One
expected normalcy to be restored by the second race meeting that took place on
Thursday. But it was expecting too much from an enigma called Calcutta racing.
No one objects to favourites taking a beating but no system seems to be
working in RCTC that is worth analyzing. The victory of a lesser-fancied horse
like Timbavati, in the opener, was easy to digest because the Dipak Karki-trainee
had been showing a steady improvement since last winter. On the day, the
five-year-old was always up with the 8-10 favourite, Bigshow, before slipping
into the lead that stood her in good stead.
But how does one accept the
defeat of a half-money favourite, Brighter Future in the 1,200m Almanac Cup.
Particularly because the Daniel David-trainee was ridden into the ground. The
three-year-old by Duja out of Belle Epoque had build up a long lead from the
start and the lead was further stretched once joined upfront by a speedy
Common Spirit. Jockey Md. Amil, on the public-choice, instead of allowing
Command Spirit to take over, continued to cut pace with the speedster and as a
result of this the two horses came to a grinding halt nearing the home-turn.
Yes, their respective riders were fined Rs 1,000 apiece for the paying public
loosing a fortune punted on their popular choice.
It only means jockeys can
design defeats of favourites and also get scot-free. Anyway, Kainat won the
race in an exciting finish involving Archery, though the two horses were seen
galloping miles apart as Kainat, once again, failed to maintain a straight
course. Again, in the concluding event, the Amberdue Handicap, a horse named
Flinders, apparently, had wings grown in a week’s time. A poor fifth in her
opening day start, the T. Jaiswal-trainee looked a winner long way from home
when she took over the mantle of running passing the 600-metre marker from the
2-1 favourite My Dancer and Capistrano.
Further, in the day’s
feature event, the Gamble For Love Cup, Alcalde, a Bharath Singh-trainee, was
seen going backward after showing out in front for a brief journey.
Alcalde’s lesser-fancied stable-mate, Lockers Park, on the other hand, was
always in the thick of the things as S. Rabani kept the six-year-old in a
striking position. Needless to say he won the race and comfortably, too.
Fortunately, there turned out to be a saviour in Gallant Romeo. The 2-1 joint-favourite
managed to beat an equally fancied Flossy in the Woolver Valley Handicap.
