Rakesh trained Guided Missile upset the apple cart of the fancied runners in the Narmada Plate, the main event of the races at Mysore on Tuesday for horses rated 80 and above. J Paswan, who is generally not seen riding winners on a regular basis, was astride Guided Missile and as such he was not among the strongly fancied runners. However, his win on Bucethalis was on expected lines as he was hugely supported to record an encore. Fifty per cent of the races went the way of favorites.

Guided Missile who had performed poorly after a slow get away last time out had impressed in a mock race where he had finished second to Arabian Memories. But his chances of making it against fancied Our Little Savage was considered difficult and as such, he was quoted liberally. Guided Missile who raced off the pace started moving up on the wide outside even as Our Little Savage was being goaded for acceleration. In the meanwhile, Looking To Lead who was hanging had taken over the running in the straight and shaped to win. But Guided Missile’s powerful burst saw him overhaul both Looking To Lead and Our Little Savage. Evanston who put in a spirited performance in the final moments of the race was a close third.

Another horse who showed good improvement and was the medium of a big gamble was Kapathos. The odds expanded initially before he was slammed to favoritism close to race time. The drifting odds may have made many to desert him but he showed his readiness to oblige a big touch on him by taking a good jump from the gates unlike the previous essay. He raced in mid bunch before unleashing a good burst in the final furlong. Kapathos put his neck in front in the shadow of the post and had to survive a scare as Royal View produced a big effort which however went in a vain by a whisker. Free Spirit was in with a chance but eventually ended up a close third.

Bucethalis, who showed out in the paddock parade, was backed to the exclusion of others despite Paswan being on board. True to his looks and the conviction with which he was backed, Bucethalis decimated the opposition without being fully stretched. Behram who raced ahead was easily overhauled by Bucethalis. In the form that he is in, Bucethalis should repeat.

Gracian showed remarkable improvement within a week. He had finished eleventh out of twelve runners in the same class. He travelled in mid group and accelerated when asked for an effort in the home stretch Apprentice Rajesh Kumar drove out Chamcha In Chief with all the resources at his command but failed to get the measure of Gracian. Aspiring Seven was an easy third.

Destiny’s Wish demolished the opposition in the feature of the day, the Star Supreme Cup. Destiny’s Wish in fact struggled for pace initially and Chouhan was seen whipping the horse quite early to get her into her stride. But once she started moving, it was clear that she would sail home. Nano Blue, who stumbled at the start, with the rider barely managing to stay in the saddle, finished a notable second.

The opener was won by fancied Mystic Enchantress who was guided well by South African Sampson who was riding in Mysore for the first time. After missing the kick, Mystic Enchantress also veered out a bit after traveling a furlong but Sampson was equal to the task. She had no problem in disposing of her opponents in the straight. Unfancied Suave finished second ahead of fancied Briannista.