Indiarace.com - india's first & foremost horse racing portal

Fancied Runners Bring Joy

By Epsom Ace | 24 Mar 2010 | KOLKATA


It was by far the most joyous day in the season for punters on Wednesday as fancied runners found the winning post with amazing regularity. The odd one out was Whispering Wind – and she was withdrawn on veterinary grounds. Thus, punters who stayed out of that race benefited as Agnation was the only runner to win at high odds during the afternoon.
 
The two leading jockeys – Christopher Alford and A Imran Khan, secured a treble each. Among the trainers, Daniel David recorded a treble while Vijay Singh bagged a double. The main event of the afternoon, The Aspirant Cup, was picked up by Arti Doctor-trained Impressive Wish who got the better of Celtic Charm and Fire Within after Alford put him on full throttle in the straight.
 
The day commenced on a winning note for Daniel and Imran as the pair brought home the favourite Communication in the Courageous Handicap after staving off a strong challenge from Auckley who shifted out under pressure. The top-weight’s start-to-finish victory in fairly good timing suggests that more races are in store for him.
 
C. Alford won the first of his three races astride Vijay Singh-trained Spanish Sahara in the Penire Handicap. The filly made a start-to-finish affair of the Pentire Handicap after keeping at bay Zoffany who was seen to come with raking strides close home.
 
Daniel and Imran continued their winning streak with Fly For Sure in the Rising Star Handicap. It was an armchair ride for the jockey as the speedster gave no anxious moments to his backers.
 
David and his trusted knight Imran completed their treble with Asiatic Boy in the upper division of the Pure Gold Handicap. With 100 metres more to run than in his last essay, the five-year-old made it a one-horse race. Sugar N Salt was the best of the rest.
 
The lower division of the same race saw Bath-trained Agnation finding the winning post quite easily. The six-year-old was well piloted by Md Islam who maintained him in striking position before making his move in the straight.
 
C. Alford rode a well-timed finish astride Andeana to land the spoils in the 2,000 metres race for the Snow Forest Handicap. The vastly improved Brave Move was trying to make ends meet but came undone close home. The disappointment in the race was Countess whose gradual decline of form this season has been a little perplexing.