Jockey Gnaneshwar was slated to ride in six of the eight races framed for the afternoon's card at Mysore on Wednesday. He must have been disappointed to learn that his mount Dancer's Wave, the favourite in the feature event of the day, was withdrawn on the race morning on veterinary grounds. He was seen in top form while punching home four winners and a runner-up on his remaining five mounts. Amongst the riders who ride at Mysore, Gnaneshwar is definitely in the top few but this will be one day that he will not forget in a hurry.
He started the day’s proceedings on a positive note when he was able to get that extra bit from Millenium Force. Red Emblem had led from the start and was being hailed as the winner when Millenium Force came and got him at the post. His next two winners came in the two divisions of a sprint race for horses in class IV. Valiant Romeo was backed down to odds-on and won accordingly. He led as soon as the gates opened and his jockey was seen looking back in the straight while a hard-ridden Artistic Way was seen finishing on to be second. Irish Whispers was ignored in the betting ring in the upper division and was available at 10/1. Here again, the victory was most impressive. Allowing Careerist and Island Pearl to lead her into the home stretch, Gnaneshwar took the opening and cantered away to an easy win. This completed a quick treble for Gnaneshwar and Darashah in the colours of Dr MAM Ramaswamy.
A mile race for horses in the highest class stationed at Mysore saw the Satish Narredu-trained Guided Missile being installed as a raging hot favourite. He had run some good races during the main season at his home centre and was seen sitting an unperturbed sixth as Ambiens and Midsummer Star did the early running. Once he was given a crack by Gnaneshwar, the response was instantaneous and it ceased to be a race thereafter. He clocked in many lengths ahead of Evanston and Sandokan. It is learnt that Guided Missile is now going to Delhi to have a tilt at the winter classics at that centre.
The Committee Cup was a 2 year-olds race over 1,200 metres. With Dancer's Wave opting out, it was Ranjeet-trained Hi Hennessy which was backed down by her supporters. Dutch Hero was the quickest out and was closely followed by Sterling Speed and Hail Mikhail. The favourite was seen struggling for early speed and was a few lengths behind in fifth position. Sterling Speed went away for an easy win over a late finishing Hi Hennessy and Hail Mikhail. The last named was looking gross in the paddock and would be a different proposition in his next appearance.
Last outing winner Ponte Romano was another comfortable winner in the day’s card. His connections were delighted when he started to move up from a rear position and wore down the front-runners in the last furlong. He won from Forever Grande and Shooting Venus. There was smart money on Salam Namasthe but that was misplaced as he was seen languishing in the rear.
Mr Majestic, a recent import from western India along with Way To Wealth, were two bombshells which were dropped on the hapless punters. While the first mentioned paid a bit over 50/1, the latter had no support and paid well over 100/1. However, with well supported horses winning most of the other events, it was a mixed afternoon for patrons who follow the racing at Mysore.
