The mile long Kabini Dam Trophy, a handicap race for horses rated in the highest class at Mysore, was the feature event in Friday's racing held at that centre. Twelve runners accepted to face the starter, and from a betting point of view, the race resembled a jigsaw puzzle. Evanston, Bountiful
Beauty and Lyra shared the marginal lead on the betting boards. All three could be backed at 4/1, while the rest were available at longer odds. With only one clear favourite obliging in the afternoon, the punters were careful in making a choice. A carried over amount, being added to the exacta pool,
increased the racegoers interest in this race.
Bountiful Beauty had finished second to Guided Missile in her previous start. Many of her challengers today had been a part of the beaten brigade on that occasion. She was entrusted to apprentice Madhu Babu on Friday. The youngster made full use of his 4 kg allowance, and pushed Bountiful Beauty into the lead from an outside draw. She was chased by Mr Bureaucrat, Beauty
on Duty, Lyra and Artistic Way as the field was well spread out in the back stretch. They started to bunch up as they entered the straight. Lyra came with a strong run and collared the front runner, while Beauty On Duty crept along the inside as they entered the final furlong of this race. Bountiful
Beauty fought back gallantly, and got stronger at the finish to snuff out the challenge from Lyra and Beauty on Duty. Mr Bureaucrat finished a tame fourth while the rest were outclassed. This win completed a double for trainer Rakesh as he had been successful with Enchanting Girl in an earlier
event.
The days racing witnessed two outstanding performances by horses recently relocated from other centres. Enchanting Girl was brought from Western India and given a couple of preparatory runs before serious money was wagered on her today. Darashah trained three year old Special Gallery was the rage in the betting ring. Queen Of Destiny and Careerist made most of the early
running before Enchanting Girl cruised into the lead near the 600 metres marker. Jockey Suresh was a mere spectator as Enchanting Girl kept increasing her lead and passed the winning post ahead of a hard ridden Careerist. Favourite Special Gallery was seen struggling to hold third place while Queen of Destiny got tired and finished a faraway fourth.
Boston Ranger had recently shifted base from Hyderabad and had a reputation of being a good stayer. He was pitted in a nine furlong event against a bunch of no-hopers in class IV. He was backed strongly and was the only clear favourite to oblige the punters in the seven event card framed for the day. Krishnan took a good jump and relaxed Boston Ranger in fourth position
as Don Vinton, Bee For You and Nano Blue brought the field into view and entered the final stretch. The favourite was produced on the centre of the track and asked to quicken by his rider. Boston Ranger galloped resolutely and went away from Bee For You. Nano Blue plodded on to be third. The winner is in terrific form and should do well over longer trips in his future starts.
There was big betting on the Pradeep trained Amatol in a seven furlong race for horses in class IV. This horse had been carefully brought down in the ratings and was considered to be a cinch in this company. Suresh took a good jump on this horse and settled him in front as they took the final
bend. Amatol was chased all the time by Zindabad, while Wellington who was racing third, was seen to be struggling to keep in touch with the front runners. The rest were labouring at the back. Amatol fought a brief duel with Zindabad and seemed to be headed for victory, when Mauritius Star started to make ground from the rear of the field. He produced an amazing turn of foot and nailed Amatol at the post. Zindabad finished a close third. Mauritius Star was ridden by apprentice Saddam Iqbal.
Another favourite to get beaten near the post was Deltic Star. The trainer and jockey of this mare were pulled up by the stewards for unsatisfactory riding in her previous run. The trainer decided to claim an allowance on his ward today, and asked Shiv kumar to take her to the front. Deltic Star made all the running and seemed to be holding on, when Cruise Control made his move near the 200 metres marker. Jockey Rathod made free use of the whalebone on Cruise Control and collared Deltic Star near the winning post.
Jockey Tauseef Ahmed rode Assaye to a close victory over Irish Whispers and Clueless Puzzle. The start of this race witnessed a bit of jostling as riders were seen trying to get into advantageous positions. Favourite Eona and Clueless Puzzle got squeezed a bit in the early stages of the race.
Front running Outclas led by lengths before shortening his strides, and making way for Irish Whispers and Assaye to fight out the finish. Assaye emerged victorious as Clueless Puzzle made good ground and finished third. An objection by the jockey of the third placed horse against the winner was thrown out by the Stewards of the Club.
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