Vijay, Javed dominate proceedings
By Aalibaba
aalibaba@indiarace.comKolkata, December 3, 2003
Trainers Vijay Singh and Javed Khan were the dominant factor in Wednesday's six-event Calcutta race-card. The two professionals picked up five events between themselves with Vijay enjoying the larger share. Obviously, their victory helped scores of C. Alford and M. Reuben take an upwards swing as the two jockeys were doing duty for the respective trainers.
Vijay's treble, however, centred around the three trophy events on the cards and the victory of his baby Aperitivo in the Dangerous Romance Cup opened his day's account. To say that Aperitivo won on his debut run will be an under-statement. The Diffident-Dramatic Irony colt gave an armchair ride to his rider. The verdict recorded by Aperitivo may not suggest so as C. Alford hardly needed to do anything worthwhile for a two-and-half length victory.
A handy third till the '600' Aperitivo was just niggled to make his move and he did the rest as he led from the top of the straight. In fact, it was a day of hat tricks for Vijay and his wards. Matching Vijay's treble, Adderly, who was unbeaten in his two monsoon starts, albeit through narrow wins, recorded his third straight victory and in a facile manner, too. Enjoying a hefty pull at the weights from the monsoon Colts Stakes winner, Richie Rich, and also a significant weight advantage from Blue Chip, the Glory Of Dancer-Warning Show three-year-old justified the faith reposed in him by the stable.
However, Adderly's odds increased alarmingly following a smart money coming on the topweighted Richie Rich. But the victory of the Vijay-trainee, in the 1,600-metre Fame Star Cup, was never in doubt, once he was put in top gear after the topweight came with a challenging run past the distance-post.
In third, early race, Richie Rich did enjoy a length's lead over Adderly, when Bay Dragon dictated terms over Blue Chip, the scence changed once the field traversed the half-way mark. Adderly led from the top of the straight and had a shade under two lengths to spare to the Rich who had to fend hard to keep Blue Chip away by a neck. Queen Of The Nile was never in the race after a slow start.
Vijay's Callisto, though a joint-favourite with Moon Mission to win the Manasseh Memorial Cup over a 1,200-metre sprint, had to contend with a pace-maker's role that suited stable-mate, Inside Story. However, Callisto was never punished to overtake the leader Beneficent early in the race. As a result of this the former lost heart and fizzled out of reckoning. C. Alford, on the other hand, waited for his chancce and brought Inside Story with a long run in the middle of the track to land the spoils. Daniel's Moon Mission, nevertheless, placed a good second despite her topweight. In fourth or fifth and just ahead of Inside Story till the home turn, the Always A Rainbow-Moccasin daughter, however, failed to match acceleration unleashed by the Vijay-winner.
Toe Poke's recent mock race had suggested that the Javed Khan-trainee was a winner when saddled and the Sizzling Melody-Cute Babe filly fully justified her looks and her form while winning the 1,200m Cradle Of The Deep Handicap. She was never under pressure from the start as she led all the way and entered the home-stretch three lengths clear of the field. She was, however, eased up way before the winning post to allow Daniel's Bit Of Luck to come as close as he did, by a shade over a length. Significantly, Bit Of Luck, who was always in chase of the winner, was punished relentlessely, to catch up M. Reuben napping once easying up process on Toe Poke started. Artiness was a fair third and may strike soon.
Mayan Hiss' victory was long overdue. The Javed-ward has been showing good track form since the closing days of the monsoon season. And with right money coming on the Pearl Of Life-Sexy Cola daughter, she obliged, even though Reuben had kept the 5-4 favourite far too in the rear thus making it a steep 'ask' in the final stretch. Yet, she covered the ground in a businesslike manner as she dashed hopes of H. S. Bath's new acqusition Vishalakkshi who was always behind the leader Thanks To All, the stable-mate of the winner.
Hitting the front right after the start, Deepak Karki's Castle Moon made a short-work of the opposition in the opener, the Colorado Claro Handicap.
