Calcutta: On a typical monsoon afternoon with light drizzle, the racing at RCTC track exploded into action on Wednesday with drama, excitement, and upsets.
The feature event, the 1,400m Calcutta Fillies Trial Stakes, was a thriller. With hot-favourite Shine withdrawn after misbehaving in the stalls, the stage was wide open. Enola Holmes blazed away in front, but Western India challenger S. Waheed-trained Merlet (Mukesh Kumar-up) shot clear in the straight.
Under pressure, she drifted badly, hampering the fast-finishing Morano (Antony Raj), who fell short by a neck. An objection was inevitable, and the stewards deliberated long and hard before allowing Merlet to keep the race. Morano’s camp could only curse their luck.
If Merlet stole the race, P. Tejeshwar and B.Rajender Reddy stole the show, with double a peice. The unhearled rider Tejeshwar drove B. Rajender Reddy-trained Cool Daddy, a 20/1 outsider who stormed from last to first and held off Trevor-ridden favourite Global Fashion.
Tejeshwar returned to partner Aashay Doctor-trained Only Dreams, who remarkably scored an easy victory in the 1,400m, Retort Handicap, after a nine-month layoff — a tribute to both trainer and rider.
The 1,600m Shivansh Cup witnessed Rutherford Alford-trained Sativur (Imran Chisty) proved unstoppable, trouncing the field, with Raffaello running on for second.
Hyderabad challenger Arabeska (Akshay Kumar) cruised to victory in the 1,800m Brush Aside Handicap, sailing past long-time leader Galway Girl.
Aashay Doctor-trained Sabar (Trevor Patel) finally shed her maiden tag in the upper division of the Dysnomia Handicap. The afternoon ended with B. Rajender Reddy’s quietly fancied Trillionaire (Vishal Bunde) making every post a winning one in the lower division, completing a smart double for the trainer.