But it was the Oaks that was most sought after and Prakash delivered the goods with elan having build a slender lead below the distance-post after taking over the charge from trainer Vijay Singh’s ward Calorescence. In fact, Praskash did not need to go flat out once he went pass the 7-2 second-favourite, though, it must be admitted that the Metal Precieux-Pot of Gold had not been displaying signs of tireness. Yet, the official verdict of a length and half separating the two hardly tells the facile victory recorded by the winner. It was the superior acceleration and the class of Touch of Silver that was evidently revealed for the winner’s purse of .Rs 2,73,249 and a Trophy valued at Rs 25,000.

In the Eveready Calcutta Gold Cup, Prakash carved Bold Chieftan’s win on, more or less, an identical pattern. Allowing Annatto and the favourite The Archer to dictate terms out in front, Prakash came abreast The Archer after Annatto had burned himself out to go past him with hardly an effort as he was seen riding the four-year-old by Placerville out of Shamirana with hands and heels only.

It was Ballet Master in the commanche Cup who finally led Prakash to the winner’s enclosure. But little did one expect that Dr. MAM Ramaswamy’s retained rider was going to make every passing post of the 1,400 metre a winning one. Apprentice Rutherford on Ispahan did come, as close as, within half-a-length of the winner but the superiority of the 5-2 second favourite by Conquering Hero-Scossa colt was never in doubt. Allaying, the 9-10 favourite was a poor fourth, in fact, the Vijay Singh-trainee never appeared to be a danger until the last 100 metres of the race. The Excalibur’s Lake-Amalita four-year-old filly definitely needed the run.

Peace Envoy, in the Phakos Handicap made it a brace of winners for Prakash. Letting Brave Show and As a Rule let out the steam till the final turn, Prakash called his own tune in the last two furlong. The 7-4 second favourite looked to be in complete command until Mr. Bombshell decided to come with a finishing run from way back of the field to narrow the winner’s verdict down to a tight length and quareter. The 6-4 favourite Calabash, another of Vijay’s ward, was a poor fifth. The Cristopfori-Fluid Drive three-year-old may, however, do better over a slightly extended course than the slated six furlongs.

Pearl Dragon, Prakash’s next ride in the upper division of the 1,600-metre Bengal Area Cup, had a similar drama to reveal. Up with the leader till the home turn, the Dragon appeared to be cruising for a fluent win until the last 150 metres when the topweight Soviet Port who came with a menacing finish to end-up within half-a-length of the winner.

Among the other events which went to the opposition, it was baby race, the Irma la Douce Plate, that was expected to be closely contested affair. However, apprentice Rutherford Alofrd and trainer John Stephens had other ideas with their speedster Sagittarian, a 9-2 shot. The Locked Away-La Villa Rose two-year-old was smartest to jump out and also build up a two-length lead that teased the opposition to a proverbial come-and-catch-me-if-you-can, though he further accelerated in the home stretch to retire a shade under four lengths winner. Royal City chased the winner from the start and maitained his supremacy over the rest, including Vijay’s even-money favourite Altigraph who was hard put to place fourth behind Actable, his stable-mate.

Jockey Harish, from Bangalore, too had a winner to his name on the RCTC race-track when he guided a well-fancied Comedy of Error to a flent victory after the Darius-trainee tended to hang-in nearing the distance-post in the lower division of the Bengal Area Cup. The visiting jockey was, however, quick to collect the 7-4 favourite as he went past the front runners.