One of India's leading saddle artists, jockey Malesh Narredu rode at his "vintage" best while successfully guiding the fortunes of Sprint Star in The Maharaja's Gold Cup at Mysore on Wednesday. In what was confirmed as his last ride on the local track, he showed that his decision to retire as a jockey did not stem from any lack of form, fitness or ability. This performance could easily be compared to his best in the last couple of decades. There was ample proof of judgement of pace, steady balance and a powerhouse finish that he has been known to possess all these years.

Malesh has decided to hang up his boots at the end of the ongoing Pune Season, and take a trainer's licence in Western India. Today's visit to Mysore and the happenings on the track seemed to be pre-ordained. His elder brother Satish Narredu invited him to come and partner Sprint Star in The Maharaja's Cup. The winner of last year's Mysore 2000 Guineas was going to start as a raging hot favourite in this race.

Knowing that this would be a great opportunity to score astride a popular winner at one of his favourite race tracks, and bid goodbye to his numerous fans by riding one last time, Malesh accepted the offer. What happened on Wednesday has now become a part of history, and it was an ecstatic Malesh who spoke to Indiarace after the race. He said, "Mysore has been one of my favourite race tracks. I have fond memories of the three Mysore Derby triumphs astride Obligado, Allies Serenade and Abs Fabs. If you add the five 1000 Guineas victories and a lone 2000 Guineas success with Sprint Star last year, you will understand my delight today. The sporting and knowledgeable crowds at this centre have always showered me with accolades and affection. I was humbled by their applause today. I have decided to take a trainer's licence in the next couple of months, and I hope that one day in the not so distant future, I shall be able to saddle a talented juvenile in a Classic at Mysore.

" The day's feature had attracted a fairly large field of eleven runners. Sprint Star (Ontario – Royal Retreat) was saddled with 60 kilos and was seen conceding weight to his rivals. On the basis of sheer ratings and the comparable terms of this event, Tomsk and Magnanimity shaped as his closest rivals. It was felt that the recent trip made by Sprint Star to Hyderabad would take its toll. He was set to run within a week of that race, and the hectic travel schedule could have sapped his energies.

However, the political climate in the country came to his rescue. The race got postponed by five days, and the public choice got time to recover. He looked fit in the paddock and started as a clear favourite ahead of Tomsk and Incredible. The last named was taking a huge step forward, as she was appearing in a top-class terms event without winning in Class I. Magnanimity set a strong pace and led from Spark Of Reverence, Secret Pilgrim, Blink and Incredible. Malesh had a tough time settling Sprint Star in mid-group, as the horse was trying his best to pull at the reins.

To the relief of his supporters, the pair of them soon found their rhythm and the brilliant horse decided to relax. Tomsk and Corbett graced the wrong end of the field as the runners made their way towards the final bend. Magnanimity succeeded in shaking off his closest pursuers, but had no answers to the smooth acceleration shown by Sprint Star. The chestnut galloped on the wide outside and sailed past a bunch of helpless spectators. With the horse and jockey in full motion, the result was soon a foregone conclusion.

Malesh had given him a superb ride by keeping him on a even keel throughout the race. It was left to Tomsk to power his way from the back and finish a respectable second behind the winner. Magnanimity and Blink hung on to retain their minor placings on the result board. The rest of the day belonged to jockey S John. By riding four winners during the afternoon, the young man tightened his grip on the jockeys championship. He rode a couple of popular winners for veteran trainer Rashid Byramji.

One Life To Love and Unleashed looked outstanding on paper, and performed accordingly on the track. Both of them came from way off the pace, and won on tight reins. One Life To Love (Inner City – Just Amazing) was lucky to be retained in Class IV by the handicapper. A winner of one race, the filly was opposed by a couple of maiden juveniles. Even though she was conceding chunks of weight to Vernostonus and Seven Heaven, she was expected to have their measure. Seven Heaven spurted clear into the final furlong, but was easily caught and passed by the favourite. John was content to ride her hands and heels, and the filly was comfortable with these tactics. One Life To Love was actually let down in the final stages to canter away from Seven Heaven and Vernostonus.

Unleashed (Warrshan – Santarelle) had exemplary credentials, as he had finished close behind String Along in his only start during Bangalore Summer. String Along's success in the Mysore 1000 Guineas had franked that performance. John was content to allow Unleashed to grace the rear as the heads turned for home. With the front-runners A Move To Remember, Sweet Caroline and Moves Goodenough shooting their bolt near the bend, racegoers were delighted to see Unleashed's brilliant acceleration.

He emerged from the pack and drew away from Citrali and One For The Money. Unleashed, who has been raced sparingly, is definitely a wonderful specimen, and must be supported strongly till he reaches the highest class. This victory enables Byramji to complete a treble, as he had won a class II sprint earlier in the card with Colonel Duff.

Jockey Pradeep rode a powerhouse finish on this last outing winner, and brought him with a flourish towards the centre of the track to go past Classical Dancer and Stone Of Destiny. Britto's Valid Expectation raced prominently till the bend before suffering a heart attack and collapsing on the track. John's other two winners were Mister Trooper and Spark Of Harmony. The former picked up the day's opener by accounting for a bunch of ordinary horses in the lowest group. Mister Trooper (Storm Trooper – Cinnamon Fern) had signalled his readiness to strike by running a good second in his previous start.

The trainer's decision to pick up an easier age group race in the lower class, turned out to be perfect. The seven year-old made light of his heavy impost and beat Chesterford Touch with a measure of comfort. The others were clearly outclassed in this race. Here too, the young man had an armchair ride to victory. However, he had to pull out all stops while enabling Spark Of Harmony (Emerald Cat – Food Corp) to keep her nose in front of Crown Empress. The latter was an on-money favourite to win today.

Both the fillies were known for their speed, and the weight advantage definitely favoured Crown Empress. The Razeen filly stood out on paddock looks and was supported by all and sundry. John pushed Spark Of Harmony into an early advantage and raced on the rails for most of the way. Ryan Marshall had no other choice but to travel on the outside. The two of them began to move ahead of the others and fought out a grim battle for the entire length of the Mysore straight. Even though Crown Empress held a narrow advantage into the final furlong, John refused to give up.

He kept urging Spark Of Harmony till the very end and won the race on the last stride. In a bobbing of heads, the official verdict was only a "nose". John's powerful riding proved decisive in this race. Another runner who was finally rewarded for his consistency was Babu Rao's Flying Tricolour (Hurricane State – Green Paradise). This speedy colt had lost many a race by tearing away to the front and getting beaten in the final furlong. Jockey Pradeep changed the tactics today. He allowed Flying Tricolour to race behind Smart Ways, Real Magic and Game Dancer till the final furlong before releasing his brakes.

Flying Tricolour was produced on the centre of the track and asked to accelerate. He responded gamely and beat Real Magic with a fair amount of ease. Fancied Smart Ways led till the straight before dramatically shortening his strides. The gelding dropped through the pack and finished many lengths behind the winner. Trainer Bipin Salvi's stable landed a wonderful gamble with Game Face (Brave Hunter – Frisky Royale).

The four year-old had been plagued with niggling problems and had been withdrawn on a couple of occasions. The filly had never touched the board and it was difficult to assess her actual abilities. The astute trainer apparently knew that she was too good for this set. The connections backed her down from 8/1 to first favouritism. In the hands of Mahendran, she tore away to the front, and stayed there.

The jockey looked back repeatedly in the straight before bringing her to an actual canter. Game Face can be backed with confidence as she is expected to score again. Black Super Star came with a long stretch run to finish second. He is another one that can win for the asking. The most impressive winner in the day's card was Sharat Kumar's Ice Mint (Placerville – Shalaya). He had won his maiden start earlier in the season and was trying to repeat on promotion. He made light of the fairly big penalty that he had received for his earlier triumph. PS Chouhan allowed him to canter along in mid-group as the runners traversed the first half of this mile race.

He alerted him at the top of the straight, and brought him on the wide outside. A couple of taps of the whalebone saw him skipping away from Time For All and early leader Star Presence. The ease with which he won today definitely augurs well for the future. Ice Mint was an expensive purchase as a two year-old, and was discarded after a number of lacklustre performances. Sharat Kumar has done well to get him into good shape.

PS Chouhan completed a quick double by guiding Pradeep Annaiah's Spark Of Isis (Juniper – Adam’s Delight) to a pillar-to-post victory in the last race of the day. The opposition lost all hopes when they saw this mare skipping away from them, and charging towards the winning post. With so many public choices winning in the 11-event card, the racegoers were a happy lot at the end of the day.