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Priapus Edges out Hugo, Bags Mayor's Cup

By Epsom Ace | 02 Feb 2008 | KOLKATA


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A welcome change in the weather, and the lure of concurrent inter-state betting on Mumbai's races (this being their Derby week-end), saw local turfites flocking to the Kolkata racecourse on Saturday.

On an afternoon when Christopher Alford piloted four winners, one would have expected him to corner the glory. But it was not so. The pair of outstation jockeys, C.S. Jodha and Malcolm Kharadi, who were involved in a scintillating finish for the winner's berth in the Mayor's Cup, stole the show. It was left to young Vinay Jaiswal to do the closing honours. He brought the curtain down with the friendless Schumacher whose zest for racing at the ripe old age of 11 must be appreciated. The aged gelding pegged back Autumn Rose, before staving off the fast-finishing Able Eagle.

The seven-furlong race for the afternoon's feature saw the speedy Beckham show the way with Sovereign Power and Ardelis in tow. The on-money public choice Oxford Street (C. Alford up) was lying fourth while the two milers Hugo and Priapus were gracing the rear of the nine-horse field.

As heads turned for home, Jodha on Hugo showed wonderful presence of mind to take the shortest route to the winning post while Kharadi was seen working incessantly on his mount Priapus. With a furlong left to run, Hugo hugged the rails and shot through while Priapus picked up a late gallop under the stick.

The duo matched each other stride for stride till the wire, with Priapus ultimately prevailing. The property of the Dhunjibhoys thus relived the form which helped him finish ahead of Hugo in the Calcutta Gold Cup. Trainer Patrick Quinn was deputising for Vinayak.

Of the quartet of Alford wins, the one that impressed most was the top-weighted filly Quest For Cash in the Eastern Command Cup.

A bold gamble on Deepak Karki-trained Sea Legend (one of many this season on this aged gelding) helped the odds expand on the Vijay Singh-trained prize filly. Though Karki was being a trifle over-ambitious, one can't blame him as his ward had performed admirably throughout the season.

Though jockey Jagdeesh gave him a free reign from the outset, the speedy front-runner had no answer to the splendid turn of foot displayed by the classy filly from the Khaitan yard.

Jockey Alford commenced counting his winners from the Mysore Race Club Cup, where he piloted Azureus to an easier-than-verdict victory. Barring owner-mate Royal Scandal, who essayed a weak challenge, there were none to threaten the supremacy of this fashionably bred China Visit-Treasure Land colt. The champion rider increased his tally with Sephora in the Archer Cup. The Bath-trained filly quite easily collared front-running Saarah Alam who was looking for her third win this season.

Bath and his patron Surendra Dube completed a well-backed double when Alford guided Light My Fire to an unchallenged triumph in the Lt. Gen Jameel Mahmood Memorial Trophy. The ace rider concluded his lucrative day at the office with Quest For Cash.