La Dona was hailed as a top-class performer but she lost her way after finishing second to Hall of Famer during the last winter season in the Golconda Guineas. La Dona had been working well and against a modest lot of horses, she was expected to assert her supremacy whatever niggles that had prevented her from realizing her full potential notwithstanding. La Dona recovered swiftly after none too impressive getaway from the gates and Srinath had her settled in about the fourth position as Queen of Club did the pace-setting. La Dona chased Queen of Club deep into the straight as the latter put up a dogged fight. La Dona stormed clear with 100 metres left in the race and comfortably won from late-rallying Bandito, Reanna and Queen of Clubs who finished in close order.

Srinath was also astride another easy winner of the day namely Great Tribute who proved too superior for the opposition in the lower division of the M B Appaya Memorial Trophy. Great Tribute powered his way in the final furlong to win by a widening margin of three lengths over Outrider who found the eventual winner too good for comfort. Outrider had the first run on his opponent but once Great Tribute got into his stride in the straight, the writing was clear on the wall. Indian Brahmos ran on from behind to take the third place. Great Tribute did not pull up immediately and suddenly ducked towards the outer sand wall after cross the winning post causing Srinath to have a fall. Luckily, the jockey was not hurt and he came back to ride in the next race of the day. Srinath also guided the winner of the upper division of the race through the well-fancied Gandharva who got the better of Happy Dancing and Haedi`s Folly close home. The horse lugged in while passing Happy Dancing slightly interfering with the latter who in turn bumped Haedi`s Folly who was halting in his stride along the rails. The resultant objection by John against Srinath for interference was overruled as it did make a material difference to the outcome of the race.

Jockey Suraj Narredu had it easy on favourite Excelonce in the 1400 metres Haveri Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Suraj worked his way from the wide outside draw to have the favourite take over the running within the first furlong. Excelonce brooked no opposition as he always had a firm grip on the race. Diamond Attraction took the second place ahead of Halloween`s Way who came from a long way back to save place money.

On a day when fancied runners ruled the roost, Gregory Sandhu trained Black Lighting overcame a bad draw and won the 1200 metres Ranganathittu Plate (Div I), a race for horses in the lowest class in emphatic fashion. The winner obviously was a better class horse than the rest and won by a widening margin of five lengths over Export Quality who in turn was quite clear of the third-placed Oceana. Apprentice jockey Ryan Ahmed was astride the winner. Another horse who also belong to the unexploited class won the lower division of the race. Sharat Kumar trained Kudla Punch was backed to the exclusion of the rest and the four-year-old won by a big margin of nine lengths. Kanthaka held off Desert Gold for the runner-up berth.Both the divisions of the race for the lowest category thus were won by Bangalore based horses who were held back for the kill in the less competitive environment of Mysore.

In yet another one-sided contest, Nataraj trained Sazae San trounced the opposition in the 1400 metres Shimsha Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Sazae San took over the running within the first furlong and brooked no opposition to win from another fancied runner Giralda who was backed to win strongly but found the unexpected resurgence of the five-year-old mare who recorded her first win in the 29th outing. Graceland narrowly failed to get the better of Giralda for the second position.

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

---

La Dona (Y S Srinath up) winner of the M.K.Srinivas Memorial Trophy

---

Kudla Punch (S John up) winner of the Ranganathittu Plate (Div-II)

---

Sazae San (S John up) winner of the Shimsha Plate

---

Black Lightning (Rayan Ahmed R up) winner of the Ranganathittu Plate (Div-I)

---

Gandharva (Y S Srinath up) winner of the M.B.Appaya Memorial Trophy (Div-I)

---

Excelonce (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Haveri Plate

---