Calcutta: Suraj Narredu set the turf ablaze at RCTC once again on Thursday, unleashing a sensational hat-trick that brought him within touching distance of a remarkable half-century of winners this season.
The fireworks began in the 1,200m Euphrates Cup, a race for three-year-olds, where he powered Vijay Singh’s Saiko to a commanding victory. Biding his time behind stablemate Silver Dream, Suraj pressed the accelerator at the right moment, and Saiko exploded past to register a resounding win. Favourite Argento plodded on to finish second.
He was back in the spotlight soon after, dictating matters from start to finish aboard Bharath Singh-trained Dona Siena. The mare ran her rivals ragged in the 1,100m Romantic Memories Handicap, never allowing a challenger to get close. Eye-catcher Watch My Stride flew home late and promises more over longer distances.
The treble came in a thrilling three-way finish in the 1,400m Tug of War Handicap with Neil Darashah-trained Lochs And Glens. In a heart-pounding duel, Suraj drove his mount relentlessly to outfight Garth (Trevor Patel) in the shadow of the post, while True Faith (Varun) arrived late to snatch second.
Earlier, Shafiq Khan struck a joyous double. Apprentice N Darshan produced a peach of a ride on Moneycatcher, timing his run to perfection to score an encore in the Alamito Handicap. Italian Gold (Imran Chisty) then followed up in the 1,400m Brave Patriarch Handicap. The seven-year-old defied top weight with a breathtaking last-to-first surge.
The curtain fell with P Trevor guiding Aashay Doctor’s Fable to a smooth victory in the Bright Law Handicap.