Calcutta: The RCTC handicapper was a man quite pleased with himself after the Friday’s race-meeting. Thanks to his arithmetic of weights, four of the six events in the afternoon’s card were decided with the help of camera to make the day’s fare an exiting one. Equally overjoyed were the racegoers who virtually had a field day with the favourites. Barring the main event, the Balam Cup, and the Mountain Lily Handicap, punters liked it all.
It was Daniel David’s 5-1 outsider Arctic Fancy who downed the public-choice Alsheim virtually at the post. Amyn Merchant, who partnered the winner rode a very competent race. He had the Tecorno-Chinzi mare dropped out of contention early on and utilised her short burst of speed to catch S. Shanker napping on the Vijay Singh trainee. Vijay, however, opened his account in the following event through Midnight Escape.
RESULTS
1. Sermon Handicap 1,100m: (2-4-3-1) Calabash (C. Alford) 1; Auctioneer (Jayaprakash) 2; Grecian Prince (Merchant) 3; Sencai (Som S.) 4. Not run: Adams Dream (5). Won by: 3-3/4; 3/4; Dist: (1-12.9). Tote: Win Rs 16; Place: 12; 17; Quinella: 21; Shp: 27; Tanala: 40. Fav: Calabash (2). Winner trained by Mujeeb R.
2. Fusebox Handicap 1,400m: (3-2-4-1) Kainat (M. Reuben) 1; Red Cordon (Merchant) 2; Calcuttan (C. Alford) 3; Aldridge (Shanker) 4. Won by: 1-1/4; 2; 1-1/2; (1-33.7). Tote: Win Rs 25; Place: 13; 20; 12; Quinella: 101; Shp: 63; Tanala: 296. Fav: Calcuttan (4). Winner trained by Javed K.
3. Aztec Cup 1,800m: (1-6-4-3) Prince of Fashion (I. Chisty) 1; Ace Of Spades (Amil) 2; Rheinheart (Shanker) 3; Brave Show (C. Alford) 4. Not run: Flamebird (5). Won by: Nk; 2; 3/4; (2-1.8). Tote: Win Rs 25; Place: 15; 37; Quinella: 155; Shp: 50; Tanala: 668. Fav: Prince Of Fashion (1). Winner trained by R. Alford.
4. Mountain Lily Handicap 1,100m: (4-6-5-2) Heaven’s Blessing (Surjeet S.) 1; Flinders (M. Reuben) 2; Rasputin (I. Chisty) 3; Castle Moon (Surender) 4. Won by: Nk; 3/4; 3; (1-14.4). Tote: Win Rs 75; Place: 20; 13; 13; Quinella: 123; Shp: 45; Tanala: 545. Fav: Rasputin (5). Winner trained by Bath.
5. Balam Cup 1,100m: (4-9-5-2) Arctic Fancy (Merchant) 1; Alsheim (Shanker) 2; Sky Command (Jayaprakash) 3; Ispahan (Surjeet S.) 4. Won by: Hd; 1-1/4; 1/2; (1-12.2). Tote: Win Rs 43; Place: 15; 16; 16; Quinella: 49; Shp: 39; Tanala: 225. Fav: Alsheim (9). Winner trained by Daniel D.
6. Pickwick Handicap 1,400m: (1-8-3-4/9) Midnight Escape (C. Alford) 1; Adeline (Merchant) 2; Mr. Bombs-hell (Islam) 3; Black Mane (A. P. Sin-gh) & Schumacher (S. Salam) 4. Not run: Bul Bul (2). Won by: 1-3/4; 9-1/4; 1-1/4; (1-31.5). Tote: Win Rs 18; Place: 12; 18; 15; Quinella: 66; Shp: 62; Tanala: 290. Fav: Midnight Escape (1). Winner trained by Vijay S.
Jackpot: Rs 4,295; (C) Rs 889.
Treble: (i) Rs 102; (ii) Rs 623.
