Stewards take tough line on opening day  
By Aalibaba (indiathoroughbreds@hotmail.com)

Kolkata
October 27, 2005

The 2005-06 Kolkata Winter Season got off to an explosive start on Thursday with the RCTC Stewards taking a tough line on erring jockeys while apprentice riders stole the limelight from their seniors.  Four of the six-events on the card were picked up by trainees, leaving C. Alford to salvage some honour for the professionals with a welcome double.

Trainer Vijay Singh was expected to lead-in four winners but apprentice Amandeep Singh’s spirited riding, on Simply Sensational and Noble Flash, foiled his plans. It was an impressive double for the apprentice, his first in a short riding career that began in the just concluded monsoon season with a debut victory on Anokato. Aman’s double included the 1,200m Rising Star Cup, the feature event.

Aman rode a well-judged race on Noble Flash but Alford helped the young apprentice’s cause with a below par ride. Alford brought the 8-10 favourite Bountiful Pleasure eight-wide at the final turn while Noble Flash availed the rail-side gap which proved decisive for Daniel David’s ward. The favourite, making a return to the track after a seven month gap, should strip fitter from this run. 

Surprisingly, Daniel’s Simply Sensational was guided by Aman in the Bountiful Pleasure-way – eight-wide at the home-turn – and yet she thrashed the field which also included Vijay’s half-money favourite, Clockwork. Running close on the heels of Clockwork early in the race, Aman took off from 800m and got going for a shade under seven-length victory. The favourite’s poor paddock-looks could be the possible cause towards her doleful performance. She ended up third, further two lengths behind Strength of Faith on whom there was an inspiring betting minutes before the start of the race.

Vijay’s Alcades and Regal Romance, nevertheless, found the winning brackets in their respective events – the 1,400m Absolution Handicap and the 1,200m Turf Hawk Cup respectively. But again Regal Romance was amply helped was the S. Tamang-ridden Regal Successor, an Errol Bhungard-trainee.

The Successor was taken to the front with a three-length lead from the start but Tamang was observed to be waiting for some one to pass. Alford came to his rescue at the top of the straight to overtake and win untroubled. The late finishing Schumacher further helped the Successor to slide backwards to the third slot. Stewards ordered an enquiry into the running and riding of Regal Successor and handed jockey Tamang a 10-week ban.

Alford led on Alcades from the start and toyed with Remarquable’s challenge throughout final straight. Yet stewards felt otherwise and slapped a 17 week suspension on apprentice Melvyn Maseyk for unsatisfactory riding. It was an amazingly decision against an apprentice who had been out of the saddle for a major part of the monsoon season.

A racing unfit Melvyn, therefore, failed to do justice to his next ride, an 8-10 favourite Mighty Flash, in the Eagle Pine Handicap over 1,400 metres. Mighty Flash, who was in a striking position behind the runaway leader, Regal Rocket, till the final turn, joined the issue with Rheinheart. The superior acceleration along the rail-side wide-opening also helped the in-form apprentice M.Mark to counter the challenge effectively. Melvyn, further failed to contain a late-finishing Thoughtful in the last 50 metres.

The 7-10 favourite Bold Raider won the Prince Blossom Handicap with Chisty hard put to contain a fast finishing Magic Mantra in the last furlong of the race. Steinlen was impressive third, covering good ground from the rear to warrant support in his next outing.

Daniel’s Artistic Blue was expected to perform well in the Alamito Handicap but was a course-withdrawal. The race was claimed by trainer’s other ward, Wayward King, who just about managed to down a late finishing Actuary and the 8-10 favourite Averroes who found the pace cut by Simply Sensational too hot for her to tackle.