Calcutta: It is festive time again at the RCTC raceground on New Year’s Day. An eight event card, that includes sponsored events like the Eveready Alkaline Sprinters’ Trophy and the Eveready Indian Produce Stakes, also has a touch of royalty, thanks to His Majesty the king of Nepal who has donated the Nepal Gold Cup, an annual feature on January 1. All three events, however, bear a very open outlook.
The sprint event may see clash of titans — Bold Chieftan and Strengthtostrength — the two very high handicapped horses in the country’s turf circuit. However, both are past their prime, though until last winter they reigned supreme.
However, the fact that Strengthtostrength has, in his two mock-trials here, been showing glimpse of his form that helped the eight-year-old claim a rare double of wins — the Sprinters’ Cup and the Super Mile — during the Invitational weekend last March, the Farajullah-Powerglide from John Stephens’ yard may just about beat Bold Chieftan to annex the sprinters’ crown in the hands of Robert Gowli.
Andropov in the Produce Stakes faces no serious threat from the rival quarters. It is his vastly improved stable-mate, Thrilling Proposal, who may pose problem to the Vijay Singh-trainee who moved luxuriously in the last furlong to score a runaway victory. The Proposal had placed third, albeit far behind in the race.
Hello Brother, who had outclassed Andreyev in Mysore, may do so again if the six-year-old manages to produce a repeat performance in the Nepal Gold Cup. Although it was only about 10 days ago that the Young Senor-One Up son ran, that run is best ignored as he needed the lung opener. Chowksey Ruzaan partners the Farley Rodrigues-trained gelding.
Royal Command shapes as a good bet in the Winged Tiger Handicap for three-year-old and over in Class V to be run over a 1,100m scurry. The Excalibur’s Lake-Bruno Conti son has attained fitness after running forward races against stiff opposition.
Read as Horse nos, last four runs, horse name, trainer, jockey, weight & draw:
1. Robert Bruce Handicap 1,600m (Cl lII;Cl IV; Rt 22-72) 12 noon
1 3331 Alborada [Daniel] Gallagher 60.0 2
2 4102 Flamebird [Bharath] R. Marshall 60.0 1
3 0120 Midas Touch [Bhungard] B. Gurang 59.5 3
4 1212 Kainat [Javed] M. Reuben 57.0 6
5 - - 11 Arrayal [Bharath] C. Alford 54.0 5
6 4044 Rheinheart [Bath] C. Ruzaan 51.5 4
1. ARRAYAL (5) 2. KAINAT (4) 3. FLAMEBIRD (2)
Arrayal: Promoted upon his easy win. May do the trick again. Kainat: May trouble all if he maintains a straight course. Flamebird: Top weight may prove a stopper.
2. Whiplash Handicap 1,600m (Cl IV,Cl V; Rt. 00-50) 12-35 pm Indian jockeys only
1 3004 Knoxville [R. Alford] S. Domingo 60.0 1
2 - - 22 Annotate [Bharath] C. Alford 57.0 7
3 3100 Finders Keepers [Jaiswal] E. Smith 57.0 4
4 0000 Courtesan [R. Alford] Rutherford 56.5 2
5 4001 Capistrano [Rodrigues] C. Ruzaan 55.0 6
6 0404 Flying Scot [Bath] G. Singh 54.5 3
7 0040 Schumacher [Daniel] Md Amil 52.5 8
8 4403 She’s A Star [Jaiswal] I. Chisty 51.0 5
1. Annotate (2) 2. Capistrano (5) 3. knoxville (1)
Annotate: Looking much improved. May take some beating. Capistrano: The quick run may work against her interest. Knoxville: Working very well. May place.
3. Nepal Gold Cup 2,200m (Cl I; Cl II; Rt. 66-94 ) 1-05 pm Indian jockeys only
1 2330 Anolini [Vijay] Shanker 60.0 2
2 0430 Hello Brother [Rodrigues] C. Ruzaan 57.5 3
3 - 041 Among Men [Javed] R. Gowli 56.0 4
4 - 312 Andreyev [Vijay] C. Alford 55.0 1
1. hello brother (2) 2. Andreyev (4) 3. anolini (1)
Hello Brother: Had outclassed Andreyev in Mysore. May hold him again at the busy end despite his poor looks. Andreyev: Troubled six in-a-row winner Smart Ruler over a mile. Known to relish staying trips. Anolini: May place.
4. Eveready Alkaline Sprinters’ Trophy 1,200m (Terms, 4-y-o & over) 1.45 pm
1 - 110 Alcalde [Bharath] C. Alford 57.0 4
2 1440 Bold Chieftan [Daniel] Gallagher 57.0 3
3 0012 Comedy Of Errors [R. Alford] I. Chisty 57.0 5
4 1121 Immaculate [Daniel] C. Ruzaan 57.0 6
5 1000 Royal Satin [R. Alford] Rutherford 57.0 1
6 - - 00 Strengthtostrength [Stephens]R. Gowli 57.0 2
1. strengthtostrength (6) 2. bold chieftan (2) 3. royal satin (5)
Strengthtostrength: Ignore his Pune form. Has attained fitness through his two mock trials. Bold Chieftan: Went easy in Calorescence’s race. May offer stiff resistance to the best in the field. Royal Satin: May place.
5. Winged Tiger Handicap 1,100m (Cl V, Rt 00-28) 2.20 pm Indian jockeys only
1 4140 Anacott [Vijay] Surender S. 61.0 8
2 0413 Arian [R. Alford] Rutherford 59.5 11
3 0400 Royal Command [Daniel] C. Ruzaan 59.5 5
4 4002 Adams Dream [Karki] M. Reuben 58.5 9
5 2303 Heaven’s Blessing [Bath] G. Singh 58.0 4
6 - - 00 Bold Apparel [Bhungard] Md Yacoob 56.0 7
7 0031 Gryffindor [Bharath] S. Rabani 56.0 3
8 1000 Mahika’s Pet [Mujeeb] Haroon K. 55.5 2
9 0043 Idolize [Vijay] Shanker 54.5 1
10 0000 Sweet Revenge [R. Alford] Tamang 54.5 10
11 2004 Super Twist [Bharath] Md Islam 53.0 6
1. ROYAL COMMAND (3) 2. ARIAN (2) 3. SUPER TWIST (11)
Royal Command: Has fooled around in his last two runs. Looking fit to strike. Arian: Met with an interference and lost his last start. Super Twist: May place.
6. Eveready Indian Produce Stakes 1,200m Terms, 3-y-o only) 2.55 pm
1 - - - 1 Loveisblind [Bharath] R. Marshall 57.0 6
2 - - - 1 Andropov [Vijay] C. Alford 56.5 1
3 - - - 0 Autumn Fantasy [Daniel] C. Ruzaan 53.0 7
4 - 242 Destiny’s Trick [R. Alford] Rutherford 53.0 5
5 - - - 3 Great Ambition [Daniel] Gallagher 53.0 4
6 - - - 0 Gypsy King [Bharath] I. Chisty 53.0 2
7 - - - 3 Thrilling Proposal [Vijay] Shanker 53.0 3
1. Andropov (2) 2. thrilling proposal (7) 3. great ambition (5)
Andropov: Came with a good run from far away to win a scurry. May relish the additional 100 metres. Thrilling Proposal: Vastly improved since his third behind Andropov. May take the field by a surprise. Great Ambition: May place.
7. Phoenecian Handicap 1,200m (Cl III; Rt. 44-72) 3.30 pm
1 0014 Excellent Striker [Daniel] B. Gurang 60.5 1
2 1200 Secret Adversary [Daniel] Upadhya 58.5 8
3 0000 Sky Command [Mujeeb] Md Islam 58.0 11
4 - - - 0 Aherlow [Vijay] Shanker 57.5 2
5 0000 Kargil Soldier [Stephens] P. Alford 57.5 9
6 3403 Lively Project [Daniel] Gallagher 56.0 7
7 1000 Sergeant Slipper [Bhungard] R. Ahmed 55.0 6
8 - 100 Software [Stephens] Brij S. 52.5 4
9 0000 Reine Beau [Bhungard] S. Salam 52.0 5
10 0200 Abridge [Bharath] S. Rabani 50.5 10
11 - - -0 Venus [Javed] Som S.. 48.0 3
1. venus (11) 2. sky command (3) 3. excellent striker (1)
Venus: Caught the eye in her last start. Its about the time she struck. Sky Command: Best in class. Looking fit, too. Excellent Striker: May upset.
8. Azhar Cup 1,400m (Cl II, Rt. 66-94) 4.05 pm
1 0000 Ballet Master [Bhungard] A. P. Singh 60.0 6
2 4324 Lockers Park [Bharath] R. Marshall 59.5 5
3 - 440 Secret Blessing’s [Daniel] Upadhya 58.0 4
4 1202 Calamint [Vijay] C. Alford 57.5 9
5 - 102 Sanctified Star [Bhungard] Gallagher 55.0 7
6 0000 Arctic Fancy [Daniel] S. Salam 53.0 8
7 - - - 2 Arzillo [Vijay] Shanker 51.5 3
8 4443 Illustrious Reign [Jaiswal] Som S. 51.0 1
9 0431 Cool Quest [R. Alford] I. Chisty 48.0 2
1. calamint (4) 2. sanctified star (5) 3. arzillo (7)
Calamint: Lost to Arcaro, a good horse. May win now. Sanctified Star: May pose problem to all if he does not burst a blood vessel. Arzillo: Looking fit. May upset.
Day’s Best: Royal Command Double: Annotate & Andropov
