Calcutta: The Errol Bhungard-trained less fancied horse Immaculate romped home with the 1,200m Hilliard Cup, the first Class I event in the winter racing calendar and the star attraction in Wednesday?s card. Jockey Paul Kujur partnered the eight-year-old to victory over the strongly fancied Bharath Singh trainee Gypsy King. Errol had also saddled Chief Commissioner to victory earlier in the afternoon to end the day with a priced double.
The day was, otherwise, ruled by trainer Vijay Singh and his stable jockey C. Alford who combined to notch up a good treble in a six-event card. The Vijay-Alford duo started off with Alashaan?s win in the 1,600m Zifi Handicap. The 6-10 favourite by Diffident out of Take A Powder not only travelled the mile trip comfortably but the three-year-old also registered the longest winning verdict of the day.
Another of their half-money favourites Apprise, in the Ardiles Cup, was an equally facile winner. The fact that the four-year-old was returning to the race-track after nearly an eight-month lay off, his victory over Daniel David?s highly-rated three-year-old Royal Bounty looked very impressive.
The trainer-jockey combination scored their third winner in the Soultline Handicap which the 3-1 chance Annabee claimed in a tight-finish from her stablemate Shalom, the 7-4 favourite.
Daniel?s well backed Amazing Career delivered the goods in the Rising Star Cup. But the victory for the horse came at the expense of stable-apprentice Gajender Singh?s suspension. The apprentice was seen making a half-hearted bid on his ride Secret Prospector. He was, however, lucky to have escaped longer suspension than six-race days after a stewards? inquiry into the running and riding of the horse. Gajender will remain suspended between November 20 and December 25.
RESULTS
1. Stand Off Handicap 1,400m: (3-4-5-6) Chief Commissioner (Gajender) 1; Legendary Lover (Yadav) 2; Scent Of Victory (Gowli) 3; Calamite (C. Alford) 4. Won by: SH; 4-1/2; 1; (1-29.3). Tote: Win Rs 52; Place: 14; 40; 19; Quinella: 571; Shp: 187; Tanala: 2,997. Fav: Calamite (6). Winner trained by E. Bhungard.
2. Zifi Handicap 1,600m: (3-7-6-5) Alashaan (C. Alford) 1; Make A Wish (Amil) 2; Cambridge Blue (G. Singh) 3; Diamonds Galore (P. Alford) 4. Won by: 4-1/4; 4-3/4; 3; (1-42.7). Tote: Win Rs 14; Place: 11; 14; 30; Quinella: 20; Shp: 28; Tanala: 131. Fav: Alashaan (3). Winner trained by Vijay S.
3. Rising Star Cup 1,200m: (4-2-1-7) Amazing Career (Akhtar) 1; Secret Prospector (Gajender) 2; Autumn Fantasy (Gurang) 3; Dream Sovereign (R. Ahmed) 4. Not run: Arian (3). Won by: 1/2; 2-3/4; Lnk; (1-17.1). Tote: Win Rs 20; Place: 11; 15; 28; Quinella: 30; Shp: 39; Tanala: 245. Fav: Amazing Career (4). Winner trained by Daniel D.
4. Ardiles Cup 1,400m: (5-4-3-2) Apprise (C. Alford) 1; Royal Bounty (Gajender) 2; Sea Legend (R. Ahmed) 3; El Cid (Salim) 4. Won by: 3-1/2; 4-1/2; 4-1/2; (1-26.9). Tote: Win Rs 14; Place: 10; 14; 48; Quinella: 16; Shp: 19; Tanala: 121. Fav: Apprise (5). Winner trained by Vijay S.
5. Hilliard Cup 1,200m: (6-2-5-1) Immaculate (Kujur) 1; Gypsy King (Islam) 2; Crowning Moment (Rabani) 3; Brighter Future (Gowli) 4. Won by: 3-1/2; 2-1/2; 1-1/4; (1-12.5). Tote: Win Rs 89; Place: 32; 17; Quinella: 113; Shp: 46; Tanala: 1,417. Fav: Announcer (4). Winner trained by E. Bhungard.
6. Soultline Handicap 1,100m: (7-5-9-4) Annabee (C. Alford) 1; Shalom (Shanker) 2; Shimmering River (Amil) 3; Eglevsky (Surjeet) 4. Won by: Nk; 1-1/2; 1-1/4; (1-8). Tote: Win Rs 47; Place: 20; 13; 15; Quinella: 59; Shp: 31; Tanala: 230. Fav: Shalom (5). Winner trained by Vijay S.
Jackpot: Rs 1,150; (C) Rs 162.
Treble: (i) Rs 206; (ii) Rs 383.
