Calcutta: Trainer Aashay Doctor’s five-year-old mare Trakila announced her return to form in emphatic fashion while landing the 1,400m Indian Gold Vase at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club race ground on Wednesday.
Ridden with supreme confidence by Trevor Patel, Trakila was settled at the rear for most of the journey. She suddenly unleashed a dazzling run opposite the grandstand, sweeping past the field in a matter of strides to score with authority. Casteel reportedly returned lame.
Trakila’s victory completed a sparkling hat-trick for the Trevor–Aashay combine.
The duo had opened their account with Polka Dot, who captured the 1,400m Andropov Handicap despite conceding weight all around. Trevor sent the 7/1 chance straight to the front and dictated terms throughout to win with utmost ease. Course favourite Laguna Seca (Suraj) never looked threatening. In the same race, Dubai Ruler (Hasib Alam) showed some improvement to finish a good second, while Anigraha (Hindu Singh) had to be content with third.
Trevor and Aashay completed their treble when the three-year-old colt Admiringly edged out Stormchaser in a spirited finish to lift the Grand Annual Mile. Stormchaser was not disgraced in defeat and lives to fight another day.
Earlier in the afternoon, punters were sent seeking cover when Rutherford Alford-trained A Wink And A Smile (Md. Azharuddin) caused a sensation, storming home to shed his maiden status in the Leonardo Handicap, at the age of seven.
Immediately after, in the 1,400m Allodium Handicap, the 15/1 shot, Adeya (Vinay Jaiswal), trained by Javed Khan made every post a winning one, just holding on from owner-mate Amaze And Inspire (Suraj).
The afternoon concluded with Enchanting (Suraj Narredu), from Deepesh Narredu’s yard, scoring a confident victory in the 1,200m Fame Star Handicap, a no-whip race.