Dinesh Pujar trained Nuala (Brave Act-Royal Assault / AA Stud) sprang a surprise in the Amba Vilas Palace Trophy, the main event ofMonday’s races at Mysore. The 6 year old bay gelding was neglected in the betting, sent off at 8-1, although he had won in lower class about four weeks ago. Teri Adah showed plenty of speed to rush to the lead as the field was despatched and brought the field home with a lead of over two lengths. Nuala all the while raced in fourth. Jockey G Sai Vamshi got busy on Nuala right from the top of the straight and the gelding produced a smart gallop to collar Teri Adah and forge ahead by 2 ½ lengths. Delilah and Born For Beauty finished third and fourth respectively.

5 year old Cinch (Burden of Proof-Polenta / Kunigal Stud) from trainer P.C Tejaswi’s stables who is in her best form this season, won the higher division of the Kokkare Belluru Plate in a close finish. Last outing winner Lads Ability charged ahead to take up the running on entering the straight and Cinch saved ground from the inside and was up with a challenge quickly. The two were travelling stride for stride and Castle King also began to close up. Cinch travelled the best to be a neck in front at the wire while Castle King edged out Lads Ability on the post to take the runner-up berth.

Mumbai import Dyna (Mr.Mellon-Banaadir / Ruia Stud) who had won her first start on this track in taking style, made light of the penalty to win by a bigger margin in the higher class, the second division of the Kokkare Belluru Plate. Sent off as the favourite at 6-4 Dyna settled nicely in third coming out from the outermost draw while Aanchal Beauty led briefly before headed past by Royal Shaan. Into the straight Royal Shaan came in first but was no match when Dyna began to move up. The 5 year old moved with utmost ease to take over the running and started to drift out of the straight course but was quickly corrected by jockey V R Jagadeesh who changed his whip hand. While the winner went clear by six lengths, Aanchal Beauty moved closer to finish third behind Royal Shaan by half a length.

Trainer C Girinath who was on a ‘duck’ this season made up for it by saddling a treble through Grace And Glory, Naval Glory and Caterina. The first two had moved into his yard recently after both of them went down as ‘hot favourites’ in their previous start in contentious circumstances. The jockey in question on both the instances was the same and an enquiry into the running and riding of the races is still on.

Grace And Glory (Kingda Ka-Beyonce / Nanoli Stud) scored her maiden win in the lower division of the Nadir Plate with jockey Nitin Singh giving a confident ride. The 4 year old filly was backed down to favouritism among the dozen runners with her followers reposing their faith on her despite the earlier loss. After a good start, Grace And Glory was locked up for a clear passage with the front runners crowding up and had to be pulled back within the first furlong. Settling to run in about sixth but keeping out of trouble from the outside, Grace And Strength began to improve gradually and rallied strongly when she was alighted to the task by Nitin Singh on entering the straight. Grace And Strength grabbed the lead from Sazae San and Felix Legion with 300 metres left from home and stretched out well to spare over four lengths at the finish. Felix Legion, held on to the second place from Come on Gingin while London Eye.

Another Mumbai import, Naval Glory (Champs Elysees-Wooden Doll / Nanoli Stud) displayed its capabilities by winning the higher division of the Nadir Plate. Born For Success was the first to take the initiative on the home stretch and was going for it when Naval Glory started to gallop with big strides from the outside. It took a while for jockey S Mubarak to get Naval Glory to get into rhythm but once he did the gelding came out majestically to wrap it up. Fantasy Living and Catchy Charger finished third and fourth respectively.

Perfectionist (Ace-Pride / Villoo’s Greenfield Stud) scored an easy win in the Sindhu Plate, the opener of the day. Backed down as the favourite among the field that was reduced to eleven following the withdrawal of Color Proof, Perfectionist tracked the leader Western Fleet from the outside till turning for home and surged ahead to take charge. Invincible Wish came up with a challenge inside the last 400 metres but Perfectionist quickened readily under M Madhu Babu and skipped away by over five lengths. Country’s Charm rallied on to take the second place in front of Invincible Wish and Your Honour Unfair.

Vikram Appachu trained Go Man Go (Danehill Star-Game On / Galloping Acres Stud) wrapped up the division I of the Bannur Plate in a nail biting finish with Bucethalis. Flying Tricolour after disputing the lead with Fast Legs till rounding for home surged ahead. Dark William started to get closer passing the 200 metres board and it looked to be a fight between the two. Bucethalis and Go Man Go picked up momentum simultaneously and came flying down to flash past the winning post locked together. The magic eye gave the verdict in favour of Go Man Go by a short-head. Dark William was third ahead of Flying Tricolour.     

Trainer Ranjeet Shinde scored his first win of the season with Clever Trick (Gaswar-First Trick / Galloping Acres Stud) in the lower division with the rider Nitin Singh picking up his double . The 6 year old which had not won a race for a year and a half was backed with conviction. Jockey Nitin Singh took Clever Trick to the front quickly as they were despatched and held that advantage as they showed up on the straight. Ice Brown tried to move up with a challenge but Clever Trick started to draw away from the field and was almost a distance ahead in a smart timing, going past the winning post despite the fact she broke her blood vessel. Ice Brown, Happiness and Guapo finished second, third and fourth respectively.         

Caterina (Senure-Femme Fatale / Manjri Stud) was a transformed runner in the Serengeti Plate. The 7 year old changed her tactics and shot to the lead early. Heading the pack all the way Caterina came in first on the straight. Indian Hero along with Ayman began to challenge with a furlong left but Caterina kept kicking on despite drifting out. Ayman finished second ahead of Indian Hero. The well backed Subadra could only manage to finish fourth.