It was an enjoyable afternoon of racing  at the Calcutta racecourse on Saturday – both on and off the track. Apart from the quality horseflesh and equally high-quality racing on view, well-attired visitors from different nations added to the glam quotient. Hats ‘a la Ascot’ for the ladies and Saville Row type suits for the gents were the order of the day. Wonderful sunny weather added to the atmosphere. Punters by and large had mixed fortunes as three outsiders, three favourites and a couple of second and third fancies occupied the winner’s enclosure during the afternoon.

The main event, The Queen Elizabeth II Cup, had seven in starting line-up, but apart from the two four-year-olds, Royal Blue Star and Raznandan, the rest were truly disappointing. The so called seasoned campaigners like Unleashed, Razmaden, Cambiasso and Camorra appeared to be ‘out of season’. The last named however set a good pace but the weight appeared to tell on him. Raznandan who was following him at close quarters took over the running before the straight but his lead was short-lived as the Vijay Singh runner Royal Blue Star (Sunday Doubt-Razpazazz) swept past him in a trice with jockey Neeraj Rawal a mere passenger. The colt was stretching out beautifully in the straight, which would seem to suggest that he is an out and out stayer and a live candidate for the Stayers’ Cup in Bangalore in the first week of March. If In The Spotlight can go on to win the Indian Derby in style, there’s no reason to suggest that Royal Blue Star is not a live threat in the Stayers’ Cup. His dam Razpazazz is by Placerville out of Imperial Satsuma which would seem to suggest that he has all the right connections in the breeders’ catalogue.

In the days gone by, The Metropolitan was considered a good pointer to the Sprinters’ Cup. The six-furlong scurry saw Cape Ferrat and Ares installed as joint favourites at 3/1. Pesi Shroff-trained  Crown Rule was available at 4/1. The ante-post favourite Born To Fly closed at 7/2. As the gates opened, the pair of Ares and Cape Ferrat raced up front while Trevor Patel was occupying the third last slot with Crown Rule (Burden Of Proof-Crown Treasure). Though the latter took the turn wide, he had ample stamina and acceleration to overhaul the field in the straight. It was an impressive show as the colt notched up his fourth win of the season.

The HH Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur of Cooch Behar Memorial Cup was lifted in pedestrian manner by Social Network (Black Cash-Dancin With Bertie). Neeraj Rawal had the Vijay Singh-trained chestnut racing behind the pacemaker Mission Chief till the bend. A couple of taps was all it took to alert him to the task and he dutifully completed a well-deserved hattrick.

Jockey Imran Chisty had to work hard for his brace during the day. His first astride eight-year-old Temptation (San Francisco-Running Power) from Deepak Karki’s yard was truly commendable. Top-weight Artemisia and jockey YS Srinath were installed as firm on-money favourite for The Thailand Trophy. Adiynara shot his bolt after setting a slow pace till the bend. It was then that Artemisia took the shortest route home and seemed to be heading for victory till Chisty had other ideas. The aged mare Temptation raised a rousing gallop opposite the grandstand to prevail by a neck. Srinath did not ride after that race.

Imran Chisty completed his double astride Exxin (earlier known as Divine Splendor) when the Javed Khan-trained filly by Sussex out of  Fine Glance had to be ridden flat out to bag the Portugal Trophy.  Front-running Flightning drifted off a straight course but did not hamper stablemate Benjamin and favourite Headliner to a great degree though he undoubtedly took them out. Exxin cleverly took the rails. Fankaar was declared a non-starter as his stall opened a second or two after the others and he subsequently dislodged his rider.

The opening race of the day, The Red FM Cup, saw a stunning upset in the form of Vikash Jaiswal-trained Blue Mountain (Razeen-Stolen Kisses). The lad maintains his aged lot rather well and brother Vinay managed to coax a late gallop out of him despite a tardy beginning. Fancied runners Cherish The Moment, Arisen Star and Ijlal were as good as non-starters.

The Sweden Cup saw Cider With Rosie bagging her second race in succession. The filly by Choisir out of A Real Nor’easter was a trifle slow off the blocks but soon caught up with front-running Atwater and overhauled him close home. Parmar rode a smart finish in that he used the stick once close home before riding her out hands and heels and prevailing by half-a-length.

The curtain came down with Bharath Singh-trained Catch Phrase making a start-to-finish affair of the Germany Trophy in the hands of Trevor Patel. There was some apprehension whether the colt by Burden Of Proof out of Catch Fire would get the mile but he dispelled those doubts in no uncertain manner as he staved off a strong challenge from Manhattan Rain. The favourite Combined Operation was yet again a miserable failure and must be a bookies’ delight.