Calcutta: Astrology pundits predict a good beginning for bookmakers on the New Year’s Day. But fields in Sunday’s eight-event card suggest otherwise. Trainers Vijay Singh and Daniel David’s favourites are expected to bring in cheers for the usual big crowd at the RCTC ground. However, the competition is going to be tough and close finishes are on the cards.

The trophy-studded afternoon card includes two ‘terms’ races ' the Indian Produce Stakes and the Calcutta Sprinters’ Trophy ' both over 1,200m sprints. The Produce Stakes, the baby-race, boasts of throwing up future champions and there are at least three youngsters in the seven-horse line-up ' Best Of The Blues, Bright Blossom and Ardelis ' who would be heard of regularly in the coming months.

However, it is Ardelis, a debutante, who gets the nod over the rest in view of his superior bloodline and thorough preparations.

Romantic Fire, who outsmarted rivals in his last start, may do trick again in the Sprinters’ Trophy. Jockey C.Alford partners both horses from Vijay’s yard.Read as: Sl. nos, last 4 runs, horse name, trainer, jockey, weight & draw:

1. Goodfellas Cup 2,000m (Cl lII;Cl IV; Rt. 20-70) 12 noon

1       - -00        Starlite [Errol] Gurang       60.0       4

2       1113       Rheinheart [Bath] Srinath       59.5       2

3       3221       Star Phoenix [Daniel] Ross       56.0       1

4       2000       Spectacular Star [Rodrigues] Surjeet       54.0       3

5       3130       Clockwork [Vijay] Mark       53.5       6

6       0021       Oklahoma [Javed] Rajesh       53.5       5

7       3200       Mighty Flash [Daniel] Ruzaan       47.0       7

1. OKLAHOMA (6) 2. STAR PHOENIX (3) 3. CLOCKWORK (5)

Oklahoma: Well in at the weights. Will not go down without a fight. Star Phoenix: Maintains form, may trouble all. Clockwork: May place.

2. RCTC Gold Vase 2,200m (Cl I; Cl II; Rt. 60 & over) 12.30 pm

1       1343       Compassionate [Javed] Islam       60.0       4

2       - 400       Decameron [Errol] Salim       53.0       3

3       - - - 2       Exclusive Affair [Vijay] C.Alford       52.0       1

4       2221       Actuary [Javed] Mark       49.5       5

5       - - 04       Rising Force [Daniel] Ruzaan       47.0       2

1. exclusive affair (3) 2. rising force (5) 3. actuary (4)

Exclusive Affair: Troubled the sprint-specialist Serrafina in a 1,200m race. Returns to his own trip. Rising Force: Performed poorly in the Guineas. Targeting next Sunday’s Derby. Actuary: May place.

3. Baba Trophy 1,400m (Cl V; Rt.00-30) 1.05 pm

1       0304       Alcinia [Javed] Shanker       61.5       2

2       0013       Azinger [Bharath] J.Gurang       61.5       8

3       - 334       Heer [Bath] Asghar       61.0       9

4       - - - 0       Sweet Charity [Stephens] Domingo       61.0       10

5       - - - 0       Ganga Bose [Rodrigues] Surjeet       60.5       5

6       0004       Greenfields [Daniel] Ross       58.0       7

7       0122       Vancouver [Bath] Afzal       56.5       4

8       0003       Tropical Flower [Errol] P.Alford       55.5       1

9       0303       Royal Contender [Jaiswal] Salim       55.0       6

10       - 300       Sugar Babe [Karki] Smith       55.0       3

1. tropical flower (8) 2. greenfields (6) 3. sugar babe (10)

Tropical Flower: Her last run is best ignored. Working well. Greenfie-lds: Will be thereabouts if the Flower fails. Sugar Babe: Keep an eye.

4. Baba Nauratan Cup 1,200m (Cl IV; Cl V;Rt. 00-50) 1.45 pm

1       - 041       Kandinsky [Javed] Afzal       62.0       6

2       - - 00       Ace Of Hearts [Errol] Akhtar       61.0       10

3       - - - -       A’Ma Jaju [Rodrigues] Surjeet       60.5       1

4       - - 03       All For Love [Karki] V.Jaiswal       60.0       7

5       1321       Arabie [Errol] Ross       58.0       8

6       0402       Falcon Fly [Daniel] Ruzaan       54.5       5

7       - 300       Predecessor [Errol] R.Ahmed       53.0       3

8       - - - 0       Malkin [Bath] Asghar       52.5       4

9       - - - -       Silver Grey [Vijay] C.Alford       52.5       9

10       3100       Secret Desire [Stephens] Aharwal       52.0       2

1. silver grey (9) 2. kandinsky (1) 3. a’ma jaju (3)

Silver Grey: Working and looking extreme well. May make a winning debut. Kandinsky: Eyeing for an encore of wins. A’Ma Jaju: May upset.

5. Calcutta Sprinters’ Trophy 1,200m (Terms, 4-y- & over) 2.20 pm

1       - - 00       Daring Don [Karki] A.P.Singh       57.0       6

2       - 304       Exploding Wonder [Javed] Srinath       57.0       1

3       - - - 1       Romantic Fire [Vijay] C.Alford       57.0       4

4       - - 03       Saratoga Sizzle [Bharath] Islam       57.0       7

5       4134       Sea Legend [Karki] Harish       57.0       2

6       - 040       Senor Pele [Daniel] Ross       57.0       5

7       - - 00       Star Magic [Bath] Shanker       57.0       3

8       - - -01       War Zone [Daniel] Ruzaan       57.0       9

9       1121       Serrafina [Vijay] Merchant       55.5       8

1. romantic fire (3) 2. serrafina (9) 3. exploding wonder (2)

Romantic Fire: Outsmarted rivals in his last outing. May assert his superior class again. Serrafina: May trouble the best with a level start. Exploding Wonder: Upset, if any.

6. Indian Produce Stakes 1,200m (Terms, 3-y- only) 2.55 pm

1       - - 11       Best Of The Blues (Daniel] Ross       57.0       4

2       - - - -       Active Asset [Daniel] Maseyk       50.0       6

3       - - - -       Ardelis [Vijay] C.Alford       50.0       3

4       - - - 2       Bright Blossom [Vijay] Merchant       50.0       5

5       - - - 0       Imperial Stride [Errol] Ruzaan       50.0       2

6       - - - 0       Megillah [Bath] Harish       48.5       1

7       - 304       Psychic Blue [Sanjeev] V.Jaiswal       48.5       7

1. ardelis (3) 2. bright blossom (4) 3. imperial stride (5)

Ardelis: A better rated youngster in the stable compared to Bright Blossom. Prepared for a winning debut. Bright Blossom: Was impressive in his defeat suffered at the hands of Best Of The Blues who went on to strike again. Imperial Stride: Upset, if any.

7. Pat Quinn Memorial Trophy 1,400m (Cl II; Cl III; Rt. 40-90) 3.35 pm

1       - - - -       Maracaibo [R.Alford] Rutherford       61.5       2

2       3434       The Polynesian [Karki] Kujur       59.5       10

3       1223       Autocop [Bharath] Shanker       59.0       6

4       2124       Remarquable [Daniel] Ross       57.5       13

5        3030       El Cid [Jaiswal] V.Jaiswal       57.0       7

6       - 000       Ciraja [Robin] Surjeet       56.0       4

7       - 111       Knowledgeable [Vijay] C.Alford       54.5       8

8       3300       Way To The Stars [Stephens] Islam       52.5       3

9       - 022       Aag [Javed] Rajesh       52.0       9

10       0334       Immaculate (Errol] Paswan       52.0       11

11       - - 10       Supreme Chancellor [Daniel] Ruzaan       51.5       1

12       - 120       Give Der Slip [Karki] Harish       51.0       12

13       3404       Arrayal [R.Alford] Domingo       49.0       5

1. supreme chancellor (11) 2. aag (9) 3. knowledgeable (7)

Supreme Chancellor: Something brewing with him. Wait till the right money comes. Aag: Twice unlucky. May do the trick now. Knowledgeable: Unbeaten till date. Give Der Slip: Fancied for sentimental reasons.

8. Dharampal Premchand Trophy 1,600m (Cl IV, Cl V; Rt. 00-50) 4.10 pm

1       0000       Midas Touch [Daniel] Yadav       60.0       9

2       0004       Imperialistic [Daniel] Ross       59.5       7

3       3204       Mayavi [Karki] A.P.Singh       58.5       8

4       2224       Over The Rainbow [R.Alford] Rutherford       58.0       10

5        1000       Boldwin [Stephens] K.Kumar       56.5       13

6       - - - 2       Drop Dead Gorgeous [Vijay] C.Alford       56.5       5

7       0240       Eglevsky [Rodrigues] Surjeet       56.5       14

8       0343       Serengetti [R.Alford] Domingo       56.5       6

9       0400       Universal Prince [Rodrigues] R.Ahmed       56.5       1

10       2011       Poetic Moment [Daniel] Ruzaan       56.0       4

11       - - 00       Awesum Attitude [Karki] Smith       55.5       2

12       - - - 0       Pellegrino [Bharath] Islam       54.0       12

13       4100       Generous Gift [Daniel] Paswan       53.5       11

14       0430       Regal Rocket [Jaiswal] V.Jaiswal       49.0       3

1. drop dead gorgeous (6) 2. imperialistic (2) 3. serengetti (8)

Drop Dead Gorgeous: Impressive in her defeat. May be hard to beat if she is able to take two quick runs in her stride. Imperialistic: A failed-favourite. Deserves another chance. Serengetti: A long shot.

Day’s Best: Exclusive Affair Double: Oklahoma & Silver Grey