M R Singh trained Side Winder brought off a big upset in the 1200 metres K T Shamaiah Gowda Memorial Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 40 to 65, the feature event of the lacklustre card of seven events that were programmed for Wednesday at Mysore. Intermittent rains ensured that the gong was soft. The last two races were cancelled due to unsuitable underfoot conditions.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Fair Warning who had finished a close third to Life Awaits at Bangalore was the firm favourite but then when it comes to the strike rate of this trainer on favourites, the percentage is dismal. And so, it was with Fair Warning who did not even race in earnest. Fancied Noah`s Ark held the lead till the closing strides of the race but Side Winder who was ridden differently this time, rallied very strongly in the final furlong to get the nod in the closing stride of the race in the hands of jockey Chetan Gowda. Once a rousing performer, Side Winder hadn`t won for 700 days but the drop in the scales and a favourable opposition perhaps helped his cause. Star Tracker was third.

Imtiaz Khan trained Sun Power was another upsetter of the day in the 1200 metres Sanctity Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Spanish Beauty who has been troubled by a litany of problems which the trainer has been unable to sort out was once again in serious betting along with Musterion in the absence of horses of quality in the fray. Spanish Beauty who raced up front headed the field in the final furlong, but long-shot Sun Power moved with raking strides along the rails and stormed ahead and won with a measure of comfort. Musterion was faraway third. The lower division of the race too saw long priced Stars In His Eyes prevailing. Rajesh Narredu trained Winning Force was the favourite with the price on Aerospeed drifting out, telling its own tale. Birthday Babe had the lead going into the final furlong but failed to sustain the lead as Satish Narredu trained Stars In His Eyes came home with a big effort to win with a measure of comfort. Winning Force was a tame third while Aerospeed was not sighted.

Another Imtiaz Khan trainee Girl With Pearl was backed to the exclusion of the rest in the lower division of the Lt Col D K Mistry Memorial Plate (Div II), a race for horses in the lowest category. Girl With Pearl raced a handy third till turning for home as Safe Bet set the pace. The favourite came into the reckoning in the final furlong and sped away for an effortless win. Safe Bet held on to the second position while the well-backed Ultimate Power could only finish third.

Sharavanan trained Sky Jasmine obliged big expectations in the lower division of the 1200 metres Squanderer Plate. Queenofgoodtimes and Wood Cutter were the fancied ones, but both made no show. Jockey John brought Sky Jasmine with a strong effort with about 200 metres left in the race and the fancied runner bounced clear to have the field stranded. Ayahuasca and Italian Stallion occupied the next two slots in the frame.

*******************

---

Sky Jasmine (S John up) winner of the Squanderer Plate

---

Girl With Pearl (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Lt.Col.D.K.Mistry Memorial Plate (Div-II)

---

Stars In His Eyes (M Mark up) winner of the Sanctity Trophy (Div-II)

---

Sun Power (Shamaz Shareef up) winner of the Sanctity Trophy (Div-I)

---

Side Winder (Chethan Gowda up) winner of the K.T.Shamaiah Gowda Memorial Trophy (Div-I)

---