It was an afternoon of shocking upsets at RCTC on Thursday, the penultimate day of the Calcutta winter meet. Trainers Vijay Singh and John Stephens recorded a brace each while champion jockey Christopher Alford registered only a single win.

In the day’s main event, The Executive Force Cup, Askarel was the hot favourite and ran a fairly good race but had no answer to the rousing gallop unleashed by Entrepreneur in the straight. The totally unfancied Acrostic from Bath’s yard set a scorching pace and looked as if he many carry on the good work till the winning post. Askarel, who was running a forward race switched to the rails and was gaining ground on the front-runner. At that point of time, Stephens-trained Entrepreneur produced his scintillating gallop on the outside to settle the issue.

Earlier, Stephens had led in the winner in the afternoon’s opening event. His Italian Beauty wore down Amber Cat in the straight and then staved off the likes of Corsica and One Man Army.

Axminster was poorly handled in the lower division of the Super Dancer Handicap. Apprentice jockey Mahesh has yet to get used to the local straight and realize that not all runners have the potential of Aquilo. By keeping Axminster dead last till the bend, he lost all his chances. Aragon took full advantage of this shortcoming while Mystro was fortunate to keep his runner-up berth as he drifted out alarmingly, taking Gallant Commander with him.

Then came the spate of unfancied runners. Vijay Singh’s Arcella was totally ignored by punters as leap-year jockey J. Gurung was astride. But the filly showed that she was well prepared and won the race quite easily from Mystic Force.

The aged Magic Mantra showed that his zest for racing has not subsided when he pegged back Roxy in the lower division of the Philanthropist Handicap. The favourite Brave Move had his chances but may have needed the run. The other fancied runner India Jones was never in the hunt.

The day’s most costly failure was probably Sarfaraz Khan-trained Alamgir who was slow into stride and never managed to bridge the leeway, in the lower division of the Super Dancer Handicap. It was left to the friendless Charulata to deliver the goods. It was quite a shock for railbirds who are not used to the mare negotiating a trip of seven furlongs this easily. Vignet lost all his chances when he drifted out to the outer rails.

Sarfaraz’s Man About Town put his connections back on track when he completed a well-deserved hattrick. Though penalized substantially, he had no problems collaring the front-runners near the distance post as is his wont. Perfect placements by his mentor, earned this well-tuned sprinter his three wins.

After his effortless victory last time out, it was difficult to look beyond Regal Appeal in the Tokaido Handicap and he thankfully did not disappoint as he scored another easy win.