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Sergeant Pepper Outclasses Opposition

By Epsom Ace | 22 Aug 2012 | KOLKATA


Trainer Bharath Singh leading Sergeant Pepper (Trevor Patel Up), winner of The Stoney Valley Handicap

Sergeant Pepper may be a name synonymous with the immortal Lennon-McCartney composition of the sixties, but on Wednesday, Calcutta punters will remember that very name for a very different reason. Sired by Burden of Proof out of Loch Katrine, a gelding called Sergeant Pepper made every post of the 1800 metres race for the Stoney Valley Handicap a winning one. The property of Dr Vijay Mallya was looking well in the paddock despite being unraced for several months and Trevor Patel had no difficulty whatsoever in letting the eager beaver hit the front on tight reins. He gave the handsome bay under Bharath Singh’s care a breather at the 800 marker and that was enough to pull away in the straight. Raffles turned out to be the best of the rest. The four-year-old will improve further at this centre.

Trevor however was a trifle unlucky to lose two races right after that. Cerise was badly positioned from the outset in the race for the Alvarada Handicap and though Trevor made a bold bid along the rails in the straight, it was asking too much too late from the filly who was having her first outing of the season. The favourite Follow The Dream (Tirol-Masawara) had to be ridden flat out by Imran Chisty to hold on to her slender lead. But in racing a miss is as good as a mile and Trevor had missed the bus after the jump-out, other than which he may well have turned the tables.

Half-money favourite Destiny (Mull Of Kintyre-Dynasty) pulled off a narrow win in the Quincy Handicap. Jockey Christopher Alford had to pull out all stops to get the better of Stand Apart and then stave off a strong challenge from Torch Of Life on whom Trevor was going flat out. One more stride and the short-head verdict may have been reversed.

The handicapper must have relished those two finishes as earlier in the afternoon there were two other close finishes to make it a memorable day for him. B. Sreekanth on Errol Bhungard-trained Declared Asset (Mathematician-Taxido) had to resort to relentless pressure and use of the whip to edge out the unfancied Sreenidhi at the post. Shafiq Khan had three runners in the field (Isle Of Capri, Al Di La and Sreenidhi). The last named was the outsider of the trio. Fortunately for followers of money, she came unstuck close home.

Trainer Farley Rodrigues led in his first winner of the season when Happy Kingdom (Ivory Touch-Happy Queen) ‘nosed’ out the fast finishing Requite at the post. The three-year-old chestnut colt was ridden by Farley’s ‘trusted knight’ Surjeet Singh. After the favourite Saddle Chief had taken over the running in the straight, Surjeet put Happy Kingdom into top gear and the chestnut responded well but appeared to buckle when shown daylight. Fortunately, the winning post came to his rescue.

Trainer Jasbir Singh pulled off a good gamble with Kayadhu (Diffident-Pallidio) in the sprint for the Kariba Handicap. The five-year-old mare got the better of Elusive Thought close home while Songstress finished a poor third after a tardy beginning

The sole cup event of the day, The Steal The Glory Cup, saw Daniel David-trained Saddlers Pride (Don Micheletto-Scholarship) easily sail past Ace Honour. The winner closed at 7/2 while Ace Honour was backed down to 12/10. Jockey Kadam did justice to his mount for a change by taking a good jump from the gates and maintaining a striking position till the straight where he made his move.