Calcutta: Satish Narredu trained Casteel (Suraj Narredu-up),warmed up in the closing stages to get the better of pace setter Global Influence (Vinod Shinde), to claim the Calcutta 2000 Guineas, the main attraction, in the seven-event card here on Saturday.
Global Influence shot to the front from the word ‘go’ and kept on going gallantly in front, Suraj had to put all his expertise astride the favourite to gain a none to impressive victory, rest of the field was outclassed. Perhaps the slow pace nearly caught the favourite napping.
Suraj was seen at his best astride another piping hot favourite, the Aman Altaf Hussain trained Soup And Sandwich, in the Daring Don Handicap, over 1100m,the favourite just about manage to edge out La Dominate (G.Vivek) and Outlander (R.Vaibhav) in a three way blanket finish, thus gaining a double for the day.
The day’s proceedings began with the first two-year-olds maiden race, The Quasar Plate, Neil Darashah had three of the four runners, Galway Girl (Suraj Narredu) was the public fancy, with Victoria Cross (A.Sandesh) next in demand, Trevor Patel astride Kyoto easily swept past the fancied runners to return an impressive winner, both the public fancies ran green when put under pressure.
Trevor too had a double for the day, in the Supreme Choice Handicap, over 2000m, easily, astride Arti Doctor trained Main Street at nourishing odds,the favourite, Champagnesupernova (Yash Narredu) raised an unsuccessful objection against the winner.
In the very next race, the Moon Forest Plate Division I, over 1400m, Trevor astride Neil Darashah trained Bibury, (an ‘on’money favourite) unfortunately came a croper around 500 meters from home, while switching lanes, luckily Trevor escaped with minor injuries, while Bibury returned lame due to the fall. Unfancied B.Mahesh trained Marcolini (P.Tajeswar) won from another long shot Dancing Queen (app Ankush) with Super Sapphire (R.Shelar) finishing on late to finish an impressive third.
Change of equipment worked wonders for Vikash Jaiswal trained Emperor Ashoka (R.Vaibhav-up), in the Sentouki Handicap, the five-year-old gelding got the measure of the quietly fancied Sky Hawk (Mohit Singh) in the closing stages of the race. Winter Star (J.H.Arul ) finished on from the rear of the field to finish third.
The Moon Forest Handicap, Division II, saw strongly fancied, Rutherford Alford trained Italian Gold (Imran Chisty-up), gaining his maiden win as a five-year-old,with a measure of comfort, Vinalia (G.Vivek ) finished a long way second. The winner has more races in store for him in the season ahead.
Notable Runners:
Super Sapphire, Winter Star, Kyoto, La Dominate and Outlander.