The curtains came down on the Mysore Summer Races on Wednesday with a card of eight races framed for the concluding day. The season’s championship awards were given away and trainer Michael Eshwer topped the tally with 12 wins. Arshad Alam was adjudged the champion jockey with 13 wins while R.Ajay Kumar ended up as the leading apprentice with 3 wins.

C.D.Monnappa trained Script Writer (Whatsthescript-Aplysia / Nanoli Stud) scored a stunning upset in the Mysore Race Club Million that featured the concluding day’s races at Mysore. Anantara, the winner of the Fillies Trial Stakes was strongly fancied to win the race followed by the Colts’ winner Rafa. As the seven runners settled down for the mile trip Rafa went into the lead followed by Anantara, Smart N Noble, Gusty Wind, Pikachu, Script Writer and Eon. Rafa looked to be in some sort of discomfort even before approaching the final turn and Anantara headed to the front at the 500 metres. Anantara took a good lead but could not hold on to it as Script Writer ridden by Arshad Alam came with a scintillating gallop and swept past to grab the ‘Million’. Anantara stayed on in second while Pikachu did well to take the third spot. Rafa turned out to be a disappointment, finishing last in the field.

J.Saravanan trained New World (Razeen-Forest Paradise (Usha Stud) was given a perfect ride by apprentice S.Lalit to win the Shivanasamudra Plate. The 7 year old carrying the top weight among the six runners was held back as the gates opened to sit last. Oceanic Storm led the field followed by Kaguya Himei, Extra Spark, Tulip, Castle King and New World as the field passed the half-way stage. Rounding for home Kaguya Himei made a quick move to take over the running from Oceanic Storm. Inside the last 400 metres New World was asked for an effort from the outside and the 7 year old responded with a quick gallop to cover the leeway and flash past Kaguya Himei easily. Extra Spark rallied on in third ahead of Castle King.

Sea Lagoon (Phoenix Tower-North Sea / Manjri Stud) from trainer S.Rakesh’s yard just about scraped home to justify the strong favouritism in the Golden Fantasy Plate. Sea Lagoon got a flyer and set out to lead the pack. Approaching the last 300 metres Sea Lagoon was still in the lead but began to drift out. Invincible Wish made its bid from the outside and Strengthandwonder from the inside. Jockey S.John continued to ride out Sea Lagoon and held out by a neck from Strengthandwonder who was finishing fast towards the closing stages. Invincible Wish was third another length and a half away with Lucky Emerald taking the fourth place.

S.Rakesh had earlier scored through Everlasting Memory (Crown Jewels-Hunting Girl / Noble Stud)in the lower division of the Narmada Plate. Everlasting Memory winless from 13 starts finally came good to register a comfortable win. Jockey Sahanawaz took the 4 year old filly to the front at start and opened a big lead. Halia raced in second and Blackwind in third followed by the rest. On entering the straight Everlasting Memory still enjoyed a good lead even as Blackwind and Vrajanandan began to cover ground. Everlasting Memory carried on with the lead to the winning post to register its maiden win while Blackwind took the second spot ahead of Vrajanandan in a close finish.

Zareer Darashah trained Alps (Phoenix Tower-Mays Alreem / MAnjri Stud) made every post a winning one while scoring a maiden victory in the higher division of the Narmada Plate. Alps took a good jump and set out to lead the pack. As they turned for home Sazae San who was travelling in second went wide and lost position. Jump In The Red moved to be second and held on from New Sunrise even as Alps lengthened its margin of victory to ten lengths.

The day’s opening event, the Capt.Nabi Khan Memorial Plate was won by Pratap Kamath trained Ayahuasca (Oath-Tempering / Pratap Stud). The 5 year old sent off as the favourite at 5-4 among the reduced field of seven contenders after Getafix was withdrawn rushed to take the running as the gates opened. Showing up first on the straight Ayahuasca kicked on gamely with Friends Forever in chase all through the last 400 metres. Saratoga Spring landed up third followed by Aglaia.

Pratap pulled off a double through Felix Legion (Inhabitant-Hello Baby / Doaba Stud) in the Kengeri Plate. Felix Legion who had scored a maiden win two weeks ago scored an encore with plenty on hand over the extended trip of a mile. Racing in about fifth till the final turn Felix Legion began to improve in the centre of the track to overtake the front running Winning Storm even as Ice Brown slipped in closest to the rails. With 300 metres left from home Felix Legion grabbed the lead and drew clear despite drifting out of the straight course. Ice Brown stayed on in second while the favourite Alecia took the third spot ahead of Winning Storm.

Michael Eshwer trained Michaela (Roderic O’Connor-Zabadani / Nanoli Stud) just managed to scrape through in the Koramangala Plate, the concluding race of the day. Michaela who had won impressively on debut was the overwhelming favourite in the field of 12. Tremendous raced beside Michaela all through even as the favourite settled in mid-field. As they turned for home Michaela improved to take up the running and Tremendous joined the fight from the outside. The two matched strides throughout the straight and went past the winning post locked together. The magic eye gave the verdict in favour of Michaela who had held on by a whisker. Queen and Passing Falcrum finished third and fourth respectively.