Calcutta: It may turn out to be a close contest between Aretino and Richie Rich in the 2,000m Calcutta Derby Trial Stakes, the main attraction in Wednesday’s race card. The former, a Vijay Singh-trainee, has had adequate preparations for the Derby in Bangalore. However, the No Louder-Lady Cox three-year-old may find a strong challenger in Richie Rich, the comfortable winner of the Colts Stakes last month. However, with a victory on the uphill Bangalore racetrack under his belt, Aretino, who will be ridden by C. Alford, gets preference over Richie Rich.

Read as Horse nos, last four runs, horse name, trainer, jockey, weight & draw:

1. Free Lancer Hdcp 1,200m (Cl V, 5yo & over Rt. 0-30) 1.25 pm Indian jockeys only

1       0003       Splendid Quest [Daniel] Merchant       60.0       2

2       0001       Frontier Flame [Bharath] Maseyk       59.5       1

3       2341       Tequila Shot [Bath] Shanker       59.0       3

4       0232       Adams Dream [Karki] Smith       57.0       4

5       0103       Spanish Drum’s [Errol] K. Suresh       53.0       5

1. splendid quest (1) 2. frontier flame (2) 3. spanish drum’s (5)

Splendid Quest: Has come down much at the weights. Its time for her to strike. Frontier Flame: On the up. May trouble the best. Spanish Drum’s: May place.

2. Flying Glance Handicap 1,400m (Cl V; Rt. 00-30) 1.55 pm Indian jockeys only

1       0000       Smart Romeo [Daniel] Merchant       62.0       3

2       0040       Bit Of Luck [Daniel] K. Suresh       60.0       2

3       3242       Sugar Daddy [Karki] Smith       60.0       6

4       3000       Destiny Dance [Daniel] R. Yadav       58.0       5

5       0002       She’s A Star [Jaiswal] R. Chouhan       54.0       1

6       0042       Secret Desire [Karki] M. Reuben       53.0       4

1. sugar daddy (3) 2. smart romeo (1) 3. SECRET DESIRE (6)

Sugar Daddy: Has been knocking at the door. May strike. Smart Romeo: Has jumped two classes down from as many starts. Secret Desire: Upset, if any.

3. Jingle Handicap 1,100m (Cl IV; Rt. 20-50) 2.35 pm Indian jockeys only

1       1040       Meadow Royale [Karki] Amjad K.       61.0       1

2       - 220       Moira [Karki] Smith       60.5       3

3       0033       Alborada [Jaiswal] R. Chouhan       59.0       2

4       4300       Arian [R. Alford] Rutherford       58.0       8

5       - - 00       Prime Contender [Javed] M. Reuben       57.0       6

6       0134       Blushing Queen [Daniel] Merchant       54.5       9

7       0103       Land Of Fantasy [Daniel] K. Suresh       54.5       5

8       0004       Stimulated [Daniel] R. Ahmed       54.0       4

9       - - - 2       Arikara [Vijay] C. Alford       52.0       7

1. blushing queen (6) 2. arian (4) 3. arikara (9)

Blushing Queen: Has beaten smart sprinters last winter. May be hard to toss. Arian: Ignore his last two runs. Arikara: May find the sprint too sharp to her liking.

4. Stoney Valley Cup 1,800m (Cl IV, Cl V; Rt. 00-50) 3.10 pm

1       2413       Suriyothai [Rodrigues] Upadhya       60.0       2

2       0032       Bay Dragon [Errol] B. Gurang       59.5       4

3       2144       Flying Scot [Bath] M. Reuben       58.5       3

4       0011       Blue Chip [Bharath] Md Islam       56.0       5

5       - 040       Alexine [Vijay] C. Alford       55.0       1

6       1031       Terrificco [Daniel] Merchant       54.0       8

7       3041       Moon Quest [Errol] Md Yasin       53.5       6

8       2324       Predecessor [Daniel] Md Amil       53.0       7

1. alexine (5) 2. blue chip (4) 3. suriyothai (1)

Alexine: Has worked well in the company of Aretino in Bangalore. Blue Chip: On the up and well-rested since his back-to-back wins. Suriyothai: May place.

5. Calcutta Derby Trial Stakes 2,000m (Terms, 3-y-o only) 3.45 pm

1       1344       Accuser [Bharath] Shanker       56.0       4

2       3130       Aretino [Vijay] C. Alford       56.0       3

3       3213       Davaro [Rodrigues] R. Gowli       56.0       5

4       1422       Far Hope [Daniel] Merchant       56.0       6

5       2110       Modesto [Vijay] M. Reuben       56.0       1

6       1321       Richie Rich [R. Alford] Rutherford       56.0       7

7       0143       Imperial Pearl [Daniel] K. Suresh       54.5       8

8       4401       Queen Of The Nile [Daniel] R. Yadav       54.5       2

1. Aretino (2) 2. Richie Rich (6) 3. davaro (3)

Aretino: Has completed his Derby preparations in Bangalore. May win. Richie Rich: Won the Colts Stakes easily. Eyeing for the Classic double. Davaro: May place.

6. Star Of Italy Cup 1,400m (Cl II; Rt. 60-90) 4.20 pm

1       0004       Barrier Ridge [Daniel] B. Gurang       60.0       6

2       0013       Way To The Stars [Stephens] P. Alford       59.5       4

3       4004       Primaticcio [Daniel] K. Suresh       58.0       3

4       4113       Aiberni [Bharath] Shanker       57.5       5

5       1140       Crimson Rage [Vijay] M. Reuben       56.5       1

6       2140       Ballet Master [Errol] R. Yadav       56.0       9

7       4341       Inside Story [Vijay] C. Alford       56.0       2

8       0011       Smart Charmer [Daniel] Merchant       51.5       7

9       1232       Flamebird [Bharath] S. Rabani       51.0       8

1. Inside Story (7) 2. smart charmer (8) 3. Aiberni (4)

Inside Story: Looking much improved. May do the trick Smart Charmer: Heading for his third straight win. Aiberni: May place.

7. Dorania Handicap 1,400m (Cl III; Rt.40-70) 4.55 pm

1       1020       Gallant Romeo [Errol] R. Ahmed       61.0       4

2       0100       My Opinion [Karki] Amjad K.       59.5       8

3       0400       Regency Times [Daniel] Md Amil       58.5       3

4       0333       Star Selection [Daniel] Merchant       58.5       7

5       2301       Abridge [Bharath] Md Islam       57.0       2

6       2232       Lucifer [Rodrigues] Upadhya       57.0       6

7       0110       Say It Loud [Javed] R. Gowli       56.5       1

8       2341       Secret Force [Daniel] K. Suresh       54.5       5

1. star selection (4) 2. lucifer (6) 3. secret force (8)

Star Selection: Well in at the weights. May win. Lucifer: Known for his fighting qualities. May go close to the winner. Secret Force: May place.

Day’s Best: Blushing Queen Double: Alexine & Star Selection