Calcutta: The second day of the monsoon meeting proved highly rewarding for racegoers, with five favourites obliging despite a light drizzle and overcast skies. Star of the afternoon was Trevor Patel, who stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, partnering Aashay Doctor’s Morano and Light The World, and Patrick Quinn’s Supreme Grandeur to victory.
The day kicked off with trainer Sabeel Sharrif’s even-money favourite Sky Hawk (Vishal Bunde-up) producing a smart barrier-to-finish triumph over last-start winner Kindred Spirit. The feature event, the Cadman Cup, turned into a one-horse affair, as Neil Darashah’s Victoria Cross (Neeraj Rawal) cruised home ahead of eight rivals. Stablemate Over The Line (J.H. Arul) caught the eye with a strong second-place finish.
Trevor Patel’s winning spree began in the 1,100m Turf Hawk Handicap, where Morano outclassed Enola Homes (Neeraj Rawal) by four lengths. In the 1,100m True Colours Handicap, he delivered a tactically astute ride on Supreme Grandeur to edge out the impressive King Louis (Vishal Bunde). His hat-trick was sealed in the upper division of the 1,100m Imperial Stride Handicap, when Light The World collared runaway leader Kay Star (Arman Khan) in the closing strides, Trevor’s powerful drive making the difference.
The concluding race, the lower division of the Imperial Stride Handicap, saw Rutherford Alford’s rank outsider Celtic Harlequin (Md Azharuddin) stun the field, defeating Cat Whiskers (Hasib Alam).
Impressive runners of the day: Kindred Spirit, Oishika, King Louis, Cat Whiskers