follow him over shorter trips where he has already proved his worth. Rocketeer beat the early leader Skyjet for the third place. 

Trainer S. Rakesh and jockey M.Madhu Babu’s treble came through Silent Trust, Ice Sprint and Mother Ewa. They started with Silent Trust (Varenar-Semper Eadem / Equus Stud) shedding her maiden ranks in the Kushalnagar Stakes, the opener of the day. Taking a good jump from the innermost draw Silent Trust hit the front quickly and was closely chased by Roi Junior and Diamond Attraction. Straightening up for home Silent Trust was still in the lead with Diamond Attraction making a bid from the centre. Stepping up the pace Silent Trust increased the lead to 7 ½ lengths at the finish. Silver Prince beat the weakening Diamond Attraction for the second place while Midnight Breeze ended up fourth.

The second win came through Ice Sprint (Warrshan-Secret Miracle / Ruia Stud) in the lower division of the Bandipur Plate. Ice Sprint tracked the leader Final Countdown all the way from the word ‘go’ till coming into the final furlong. The 6 year old responded readily when asked for an effort by Madhu Babu and surged ahead to beat Final Countdown by a length and a quarter. The favourite Starsonboard fought hard to finish third.

Mother Ewa (Juniper-Wine N Song / Capricon Stud) won the higher division at nourishing odds. The favourite Dark William set off to lead the pack and Mother Ewa did not loose time to get on its haunches. Inside the last 400 metres Mother Ewa sailed past Dark William and kept up the momentum till the finish even as Secret Touch started to close the gap inside the last 100 metres. Dark William finished third while Bucethalis filled the judge’s frame.

Dinesh Pujar trained Fellowship (Rebuttal-Royal Western / Blood Horse Stud) who had not made it to the board even once in its seven starts was backed with conviction by the connections in the Red Satin Stakes. The punters who follow the money also reposed their faith on Imran Chisty and made a bee-line to place their bets. The well backed Fellowship was smart at the gates to get to the front and enjoyed a three lengths lead all the way into the home stretch. Inside the last 300 metres Fellowship continued to dictate despite bursting its blood vessel even as Fantasy Living made a vain bid. Windsor Park and Subhiksha filled the frame.    

Trainer M.Pratap Kamath who assumed duties after a ‘forced’ holiday scored a brace through Esoterical and Azure Fire. The latter was well supported to be the favourite at 9-4 in the Beloved Prince Stakes, the concluding race of the day while Esoterical seemed to have slipped out of the bag, paying Rs.259 on a tenner for win, a race earlier. Azure Fire (Tejano-Crown Secret /Kunigal Stud) settled nicely to track the customary leader Flying Tricolour. This time Flying Tricolour kicked on for a longer than he usually does and jockey Sandeep Rajput had to put some effort on Azure Fire to surge past and win by a neck close to the winning post. Lake Emerald and Markus Sittikus filled the frame in that order. Dreamliner was withdrawn in the morning on veterinary grounds.

Esoterical (Ajaad-Carra Mia / KUnigal Stud) won the Melukote Stakes. Campeon fought its way early to get to the front and led all the way into the home stretch. Tusker and Grand Celebration raced close behind even as Esoterical was towards the rear in seventh position on top of the straight. Campeon started to veer out of the straight course in the last 400 metres and continued to drift out with the rider continuing to use the stick from the right and not taking corrective measures. This drift began to disrupt the progress of both Tusker and Grand Celebration. Esoterical in the meanwhile began to raise a big gallop from behind and swept past the front runners to win it by three parts of a length. Campeon originally finished second and Grand Celebration fought her way to be third. The rider of Grand Celebration took an objection against that of Campeon and also the rider of the winner for interference. The objection against Campeon was upheld by the stewards and in the revised order of placings Grand Celebration was placed second after relegating Campeon to the third position. Wilderness who went to the starting gates as the favourite was withdrawn after being troublesome there.