Rajesh Narredu trained Long Lease who had run way below expectations at Hyderabad, bounced back to record an impressive win in the 1200 metres F K Irani Memorial Million 2023, a terms race for three-year-olds, the feature event of Friday’s Mysore races. Leather Back who was bidding for a hat-trick had earlier gone down fighting to Long Lease at Bangalore but this time out, was easily sorted out and was even relegated to the third position.

Long Lease had stopped galloping in the last 100 metres as jockey Yash Narredu pulled her up at Hyderabad and explained to the Stipes that his horse was not raising a fluent gallop. Though no abnormalities were found, that run had a bearing on the odds for the race, as Leather Back who despite having been beaten earlier by Long Lease went to the post as a strong favourite. Rakesh trained Brave Tropper who had stumbled at the start despite which she had finished less than five lengths of Jamari in the Fillies Championship Stakes at Bangalore was in some betting.

Moriset had the speed to lead the field followed by Leather Back, Brave Trooper, Long Lease and Fondness of You. Rounding the final turn, Leather Back struggled to overtake the pacesetter even as Brave Trooper easily shot past the favourite. Brave Trooper held the lead deep into the straight before a powerful run by Long Lease in the final 100 metres put paid to the hopes of the local challenger. Long Lease was clearly getting stronger at the finish and jockey Suraj Narredu was not required to be too aggressive on the filly. Brave Trooper was second, with Long Lease more than three lengths adrift in the third position.

Arjun Mangalorkar trained Aldgate to overwhelm the opposition in the 1200 metres M W Chinnappa Memorial Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above. Aldgate who had thus far recorded three wins including the one recorded in the month of August at Bangalore was strongly backed ahead of Mazal Tov to land the spoils. Aldgate produced a strong gallop down the final furlong to win the race with great deal of ease from pace-setting Eternal Princess. The latter held on to take the second position ahead of Michigan Melody. Mazal Tov was not spotted to have any serious chance. Arjun Mangalorkar said that he had to step back the distance of Aldgate owing a wind problem. The last two runs indicated that Aldgate raced without any issues and looks good enough to get support till he is sorted out either because of the inherent problem or by the opposition.

Rajesh Narredu trained Galacticus had disappointed in her only run during the last Mysore season where she had finished more than three lengths adrift of Hyderabad challenger, She Can. However, she looked to have a strong chance in the 1200-metre Police Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Archway was the horse considered capable of posing a problem or two for the favourite. Suraj Narredu had no issues guiding Galacticus to a start-to-finish win with Spirit of the Rose running on well towards the close to pinch the second spot from Archway who appears run of the mill.

The Mysore races cannot be without its share of huge upsets. Aditya trained Furious One had bled on the last occasion but despite that hiccup, came in for one-sided betting in the 1100 metres Yelahanka Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. Apprentice jockey Pavan who is very inexperienced, had Furious Fun lead by a big margin, going at a scorching speed in front which was to prove her undoing. Such tactics were bound to misfire as the favourite began to slacken going into the final furlong. Viva La Vida from the stables of trainer Feroz M Khan who was well waited with, pounced on the front-runner and won going away by a margin of over three lengths. Court Jester ran on to take the second position ahead of Indian Glory while Furious Fun weakened completely to go out of the frame.

In Mysore, if a horse gets backed, it attracts such wild betting that the form of the horse is not always the consideration for the punters but the weight of the money that the horse would be carrying which is of prime importance. It was so in the case of Ramesh trained Sky Storm who came in for big support, resulting in the odds of the other horses expanding. It is not that the other horses in the fray had a great surface form to go by to make a big impact in the 1600-metre Jog Falls Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Rakesh trained O Manchali who had finished second to Kesari Queen had the credentials but the presence of inexperienced apprentice Md Imran Ashraf did not inspire confidence. Sky Storm was prominent in the final furlong with O Manchali, despite weak assistance loomed large. In the end, it was a long shot from the stables of Vinesh V Naik’s Natural Gold who emerged triumphant in the hands of apprentice jockey Inayat who has been riding winners with regular frequency. O Manchali was second ahead of Sky Storm.

Feroz Khan had earlier in the day led in a winner through long shot Against All Odds who lived up to his name by recording a shock win in the 1600 metres Paddock Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category. Sharat Kumar trained War Trail who attracted reasonable betting, was on course but closer home, was beaten to the second place by the progeny of Speaking Of Which who recorded his first win from 13 outings. Natural Fly was third.

Joseph Awale trained Lead Singer was backed down from a higher quote to become a strong favourite in the day’s opener, the 1200 metres Shiakashi Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25. From about the fourth or fifth position, Lead Singer moved up strongly to sail past the front-running Country’s Major to record an easy win, justifying the tons of money that she attracted. Many Moons narrowly failed to snatch the runner-up berth from Country’s Major.