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The race was run at a fast pace with Classerville hitting the front ahead of Son Of The Soil, Mystic Quest, Ohiyesa and the others. Sprint Star was seen running last till they began to take the rising ground near the four-furlong marker. Wayne Smith and Classerville kept their neck in front of Mystic Quest as the two runners began to move ahead at the final turn. Mallesh Narredu had an iron grip on Sprint Star, and the horse was beautifully balanced while galloping well within himself in fourth place. Mallesh seemed to have immense faith in his horse, as he did not seem to be in any sort of hurry. The two front-runners began to tire in the final furlong. Classerville was finding it difficult to hold on to his advantage while the hard ridden Mystic Quest was under immense pressure to seize the initiative. It was exactly at this moment that Mallesh made his move. He pulled Sprint Star off the rails and asked him to accelerate. His mount responded wonderfully, gathered momentum and sauntered past the two in front of him. To the joy of his many fans, Sprint Star lengthened his strides and strode away for an easy victory. Mystic Quest got the better of Classerville in the closing stages of this race. Mallesh's riding display was a lesson for many aspiring to make a name in this profession. The duo returned to a standing ovation from the packed stands. Sprint Star is now slated to run in the Derby, and the rider feels that the horse has matured to tackle the mile and a quarter with ease.
The Justice P Medappa memorial Trophy was the added attraction in the day's card. Babu Rao's Flower Alley was a hot favourite in this event. She had run an impressive and close fourth in the 1000 Guineas. Her present handicap was well below her known capabilities. She received one-sided support ahead of Star Bright and Desdemona. It must be mentioned that trainer Babu Rao's son apprentice Srinivasa Rao had made the trip from Kolkata to ride the favourite for his father. Flower Alley took advantage of her innermost draw and made all the running to land the spoils. She was challenged briefly by the Prakash ridden Star Bright near the distance post, but once the apprentice put his whip away, Flower Alley responded nicely and kept her neck in front of Star Bright.Kripa came from way off the pace to deprive Desdemona of the third spot.
A seven-furlong event for horses in Class III was split into two divisions. While Sharat Kumar's Atlantus retired as an easy winner of the upper division, more than five horses flashed past the post locked together in the lower one. Atlantus received all round support and started as an even-money chance in the said race. He gave a few anxious moments to the handlers as well as his supporters by playing up at the starting gates. But he was quiet as a lamb once loaded. John rode him with great understanding and refused to hustle him at any stage of the race. Atlantus tracked Artistic Way and On A Roll till the bend before swooping down on them. He grew stronger with each stride and spared many lengths to On A Roll at the end.
The lower division saw a blanket finish at the wire. Less than one length separated the first five finishers. The favourite Kangaroo Punch lost ground at the start and in the process lost a race that he should have won. He was running a detached last till the turn, before he chose to come wide round the bend. Apprentice Sreekanth had to use all his energies to rouse him in the straight. The horse galloped powerfully into third place and came within half a length of the winner. The other unlucky runner in this race was Arabian Memories. She met with a couple of interferences in the straight before being shown daylight at the end. Arabian Memories was a neck shy at the finish. The race was won by Appu ridden Crackerjack who paid more than rupees eight hundred for a tenner.
A Class II mile event saw the eclipse of highly rated Star Of Washington. This expensive purchase was considered to be a Classic contender last year, but a series of setbacks saw him fading from the scene. He was running after a fairly long layoff and was meeting an ordinary set of horses. The mile trip was suited to his style of running, and the presence of B Prakash saw him starting as an odds-on choice in the concluding race of the day. The way he ran was indicative of the fact that the horse is nowhere near his best. Star Of Washington plodded throughout the race and finished behind Suraj Narredu's Ciboney. He got the second place ahead of stablemate Liberty Speaks, on whom jockey Manikandan rode a half hearted race.
Son of The Sun and Demanding won the first two races of the day. Son Of The Sun had shown his readiness to strike by finishing a close second in his first run of the season. The four-year-old tackled horses in the lowest Class and justified the short odds quoted on him. He is capable of winning a similar event in his next start. Nine year old Demanding got his turn at last and entered the winners enclosure after a long period of time. His front running tactics paid off eventually, as he loved the little give in the ground. He was able to keep Way To Wealth and Forever Grande at bay.
