The opening day of the Calcutta winter season kicked off at the RCTC grounds on Wednesday, albeit on the monsoon track. The six-event card framed for the afternoon was not only action-packed, the close contests also brought a sizeable race crowd on the edge of their seats.
In the day’s feature, the Hilliard Cup, trainer Patrick Quinn’s Blackstone (A.Sandesh-up), strongly supported at race time, just about managed to neck out Neil Darashah trained Clifford (J.H.Arul), who at one stage got the measure of the the favourite 75m from home, Sandesh managed to get that wee bit extra in the dying moments of the race to score narrowly. King's Retreat (the winners stablemate) who finished on a leisurely in third spot is the one for the notebook.
Jockey Imran Chisty was the only professional to complete a double. In the Secret Fire Handicap, Chisty drove out Rutherford trained Celtic Harlequin from mid field to collar early leader Zucardi and Bundle Of Charm at the top of the straight to win at nourishing odds. The favourite Leather Back (J.H.Arul ) and the second in demand Kay Star (Kirtish Bhagat), were kept far too back in the early stages of the 1100m race, to put up any serious challenge, ultimately finishing second and third.
In the concluding event, Chisty had the B. Mahesh trained Cyrenaica behind the early leaders Indian Tiger, King Roger, Dancing Queen Liban and Kaitlan, the on money favourite, in the final furlong Cyrenaica flew past trainer Anil Kumar's battling stablemates King Roger and Liban to score by widening three plus lengths. The favourite Kaitlan never raised a winning gallop despite being well up with the leaders, later it was learn that the horse returned lame.
The Pretty Woman Handicap, over 1400m, witnessed an impressive show by Rajesh Narredu trained Sensational (Trevor Patel), coming from the back of the field to easily sail pass Shez R Star (Kirtish Bhagat). The winner scored a lot easier than the official verdict. Star Concept, the winner’s stablemate was third in the race, while Patrick Quinn’s on money favourite Menjou's Moustache (A.Sandesh) never got going at any stage of the race.
The Gorgeous Handicap, for horses in the lowest class trainer Sabeel Shariff’s Lightning Charlie (Arman Khan-up) was heavily backed. The horse just about got the better of Vikash Jaiswal trained Elite (Vinay Jaiswal) in the bobbling of heads. Make a note of Lineupandcollect who finished fourth, while the third placed Marcolini will improve on this forward run.
The opening event of the afternoon saw Anil Kumar trained Dragon’s Gold (Kirtish Bhagat-up) upset the applecart of the on-money favourite Wonderful (L.Alex Rozario). Available at nourishing odds, Dragon’s Gold was sent to the front from the start and kicked on courageously. The winner was challenged by Wonderful all down the straight.