Arjun Mangalorkar trained Abira pulled off a narrow win over late-finishing Lady of Luxury in the 1400 metres Srikantadatta Narasimharaajawadiyar Memorial Million, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Friday`s Mysore races. The progeny of Win Legend broke into the lead early in the stretch and then had enough cushion to reach the safety of the post.

Northern Alliance who had recorded back to back wins was backed strongly to extend his winning streak, but the short price offered was not justified because the race had a competitive look about it with a couple of runners having as good a chance as the favourite. Sir Supremo hit the front from the wide outside draw within the first furlong which allowed jockey Neeraj Rawal to settle Abira behind the front-runner. Northern Alliance was in about the fourth position while the others including Bostonia and Lady of Luxury were spaced out behind several lengths adrift.

Sir Supremo held the lead well into the straight, but it was clear that he was only leading on sufferance. Once Neeraj got busy on Abira, the progeny of Win Legend bounced ahead and opened a useful lead which held her in good stead when the others came charging at her at the finish. Lady of Luxury who was in the rear bunch was pulled wide to make her run. The progeny of Verenar responded well to the urgings and finished with a rush only to find the front-runner escape to victory. Bostonia also ran on strongly to take the third position ahead of favourite Northern Alliance who failed to show the patented acceleration and never gave hope. Sir Supremo weakened to finish fifth.

Parvati Byramji trained Mystic Flame had things his way in the 1600 metres Ranga Family Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Mystic Flame had last won 253 days ago and was off-colour in his only run during the summer season at Bangalore perhaps due to the niggles that he suffered. Now looking in much better shape after the benefit of that forward at Bangalore over a shorter trip, Mystic Flame came into his own against a modest lot of horses. Kept in a striking position albeit in about the sixth position till approaching the final furlong, Mystic Flame`s cause was made easy by Winning Heart and Square The Circle going wide at the final bend giving a dream run on the inside for the favourite. Mystic Flame showed a good turn of foot and had the race sewn up a long way from home in the hands of jockey Irvan Singh. After course correction, Square The Circle came up with a late bid to finish a suggestive second ahead of Wild Wild Angels. Square The Circle missed the kick, improved briskly and then had the misfortune of going wide and almost in danger of slipping on to the outer sand track before being pulled back towards the rails which affected him having a fighting chance. Venus Bay who was in a striking position at the final bend failed to produce anything extra and was a tame fourth.

Favourite Spiritous bolted riderless as the horses were being loaded into the gates for the 1200 metres Valparoso Plate, a race for horses rated 60 and above and was withdrawn from the gates. War Hero was another to be declared a non-starter at the gates on veterinary grounds. With the first two favourites being withdrawn from the fray, Intense Suspense was expected to have it easy, but jockey Sai Kiran messed up things by going too fast in front which saw the favourite by default falter in the final furlong. Maduro moved up smoothly and sailed past the tiring front-runner to win easily. El Tycoon was third.

Prashanth Pawar trained Royal Command hammered the opposition in the 1100 metres Cauvery Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. The strongly fancied Eddie The Eagle and Valkyrie were not spotted to have any chance once the eventual winner was spotted moving with big strides at the top of the straight. After Dare The Don brought the field into view, Royal Command in the hands of jockey Neeraj Rawal pounced on the front-runner and had gone away by the final furlong to eventually win by a widening margin of seven lengths over Eddie The Eagle and Celtic Mist.

The well-backed Fotogenic bounced back to winning form after a gap of 244 days when beating the opposition with a measure of comfort in the 1400 metres Full Speed Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 0 to 25 The Dheeraj Venkatswamy trainee came up with a big effort down the final furlong to overtake the front-running All By Myself and stormed clear in the hands of jockey S John who is finally finding winners coming his way. Admirable ran on to take the second spot ahead of the long-time leader All By Myself who stayed on to save place money. Lesser fancied Aleef from the stables of trainer Md Khan spoiled a spirited touch on Eco Friendly and won the lower division of the Full Speed Plate. Aleef was tailed off last in the early part of the race but moved up briskly and took the final turn wide to come into contention in the final furlong. Favourite Honey Trap who has proved to be a big let down shaped to win by storming into a good lead with a furlong left in the race but faltered close home. Aleef overhauled the front-runner in the closing stages of the race and held off the late flourish of the heavily backed Eco Friendly. The Krishna Stud Farm bred Aleef by Fantastic Dubai had last won 385 days ago while Eco Friendly and Honey Trap are yet to open their score.

Ranjeet Shinde trained New Beginning was driven out for a facile win by jockey Srinath in the 1400 metres Regency Gold Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Srinath sat relaxed on the favourite in about the sixth or seventh position as Haloween`s Way made the pace. Srinath got into his act on turning for home and under his vigorous riding, New Beginning covered the leeway swiftly and had the measure of Ascendency who led the charge in the final furlong. Order Order was third.

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Aleef (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Champion Jockey Cupfull Speed Plate (Div-II)

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Royal Command (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Cauvery Plate

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Fotogenic (S John up) winner of the Full Speed Plate (Div-I)

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Mystic Flame (Irvan Singh up) winner of the Ranga Family Cup

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Abira (Neeraj Rawal up) winner of the Srikantadatta Narasimharaajawadiyar Memorial Million 2019

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Maduro (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Valaroso Plate

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New Beginning (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Regency Gold Plate

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