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Nectar Jewel is the highest rated horse stationed at this centre. He was assigned a back-breaking 69 kilos in a mile race for horses rated 60 and over. Trainer Rakesh had little hesitation in claiming 4 kilos off his back by enlisting the services of apprentice Santosh. Despite running over a trip considered to be beyond his compass, and the poor assistance that he received from the saddle, this brave horse defied the longer odds quoted against him and got up on the last stride to claim the honours. War Head was hailed a winner till the last stride before he was "nosed out" by the winner. Favourite Theworldismine ran prominently till the bend before retiring from the scene. A long stretch run saw Turf Raider saving place money for his followers.
A class III race over six furlongs was split into two divisions. Rakesh completed a double for the day by winning the higher division with public choice Princess Nero. The small made filly became the first three year-old to win in open company. She justified the confidence of her trainer, who had skipped class IV and pitched her directly into the higher class. Princess Nero had scored in her first start before finishing second a couple of times. She was unable to handle the winning penalties so early in her career. Princess Nero ran like a seasoned campaigner by moving up from mid-division near the bend, and charging powerfully towards the winning post. Under the strong urgings of jockey Ch K Chary, she was able to withhold a strong and belated challenge from Red Dawn and Place Her Well. The last named came menacingly from the rear and will be too good to miss in her next start.
The lower division went in favour of the Bobby trained Tina's Triumph. This eight year-old entered the winner's enclosure after a fairly long time. He had been subjected to some steady preparation, an effort which culminated in a short neck victory over a much younger Blood Stream. Tina's Triumph made a strong move from the middle of the field and nailed Blood Stream on the post. Vishal Yadav's charge Arabian Memories received a lot of attention and started as a firm 5/4 favourite in this race. Even though the six furlong sprint is known to be short for the mare, she was considered to be far superior to her rivals. She covered a lot of ground in the straight to end a close third. It will be worth supporting her over a longer course.
Another race which was split was a seven-furlong event for horses in class IV. Two rank outsiders, namely Suave and Hidden Pleasures, scored in identical fashion in these two races. Both were unfancied, and both came from the tail end of the pack to win near home. Ranjeet-trained Suave beat favourite Stampede by the narrowest of margins, while Ravi Shankar's Hidden Pleasures ran away from the fancied Greek Ship. The rest of the runners in this race were out for an airing and had to be pressed hard to finish a distance behind the first two.
The day ended with a start-to-finish victory for the Vishal Yadav-trained Gracian. After winning a race during the Bangalore Winter Season, Gracian had finished off the board in her subsequent starts. A new track and the fresh environment seemed to suit this six year-old. She leapt out of the gates and kept going under the guidance of apprentice Shiva Kumar. Her closing odds of 15/1 indicated that she wasn't fancied by her "gambling" stable. The favourite King Adler chased Gracian till well into the final furlong before getting tired. He lost his second spot to Arkwright in the last few strides.
