A high-priced double for Vikash Jaiswal was the highlight of an afternoon which proved to be a mixed bag for punters. The main event, The Starry Flag Cup, saw jockey Ashish ride a forward and calculated race on Impressive Wish and land the spoils by pegging back a fast-finishing Solid Success on whom apprentice Shezad Khan took his time to get going. 

The 10-to-4-on hot favourite Got To Go was tipped to win the seven-furlong sprint for the feature in a canter by a section of racegoers who follow the Mumbai races, as she had finished close to Ciel Indienne in a smart time of 1 min 24 sec. Unfortunately, thoroughbred racing is a little more complicated that what meets the eye. The mare was woefully dry-coated and not surprisingly burst her blood vessels to finish in the ruck. If only punters would wait and watch an outstation runner for one race at least on local turf, they would be much better off.

The early pace-setter Spectacular Style was tackled by Impressive Wish (Warrshan-Rainbow Flash) near the distance post. He ultimately had to stave off a strong challenge from Solid Success and the late-finishing Island Rhythm. Art Excellence was there till the distance post but found her penalty a stopper.

The afternoon commenced with rank outsider The Gordian Knot (Brave Act-Asian Lady) making a start-to-finish affair of the Own Vision Handicap. The Vikash Jaiswal ward was piloted by Md Islam. Stablemate Brave Move planted and left all his chances at the gates while the fancied pair of River Divine and Desert Image ran like a couple of duds. Hence, there was no challenge from any quarter barring Kamakazi whose whipless apprentice did the best he could.

After being the ‘best man’ on three occasions, Ijlal (Diffident-Roman Eagle) finally edged home by the proverbial whisker as All That Jazz was breathing down his neck right through the race. The Javed Khan-trained five-year-old with apprentice Shezad astride was also challenged by Aeropostale but the grey gelding is getting on in years, other than which he may have turned the tables.

The on-money public choice Blue Grass (China Visit-Blue Ridge) outclassed the field in the race for the upper division of the Phoebe’s Fire Handicap. Short Radius failed to find a passage along the rails and had to be switched to the outside other than which the verdict may have been a little less ignominious but there’s no way he would have overhauled the winner on this afternoon. Vence keeps on being consistent and earning her oats – good for her. There is always a chance that someday she might just make it like Ijlal did.

Here is quite a shocker for form-workers. In the lower division of the Phoebe’s Fire Handicap, Giocometti (Greensmith-Indrayani) was backed down to favouritism though the seven-year-old had not placed after September 2008 and not won a start after his maiden outing four years ago in the month of February 2007. The second favourite was Silken Dancer from Arti Doctor’s stable. The stable’s second jockey Shailesh Shinde was astride the winner who crossed Silken Dancer after the distance post. The rider had no choice but to object. The objection was rightly overruled. One wonders what would have been the plight of the Giocometti backers had the Stewards called the bluff and upheld the objection. The fact that jockey Russell Xaviers, the rider of Giocommeti in the Romantic Eve Handicap on Feb 4, was severely reprimanded for the indifferent handling of his mount throughout the race, further corroborates the ‘foul-play’ theory.

Is Calcutta going the Guindy way? The regular punters and old-timers can answer that question just as well this writer.

Christopher Alford was in his element as he guided Ballantyne (Flitch-Accademia) to a narrow victory in the Think Big Handicap. The favourite Bernardino ran a very poor race and ended dead last. The best of the rest was aged Local Warrior.

The afternoon ended with Shailesh Shinde completing a brace astride Bharath Singh-trained Sokudo (Inhabitant-Amber Dancer). Though backed down to favouritism, Golden Saga disappointed as she even failed to place.