Calcutta: Leading jockey Suraj Narredu set the Royal Calcutta Turf Club alight on Friday, firing in a sparkling treble and, once again, underlining his big-race prowess.
The afternoon began in style when Arti Doctor unveiled a smart debutant in Upper Street (P. Tejeshwar), who cruised to a sensational victory in the 1,400m Agostini Handicap.
The very next race witnessed Aashay Doctor’s Argento (Imran Chisty) storm home in the Pa Bear Plate. Despite his odds drifting as punters backed Fifty Shades and Knotty Nash, Argento delivered in emphatic fashion. Keep an eye on Vijay Singh’s Stormchaser, who, after a tardy start and racing green, finished a promising third.
Suraj’s determination proved decisive aboard Vijay Singh’s Schoenberg, who just managed to cling on to a start-to-finish success thanks to, Live It Love It drifting outward at a crucial stage.
The feature, the 1,100m Calorific Cup, produced a commanding front-running performance from Neil Darashah-trained Victoria Cross, who powered clear in the straight to win with authority. The much-hyped Morano failed to mount a serious challenge.
Suraj fittingly capped his golden day with a tactically brilliant ride aboard Paulite Warrior in the Captain Courageous Handicap, sealing his treble and handing Darashah a well-supported double.
Earlier, Vishal Bunde produced a thrilling late surge aboard Rutherford Alford-trained Three Little Words to snatch victory from favourite Contessina in the shadows of the post.