It is good to see a couple of Mysore-based horses beating the highly rated Bangalore horses in plum events this season. The Rakesh-trained Natanza did it in the Civil Services Trophy last week beating the much fancied Mickey Mouse and Bora Bora and Flying Show from trainer M Bobby's yard successfully thwarted the challenge of Fire Glow and Regal Music in the H H Sri Chamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy to the delight of the Mysore camp on Wednesday.

Fire Glow opened the favourite in what was an open race before money came pouring on Regal Music, but the Mahesh ward raced in patches and ended up disappointing his supporters, finishing third behind the winner Flying Show and Natanza. Fire Glow, it appeared encountered rough passage in the final furlong and was a trifle unlucky. The Neil Darashah ward is in good heart and is certain to enter the winners' circle when saddled next over an extended trip.

On the strength of his impressive performances in the Bangalore summer season, the Irfan Ghatala-trained Automatic was the overwhelming favourite in the P Shanker Memorial Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. But the public choice failed to display his true potential and finished a tame third behind the winner London from Micheal Eshwer's yard and Class Above, While London, it is clear has improved, Automatic for more reasons than one slipped a gear and this cost the punters dear.
Earlier, The four to one shot Durer from trainer Sharavanan's yard, who had caught the eye while finishing an unextended fourth in his last essay came up tops in the Eclipse Plate edging out High Response in a pulse-pounding finish. Angel One from Surender's yard was fancied most but the Angel turned the Devil and even failed to make the frame.

The Gregory Sandhu schooled Navelrock who was backed to the exclusion of his dozen rivals in the upper division of the J H Foley Memorial Trophy proved too good in the hands of talented apprentice Antony Raj. The winner was offered at (18/10) at the start before the Sandhu camp went bang-bang in the ring and soon Navelrock closed (9/10) before justifying the confidence of his supporters in style. Blue Blazer finished second ahead of Attorney General while Gypsy, it appeared was only testing the new conditions before his connections choose to go for a kill in the weeks ahead.

The lower division of the event was claimed by long shot Rare And Bold from Ranjeet's stables. The winner made every post a winning one in the hands of jockey Sai Kiran. The Parvati Byramji schooled Reference, who was touted a `moral certainty' by most old hats in the game struggled to keep pace early on in the race and finished a tame third behind Dream Star who was seen finishing on strongly at end.

The second in demand at the betting ring, Free Port outwitted her 13 rivals including the overwhelming favourite Play Safe in the Kumaradhara Plate run over a distance of nine furlongs. Arshad Alam rode a copybook race on the winner from Neil Darashah's yard who produced a sparkling gallop at the distance post to upset the applecart of the favourite Play Safe who in her attempt to make every post a winning one found one better at the end. Casey caught the eye while finishing third and is one for the notebook.

Despite his dismal effort last time out, Gabino from Tejeswi's yard was fancied most in the concluding event, the Paddock Plate run over a sprint. The public choice, it appeared was never in the hunt. The four to one shot Praelector who had a fair share of followers romped home in the hands of Sai Kiran while Gabino's stablemate Humming Bird gained the runner-up berth ahead of Dare The Don.