Rashid Byramji-trained Rip Van Winkle (Gaswar-Minetta) made every post a winning one in the mile race for the Hyderabad Race Club Trophy at the Calcutta racecourse on Sunday. The big made handsome bay was cleverly piloted by Shailesh Shinde who opened a long gap of over ten lengths and ultimately held on from Silver Fox by a length. The winner was available at 5/2 as Silver Fox closed as the on-money favourite.

Trainer Bharath Singh notched up a lucrative treble during the day with Sunny Sue (3/1),  Ocean Sunrise (3/1) and Lake Spirit (6/1). Shailesh Shinde took the filly Sunny Sue (Ajaad-Diamond Caves) to the front of the field as the gates opened. She was chased constantly by Cider With Rosie and ultimately won by eight long lengths.

Vikash Jaiswal has been having a lean winter after ending the monsoon meeting on a triumphant note. His S.O.S. to Christopher Alford was well received by the jockey who rode an absolute blinder on The Gordian Knot (Brave Act-Asian Lady) to land the spoils from a fast finishing Harness Free in the 2000 metres race for the Gypsy King Handicap.

C.Alford completed his brace when he piloted Adawna (China Visit-Pitolchry) to the most facile victory of the afternoon in the seven-furlong race for the Beneficient Handicap. The filly was never of the bridle and would have won even if Christopher had been talking on his cell phone while guiding her to the winning post. Roxy was the best of the rest.

Manhattan Rain’s victory was possibly the most thrilling event of the day. Surprisingly, her odds expanded to 11/4 as money poured in from all sides on the favourite Star Wager. The much-touted top-weight finished third as indeed he should have, since conceding 8kg to the bottom-weight Sanskriti was beyond his ability. Bath-trained Manhattan Rain (Sunday Doubt-Star Selection) was taken to the helm of affairs in the straight by rider Shezad Khan. However, despite Shezad using the whip in his left hand, the filly was steadily drifting out. Sanskriti was running very close to her and she too began to drift out. The objection was inevitable but was unanimously overruled.

Bharath Singh-trained Ocean Sunrise was ridden in no-nonsense manner by jockey Aadesh Kumar. Despite a large field of 14 runners, Ocean Sunrise hit the front early in the sprint and stayed there all the way. The ultimate challenge came from Goliath who was flying at the wire. The favourite Secret Love was unimpressive though this run is bound to bring her on.

Well bred Hiawatha (Imtiyaz-Kanthara) closed as the on-money public choice in the day’s final event. He did show some early speed but faded out in the straight. It was the Bharath Singh-pair of Credit Ease and Lake Spirit (Black Cash – Highshaan) who fought out the finish of the Annella Handicap, with the latter travelling the better of the two.