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QUINN'S RIVER BLITZ SINKS THE OPPOSITION

By Epsom Ace | 10 Nov 2013 | KOLKATA


Trainer P Quinn leading River Blitz (Shailesh Shinde Up), winner of The Hilliard Cup

After the first two days being held on the monsoon track, the third day of the Calcutta Winter Meeting was conducted on the winter track, but it proved to be anything but lucky for punters, as most of the favourites fell by the wayside. Trainers Bharath Singh, Patrick Quinn and Javed Khan made their presence felt with a double each while outstation jockeys Imran Chisty and PS Chouhan too scored a brace each, on an afternoon when local star Christopher Alford drew a blank.

However, Alford did not deserve the brickbats hurled at him. His first two mounts Abrienda and Silver Wizard were having their maiden starts and were extremely raw – if anyone must  be blamed, it would have to be the trainer, who if one may add is perfectly entitled to declare his best rider to get the latter’s opinion of a maiden starter. It’s up to the punters to leave these maiden starters alone whether they are on-money or not. Alford tried his level best on the other three mounts – Ademaro, Axstone and Snowdrift but found one better on each occasion.

Now, to get back to racing, the main event, The Hilliard Cup, saw Patrick Quinn-trained River Blitz defy his age and take the opposition by the scruff of the neck in the hands of Shailesh Shinde, who was entering the fray for the first time this season after serving out his two-day suspension. It is to be noted that though River Blitz had no current form to go by, he had quietly crept down the ladder after his win with 70kg on his back (rating 121) last winter. Shinde gradually improved his mount from an outside draw to be in striking position at the top of the straight while Dear Henry and Batista exchanged leads. Though he took the longest route, River Blitz raised a winning gallop opposite the grand stand to land the spoils. In fact, it was left to the handicap horse Su Chaliyo and top-weight Arktouros to issue a fruitless challenge. The eventual winner was travelling too well to be overhauled. The favourite Charlemagne was dismal to say the least. Trevor declared 1.5 kg overweight on the sprinter. He never raised a semblance of a gallop after travelling in mid-division most of the way and appeared to be out classed. His mentor will quite obviously have to work on him if he has to win in the highest category.

One race earlier, The Shri Charan Memorial Cup, jockey PS Chouhan was at his wily best while guiding Arti Doctor-trained Multimagic to a hard-fought victory over the favourite Snowdrift. Known to be a front-runner, Multimagic was held back in third slot by Chouhan while breakaway leader Lantana Lady was being tailed by the favourite. Snowdrift took over the running at the top of the straight but was soon engaged in a keen duel with Multimagic who was conceding 4.5kg to the former. Though he was tending to hang out a trifle in the straight, Chouhan’s strong handling did the trick. He ensured that his mount stayed on course for an impressive victory.

Earlier, Chouhan had guided Patrick Quinn-schooled Santa Barbara to another hard-earned triumph in the Metal Handicap. The challenge from the favourite Ademaro was lukewarm and the run belied his Bangalore form.

Chisty, on the other hand enjoyed two relatively regulation rides astride the Javed Khan-trained pair of War Games and Conquest. While the former won the upper division of the Penant Handicap without much ado, the latter had to stave off a fairly strong challenge from Amarilla in the Salvage Handicap. The filly was moving well along the rails but Chisty and Conquest came in along the rails after taking the lead to make things difficult for her.

Bharath Singh opened his account with an absolute stunner in Hayata (MF Ali Khan up). After gracing the wrong end of the field for most part, the three-year-old by Gaswar out of Mint Royal moved with telling strides on the outside to overhaul the field and keep at bay the likes of Sartaj and Piaffe. The tote paid a smashing Rs 422 for win.

“The colt was gelded after his last run in September and it quite obviously worked wonders,” said an elated owner Joydeep Datta Gupta.

Bharath Singh subsequently completed a double with Scuderia (Trevor up) who sailed past front running Axstone in the straight and pocketed the lower division of the Penant Handicap.

Daniel David’s Persian Jewels lost some ground at the start but recovered quickly to get the better of the field in the race for the Myall King Handicap. Needless to say that this mount of I Khan was totally neglected in the ring. Ambaa and Happy Kingdom occupied the minor placings.