The curtain came down on the Calcutta Monsoon Season with trainer Vikash Jaiswal lifting the Trainers Championship in great style as his 6/1 shot Impressive Wish (Warrshan –Rainbow Flash) got the better of the on-money public choice Michele Marieci close home to bag the Quincy Handicap. Jockey PS Chouhan rode a measured finish on the handicap-horse as he watched the tussle for supremacy up front between the favourite and Glorious Invention from a box seat. At the distance post, Chouhan turned on the heat and engaged ‘Michele’ in a keel duel to prevail close home.

The win of Impressive Wish completed a brace for the Vikash-Chouhan combo as they had earlier pocketed The Artemis Handicap with the aged Glenbervie. Riding a forward race, Glenbervie (Elusive Pimpernel-Royal Crichton) sailed past Emerald Queen in the straight and then warded off a strong challenge from Peppermint who was slow off by four length. Had she taken a level start, she would have surely won the day. The favourite Sea Change did not seem very comfortable over this sharp scurry.

Trainer Bharath Singh and rider Trevor Patel combined fruitfully to score a double for Dr. Vijay Mallya. Both winners Candle In the Wind and Catchphrase were available at high odds. The former reproduced her superb trackwork to land the spoils while the latter showed that he was a cut above his rivals from his own age group.

Candle In The Wind (Don Micheletto-Flame Of Love) was ridden in mid-division till the straight where he made his move on the wide outside to overcome the favourite Elusive Thought close home. Had the latter not lost some ground at the start, she would have been nearer at the finish. The well-backed April Edition will probably have to wait till next April to win as his repeated failures has proved that he needs a very poor bunch to see the winning post.

Catchphrase (Burden Of Proof-Catch Fire) had raced with the best as a three-year-old and seems to have rediscovered that form after a couple of eye-catching seven furlong runs this season. Both Divine Symphony and Noble Defender were outclassed and it was left to six-year-old Blue Mountain to occupy the runner-up berth.

Jockey Christopher Alford completed a well-backed treble in the form of Asian Rocket, Flightning and Aerator to retain the jockeys’ championship. The first named from the Darius Byramji yard made the Kariba Handicap a start-to-finish affair. Now that the three-year-old by Tejano out of Asian Lady has found his galloping shoes, he may win again in winter. Farley Rodrigues-trained Flightning (Warrshan-Rainbow Flash) was a costly failure last time out when Dance In China romped home. On this occasion, Alford had her racing up front from the word ‘go’ and she enjoyed every moment of it. For the pedigree hunters, the filly is a full sister to Impressive Wish.

Aerator’s odds expanded as Must Be Magic came in for support but the latter’s tardy start ended his story. As he did with his other two winning mounts, Alford gave Aerator (Oath-Liquid Gold) his head early and showed a clean pair of heels.

A huge gamble materialized on the Arti Doctor-trained Artemisia (Major Impact-Girlion) and Shailesh Shinde atop the chestnut made no mistake. He rode a copybook race to collar front-running Apyrous and then staved off a challenge from Devil In Disguise and Local Warrior.

Summary of Season’s Statistics

Champion Trainer: Vikash Jaiswal

Champion Jockey: Christopher Alford

Horses of the season: Shershah and Mumtaz (jointly)

Leading Owner: Mr Deepak Khaitan

RCTC Tipsters Tally

Winner: Fonn & Co (Racing Guide)

Runner-up: Times Of India