Raffaello Strikes in Style

Calcutta: Trainer Aashay Doctor’s consistent performer, Raffaello (Ashhad Asbar-up), easily accounted for his twelve rivals to his way to winning the Captain Courageous Cup, the feature event here on Saturday.  
  Ashhad Asbar had the seven-year-old settled in mid-bunch and let the 4/1 shot go sweeping past leaders — Destroyer and Galaticus — before holding off a late challenge from Dali Swirl (R. Manish) and Sir Baffert (Imran Chisty) to secure the victory.
  It was another fruitful afternoon for Rajesh Narredu, who teamed up with Yash to score a double — and thus taking the lead in the trainer’s championship ahead of Aashay Doctor.
  In the day’s opener, the 1,400m Scarlet Prince Handicap, Cashalaika (Yash), the 10/6-on favourite, was hard-pressed to stave off the spirited challenge of Vikash Jaiswal trained Dancing Queen (Apprentice Ankush).
  Yash was at his best aboard Star Concept in the 1,100m Bruckner Plate, a No Whip Race. Waiting patiently for a run along the rails behind the pace-setters Kay Star and Honey Cake, the winner nailed them at the post in a thrilling four-horse-finish.
  In the same race Mathangi, despite an erratic start, finished an impressive fourth.
  Trainer Sabeel Shariff’s Raissa (Vishal Bunde) completed an encore with a dominant pillar-to-post victory in the 1,100m Winged Tiger Handicap, thanks to Javed Khan-trained favourite Memphis appearing flat-footed when it mattered most.
  The 1,600m Zarashah Handicap provided a thrilling finish, with Rutherford Alford’s No Worry (Imran Chisty) producing a start-to-finish victory. However, the winner just about managed to hold onto his lead as the late-finishing Jahzara (R. Vaibhav) and Sea Eagle (J. H. Arul) closed in. Favourite Snowpiercer (Ashhad Asbar) run was questionable, raising eyebrows.
  The day concluded with Neil Darashah’s 10/1 outsider, By the Book (J. H. Arul), prevailing in a three-way finish, narrowly defeating Suparakiga (Ashhad Asbar) and Tortilla Chip (P. Tajeswar). The last named was impressive with a late surge from the rear.