G Srinivas Babu trained Ace Force (Ace-Caractere / Poonawalla Stud) scored a resolute victory in the M.Govindappa Memorial Trophy that featured the day’s long card of nine races at Mysore. This is the second win for Ace Force after shifting base from Western India in May last. The 7 year old was backed with conviction to be the favourite among the dozen runners for the 1200 metres sprint. Dark William was the smartest out of the gates but was soon headed by Dare The Don. Ace Force settled well in third followed by the rest. Dare The Don held on to the lead till passing the distance marker but Ace Force came up with a strong gallop in the centre of the turf with Nitin Singh riding out and surged ahead to win comfortably. Clever Trick rallied in late to finish second ahead of Dark William. The long time leader Dare The Don ended up fourth.

On a day dominated by outsiders, M.Bobby’s Run To Win (Admiralofthefleet-Royal Deeds / Kunigal Stud) was the only other favourite to oblige. Racing in about fifth or sixth till turning for home Run To Win started to move up from the wide outside and began to drift further on the straight. The leader Diamond Attraction also started to veer out on the straight and took Run To Win still further out. The gelding kept galloping from the wide outside and forged ahead to be a length in front at the finish. In what could be called a ‘handicapper’s delight’ there was a rush by over half a dozen runners approaching the winning post. Diamond Attraction held on to the second place from As Good As Gold and Silver Oak.

There was a quite ‘touch’ on M.Bobby’s Extra Spark in the lower division of the Formal Invitation Plate. The top weight came into the reckoning in the betting towards race time. Racing in about sixth initially Extra Spark started to move up from the outside as they rounded the final turn. On the straight with about 350 metres left Extra Spark had grabbed the lead from the outside and drew clear. Country’s Fortune rallied on in second while the favourite Happy Victory could only manage a third place.  

Western Fleet (C P West-Fleeting Moment / Galloping Acres Stud) from Michael Eshwer’s stables made it successfully in the higher division. The bay gelding, a maiden going into the race tracked High Rising till approaching the final bend and surged ahead before straightening up. Al Dorado was in chase all through the last 300 metres but failed to collar the ultimate winner and finished a length behind in second. All For Cash was third and Regal Soldier fourth.

Trainer G.Srinivas Babu and jockey Nitin Singh had started the day with Triple Crown (Top Class-Bold Babe / Mukteshwar Stud) in the Mysore Zoo Plate, the opener of the day. Triple Crown scored its second straight win from as many starts in a close finish. The bay colt was smartly out of the gates but Country’s Princess showed plenty of speed to stretch into the lead. The two travelled that way and broke away from the rest on the home stretch. Triple Crown was alighted to the task by Nitin Singh and the youngster inching closer with every stride managed to peg down Country’s Princess inside the last few strides. The Wolf and Script Writer closed in late to finish third and fourth respectively.

Feroz Khan trained Sans Frontieres Burden Of Proof-Sans Eagle / Kunigal Stud) who had not won for over two years sprang a surprise in the Vijayawada Plate. Sans Frontierses rushed to the front as the gates opened and led all the way till the winning post. Robinhood Pandey beat the rest to finish second while the favourite Concentration ended up fourth.  

K.Somashekar trained Break On Thru (Captain Rio-Mrs Gillow / Broadacres Stud) carried the top weight of 62 kilograms to a start to finish win in the Ajantha Plate. The favourite Counter Point and Alloy were withdrawn on veterinary grounds near the gates and the field was reduced to nine runners. Break On Thru set off in front followed closely by Belle Etoile. On entering the straight Belle Etoile moved alongside and raised some hopes but Break On Thru regained the lead and kicked on clear. Vettel came in late to take the second position ahead of Belle Etoile.

The 5 years old filly Friends Forever (Chinese Whisper-Nymph / Paramvir Stud) from trainer Vishal Yadav’s yard who was knocking at the doors for some time now finally came good to lift the Gersoppa Plate. Windsor Park led the pack early with Friends Forever settling in second along the fence. On the straight Friends Forever slipped in through the rails to take it up from Windsor Park. Saratoga Spring came up with a challenge butFriends Forever held on by half a length at the finish. Golden Cruise improved late to be a close third while Stride To Success took the fourth spot.

C.D.Monnappa trained Sufficient Proof (Burden Of Proof-Cool Jazz / Kunigal Stud) won the division I of the Sangam Plate, the concluding race of the day. Sufficient Proof got off to a good start and settled nicely in second behind Jersey Bride. Passing the 300 metres board Sufficient Proof forged ahead and won warding off Winged King and secret Touch.