Imtiaz Sait trained Endeavour swamped the opposition in tremendous fashion in the Gr 3 Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship 2022, a terms race for three-year-olds and over, the feature event of Thursday. The challenger from Pune had competed in good company back home and asserted his supremacy against a modest lot of achievers that were in the way. In confirmation of his growing stature, jockey Anthony Raj had a treble for the day.

Pradeep Annaiah trained Ascoval was made the favourite more on expectation. The speedy customer hadn`t won a race in the highest category and had just three wins to his credit which were in the lower category. Though the field for the Sprint Championship did not boast of the best of the runners, Endeavour who had won nearly 50 per cent of his career races and had the experience of running against the top sprinters of his centre deserved a lot of support. Trainer Imtiaz Sait must be complimented for bringing him to race in Mysore in an event which offered good stake money as he already has the top sprinter Iron Age to race for him at Pune. He was amply rewarded for his wisdom.

Trevor Patel had Ascoval take control from the start with Endeavour in the second position with the others spaced out behind. Ascoval held the lead well into the final furlong but it was evident that he would not carry it to the winning post. Endeavour looked menacing and when jockey Anthony Raj got him to stretch out, Endeavour devoured ground, overhauled the front-runner and stormed clear to win by a widening margin of three lengths over Ascoval. Star Glory ran on to take the third position five lengths adrift of the runner-up. The Sovereign Orb ran below expectations.

Thursday`s races saw favourites dominating the eight-event card. The Bangalore horses that were in the fray were a cut above the local horses and their domination was only to be expected. Arjun Mangalorkar trained classic winner Kensington had suffered a shock defeat last time out possibly because he was ring rusty. The benefit of a race run meant that he would have a cakewalk in the 2000 metres Fleet Indian Plate, a race for horses rated 60 to 85. Anthony Raj struggled to keep Kensington in check and gave up the attempt after traversing the first four furlongs and allowed the favourite to take charge. Kensington travelled strongly into the straight and had the race sewn up a long way from home. Stablemate Silvarius chased the favourite home while the rest were stranded behind. For the record, Crescendo was third seven lengths adrift of Silvarius.

Anthony Raj had it easy on another Mangalorkar trainee Angel Bliss who was not hard-pressed to win the 1600 metres W T Craig Jones Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Angel Bliss let Tycoonist lead the way well into the straight before producing an aggressive effort. Angel Bliss easily overhauled the front-runner and went away for a facile win by a widening margin of six lengths. Thunderstruck was third.

Dominic trained Capital Gain had recorded a runaway win last time out and the quality of that win suggested that the five-year-old mare belonged to a much better class than in which she had won. Arul was once against astride Capital Gain who managed to score again albeit by a vastly diminished margin. Captain Gain shot into a winning lead down the final furlong. The Response who had come in for good support in the ring, closed with a rush only to find that the front-runner had reached the safety of the post rather easily. Dr Logan was third.

Bobby trained Johnny Bravo was well supported to win the 1400 metres Autumn Blue Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The money was well directed as Johnny Bravo led from the start and skipped clear in the straight to record an emphatic win. Sir Calculus was a well-beaten second ahead of Aurele.

Appachu trained Kingfothejungle had run 21.3 lengths behind the winner 42 days ago but showed a complete reversal of form by winning the 1200 metres One Life To Love Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65, in tremendous fashion. Kingofthejungle sprinted ahead in the final furlong to win by a margin of four lengths to shock the followers of form. Jabbar who was bidding for a hat trick was a tame second ahead of The Strength. Favourite Amazonia was nowhere in the hunt.

Azhar Ali trained Eridani was backed to oblige in the 1400 metres Urs Kar Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds only. Eridani managed to oblige the huge expectations by barely managing to stave off the challenge of Serdar. Eridani surged ahead on turning for home and at this point of time, Serdar was several lengths behind. To compound his problems, Serdar also went wide despite which he finished with a big effort only to find the front-runner escape to victory, a mere neck in front. Twilight Tornado was third. Parvati Byramji trained Gold Multiplier won the lower division of the race at long odds, leading from the front and skipping clear of the rest in the final furlong to win in the hands of jockey Ajinkya. On money favourite Stamford Bridge was second more than six lengths behind. Odin was third.