Calcutta: Trainer Deepesh Narredu’s star filly Heart produced a performance to savour, keeping her date with destiny as she swept aside her rivals to land the Grade III Usha Stud-sponsored Calcutta Oaks in imperious fashion at the RCTC grounds on Saturday.
The Gusto filly oozed class throughout the gruelling mile-and-a-half contest. Shadowing the front-running Eleanora (A.Prakash) with effortless ease, Heart moved up menacingly on the bridle before Suraj Narredu let her stride at the top of the straight.
What followed was a devastating burst of acceleration as Heart powered clear, crossing the line a magnificent five-lengths clear. While the Oaks heroine was in a league of her own, the gallant Eleanora emerged as the undisputed best of the rest and is one to keep firmly on the radar.
With this commanding victory, Heart has thrown down the gauntlet to the colts ahead of the Derby on January 11. Jockey Suraj Narredu, who partnered both Gold Empire and Heart to victories over the Derby distance on the same afternoon, played his cards close to his chest when pressed on his Derby choice.
During the afternoon, trainer Rutherford Alford and jockey Mukesh Kumar combined fruitfully for a well-backed double. Ksepiman kicked things off with a dominant win in the 2,400m Misty Melody Handicap, leaving Garth and favourite Multi Success well adrift.
The pair struck again in the finale when the well backed Godsend Divine produced a rousing finish to reel in Simran’s Attitude in the Tiger Tops Handicap, both winners breaking their maiden status in style and providing early Christmas cheer for the Alford camp.
Earlier, A. Prakash lit up the card with a lucrative double. Shyam Habbu trained Oishika finally got her moment in the sun, edging out Contessina and Lavish Girl in a thrilling three-way finish, while S.Waheed’s 10/1 chance Victorious Omen stunned the field in the Navy Cup, Vivaldi (Hindu Singh) finished on a leasurily second, leaving favourite Hermod to toil.
Rajesh Narredu’s Gold Empire cantered home in the Statue Of Liberty Handicap, a Derby rehearsal that spoke volumes.
Runs to Ignore:
Hermod and Multi Success.