S.S.Attoallahi trained Booker Jones (Kingda Ka-Giacosa / Nanoli Stud) that had played second fiddle most of the times in its career got its due in the Governor’s Cup at Mysore. The 5 years old gelding ridden by P.Trevor went into the race as the firm favourite at ‘Evens’ among the eleven runners that lined up for the 2000 metres trip.

Momotaro showed some early speed to lead the pack and Booker Jones was quick to chase the leader. Trevor let Booker Jones go to the front approaching the 1200 metres board and opened a sizable lead. Entering the straight Booker Jones came in clear by almost six lengths and was still travelling easy. Booker Jones with more on hand went past the winning post 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Airco who got to beat Ace Bucephalus close home. Last year’s winner Arrogant Approach ended up fourth.

On a day of close finishes Satish Narredu trained Wind Wonder (Noverre-Scarborough / Sohna Stud) earned its second win of the season in the Smt. Maliniraje Prasad Memorial Trophy. Hillsboro in the lead right from the start came in first on the straight followed closely by Speartooth. Wind Wonder and Taqdeer Ka Badshah raced close behind. Wind Wonder looked for a run between horses and forced its way through and in the process Taqdeer Ka Badshah was pushed out. Almost at the same time Pentagram began to make its move from the wide outside and Secret Touch looking to push its way through. Wind Wonder held on by half a length from Pentagram while Taqdeer Ka Badshah was third another neck away. Secret Touch made it to the frame in fourth.

The rider of Secret Touch raised an objection against those of Taqdeer Ka Badshah and Pentagram for interference. After reviewing the race and hearing out the stand of the riders concerned all the Stipendiary stewards were of the opinion that the objections be overruled. The Stewards of the club differed in the opinion and upheld the one against Taqdeer Ka Badshah thereby promoting Secret Touch to the third position. The decision left most of the knowledgeable race-goers perplexed as Wind Wonder was the main cause of the incident and since that happened almost a furlong away from the winning post Secret Touch had enough time to regain the ‘lost’ ground.

Apprentice Prashant P Dhebe who had completed riding 30 winners on Thursday continued his run with a double. He rode longshot Saigar (Varenar-Pinotage / New Approach Stud) from C.D.Monnappa’s yard to win the Original Vel B.Ashok Kumar Memorial Cup. Dare The Don went to the front as the gates opened and went on a start to finish bid. Entering the last 400 metres Dare The Don had a good lead of over six lengths and was looking good. Saigar racing in about sixth approaching the last 200 metres picked up momentum from the outside and with a sizzling gallop sped past the leader to land the spoils. Abderus finished third and Veni Vidi Vici was fourth.    

 Dhebe had earlier in the day guided Zareer Darashah trained Blue Zone (Noverre-Isle Of Mull / Sohna Stud) to win the Delhi Plate. Azure Fire set off in front followed by Reach The Stars, Al Dorado and Blue Zone followed by the others. Dhebe began his move rounding the final turn and improving well surged past the leader with a furlong left. Here’s Abbey covered plenty of ground from the rear to finish second ahead of Azure Fire. Al Dorado filled the judge’s frame.

Jockey Y.S.Srinath used all his strength to pull off a win on G.Sandhu trained Hurrah (Kyllachy-Main Attraction / Mebajeona Stud) in the higher division of the Shantinikethan Plate. Carrying the top weight Hurrah went on a start to finish bid over the six furlongs dash. Arabian Promise joined alongside inside the last 400 metres and the two went all out to gain the advantage. The two fought out the last 250 metres and Hurrah emerged victorious by a neck at the finish. White Snowdrops was also there in the fight for a while on the straight and gave up with a furlong left finishing third. For Your Eyes Only ended up fourth.

Sharat Kumar trained Amaze (Mull Of Kintyre-Make Over / Amanali Stud) that had gone down narrowly in its last attempt pulled off a narrow win in the lower division. Amaze went to the lead from the word ‘go’ and came in with an advantage of about two lengths. Thejaguar started to move up smoothly from the outside and it looked like the 8 years old would go clear but John began to ride out Amaze and the gelding responded with renewed effort to fight it out and land the spoils by a neck. “John won it for me” Sharat said after the race complementing the brilliance of the rider. Precious Script finished third and Splendid Brave was a close fourth.

John was again involved in a close finish in the lower division of the Turuvekere Plate and he ended up on the winning side. He rode V.Loknath trained Able Master (Stardan-Born Beauty / Rolli Stud) to a ‘neck’ victory over Fire Rainbow. Perfectebony slipped to the lead turning for home and was joined quickly by Fire Rainbow. A whip happy Arshad Alam started using the whalebone freely on Fire Rainbow and forged ahead inside the last 200 metres. As Arshad continued to be hard on Fire Rainbow John improved Able Master from behind and with a fine piece of riding got the bay colt to put its neck in front at the all important end. The Stiles were quick to catch Arshad for ‘over whipping’ and this being his fourth infringement decided to withdraw the whip till the end of November 2016. Perfectebony and Young Gallant finished third and fourth respectively.

Loknath’s younger brother V.Narayana Gowda sent out Bazinga (Ace-Priceless Memories / Poona Stud) in the higher division. Bazinga who had not won a race for a long time after its only success very early in its career came good to pull it off after a tuff fight. Industrialist was ahead along the rails and Only Princess joined up from the outside as they came into the last 400 metres. Bazinga made its bid between the two. The three were in a keen tussle to gain the advantage and Bazinga finally found enough legs to surge ahead. Only Princess beat Industrialist by a nose for the second place. Youre Ashwashakthi finished fourth. Ravelnation and Strong Conviction were non-starters in the race.