Last Saturday is one that local turfites would like to forget in a hurry. Rank outsiders ruled the roost in five of eight events and even the afternoon's main event, The Calcutta St. Leger, saw the favourite Star Team bow down to the second in demand Alterio.

The Vijay Singh-trained winner was piloted by Christopher Alford with great presence of mind. With none of the compact field of four wanting to hit the front, Alford took it upon himself to steer his mount to the helm of affairs within two furlongs of the start. Though maintaining a gentle pace, Alford ensured that his mount stays ahead of the rest of the field.

The role of Steal The Glory (N.Akhtar up) was unclear. He was neither a pacemaker for the favourite, not a serious contender for the crown. The David-trained colt was urged to take up the running for a short period before Alford and Alterio wrested back the lead from the 800 metres marker. After that, there was no looking back.

Star Team did issue his challenge after the turning for home but it was obvious that his run in the Queen's Cup over an identical marathon trip had taken its toll.

The afternoon started with a bang as two half-money public choices fell by the wayside in the first two events. In the curtain-raiser, Bath-trained Imperial Romance appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory as both Royal Falcon and Innovator were heavily under the whip. However, under Neeraj Rawal's relentless pressure, the latter picked up a late gallop to peg back the front-runner who had to be content to share second honours with Royal Falcon.

After his brilliant second to Apostrophe, Major Starr was expected to quite easily account for the opposition in the Nahoum Karanjawalla Memorial Cup run over the metric mile. Unfortunately, the David-trained top-weight burst his blood vessels when he was travelling pretty handily. Mark, astride Blood Rayne, ran his own race and won as he liked.

The Dasho Lhendup Dorji Memorial Acorn Stakes, saw a rare favourite occupy the winner's berth. But not before, the second in demand Sensational Star had given followers of money quite a fright. The on-money Accalia got the measure of the David ward close home when Christopher Alford decided to put away his whip and ride her hands and heels. Named after one of the city's more eminent trainers of the seventies and eighties, The S. Rahmatulla Memorial Cup, saw the bottom-weighted Triple Edge send shockwaves through the stands after finishing in the ruck in his earlier run. Ridden in check by Imran Chisty, the David-trained runner produced a smart gallop at the distance post to leave the field standing. Fancied runners, Namgay, Brave Quest and Art of war failed to show any kind of form. 

Supreme Attraction was the only favourite during the day which was available at lucrative odds. The filly lived up to her name with a fluent victory in the Police Commissioner's Cup in the hands of C.S. Jodha. That triumph completed a hattrick for her this season. Two more runners burst their blood vessels in this race. These were Noble Desire and Mozart. 

If punters were distraught after the first six races, they were left utterly bewildered after the afternoon's penultimate race of the day, The Governor's Cup. The completely friendless Mustang Royal made every post a winning one with C.P. Manasseh atop. Despite drifting off a straight course, the 'Mustang' kept galloping on relentlessly. Piping hot favourite, Quest For Cash was simply outpaced in the final furlong. 

Trainer John Stephens, whose Blood Rayne had been an early shocker, drove the final nail into the coffin with his Roya Dazzle, whose late run along the rails to get the better of the fast-finishing fancied runner Light My Fire must have left even the most hard-hearted of bookmakers feeling a twinge of pity for the hapless railbirds.