Vittal Deshkukh trained Starwalt completed a hat-trick of wins with a comprehensive win in the 1400 metres Mysore Race Club Cup (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. On a day when the entire card catered to lower-class races, Starwalt could be considered the best performer for the quality of the win recorded. The racing though was lacklustre. Jockey Ajeet Kumar had a field day, booting home three winners.

For a horse with imposing credentials, Starwalt was not the favourite. Sreekant trained Isra was the well-supported horse but the favourite came up with a disappointing performance. More often than not, the favourite for a race is not necessarily the best horse in the fray but the one which gets the best support in the betting ring for reasons which are difficult to fathom. Starwalt was relaxed in about the seventh position before being asked to for an effort in the stretch. Starwalt produced a powerful gallop, stormed clear by the final furlong and went away for an impressive win by a widening margin of three lengths. Salisbury was second ahead of Angel Tesoro.


Of late, jockey Akshay Kumar has been finding it hard to get winners. The jockey`s patented style of waiting with horses by bringing them with late runs is not yielding the desired results. However, luck was on his side as he rode a double. Hilton Sequeira-trained Sopranos began as a strong favourite before the odds drifted with money pouring in on Above The Law. Akshay had Sopranos racing in a handy second position behind The Hambone while Above The Law was in the third position, travelling extremely well. Much to the chagrin of the supporters of Above The Law, The Hambone drifted out alarmingly even as Above The Law was getting into a full rhythm. Above The Law was taken wide by the drifting horse. Jockey Md Ismail panicked as he bumped The Hambone while trying to make the best of the situation as his horse went on to bump the wayward horse. The jockey was lucky to stay in the saddle. In the meanwhile, Sopranos had stormed clear to claim the 1100 metres Noble Quest Plate (Div II, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Despite all the problems faced, Above The Law finished with a flourish, highlighting that if Above The Law had a clear run, he would have been a runaway winner. Above The Law was a good thing beaten because of the circumstances. Life`s Living was third. The upper division of the race was won by long shot NRI Secret from the stables of trainer G Shashikanth. NRI Secret had control of the race from the word `go` and won untroubled by a margin of over four lengths. Fancied Wind Sprite held off favourite Avancia to get the runner-up berth.

Mir Faiyaz Ali Khan trained Dyanoosh held off last start winner Flamingo Flame to win the 1200 metres Bangalore Turf Club Cup (Div II), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Flamingo Flame had stolen a march in the final furlong but the finishing burst of Dyanoosh enabled the lesser fancied runner to gain the nod in the closing stages of the race. Favourite Crimson Rose ran on late to finish a close third.

Satheesh-trained horses always win at long odds when least expected. Team Player was one such horse who made the entire running and won the 1600 metres Hanamonda Cup, a race for horses rated 20 to 45 at big odds. Pinatubo nosed out Queen Blossom for the second position. Favourite Miss Marvellous never gave hope to her supporters.

Long shot Wandring Warrior from the stables of trainer Jasbir Singh almost played a spoilsport in the 1400 metres Nirmal Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Wandring Warrior enjoyed an uncontested lead and had a break of over five lengths inside the final 300 metres. Favourite Juramento had considerable ground to cover but the three-year-old gelding managed to cover the ground in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar and overhauled the front-runner in the shadow of the post. Unmatched was third.

Vittal Deshmukh trained Amalfitana had let down many times as a fancied runner though consistently figuring on board. The filly got the chance to make amends in the 1800 metres Loyal Manzar Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Amalfitana ran all alone in front with none contesting her lead. Amalfitana had a sizeable lead all the way in the straight to eventually win by a margin of over three lengths. Arrowtown was second ahead of Akash. Favourite New Hustle was never in the hunt.