As was expected, the short card of six races produced more than its share of outsiders with Arti Doctor-trained Theokoles (Noverre-Zahwah/ Sohna Stud) being the only favourite to oblige.  Ridden confidently by Kamlesh, the chestnut colt won the Prince Royal Plate start to finish. The only two-year-old to issue a semblance of a challenge in the small field of six was the filly Ivy and she will be worth keeping an eye on.

The main event, The PC Lall Of Nazargunj Memorial Cup, was an intriguing affair with Adiella installed as the half-money public choice. The rest of the field of eight were at sixes and sevens, but as it turned out, it was the favourite who ended up ‘sixes-and-sevens’, if you know what I mean. She finished a tame third behind the winner Shaktiroop (7/1) and Bengal King (6/1). She is no longer the same filly she was as a three-year-old when she finished well ahead of her conqueror this afternoon in the Calcutta Million, that too at level weights.

Credit must be given to apprentice Hindu Singh who rode a highly competent race astride the Arti Doctor-trained filly by Noverre out of Ridiyza (Sohna Stud). Top-weight Andreus shot ahead to lead the field and Parmar astride Bengal King made the right move as he stayed in touch with the leader before taking over the running briefly just after the turning for home. Adiella challenged the ‘King’ strongly but failed to collar him while Hindu Singh put his mount into top gear about three lengths behind. She responded magnificently to her rider’s call and collared Bengal King without too much fuss.

The afternoon commenced with Richard Alford-schooled City Heights (Ikhtyar-City Tamer/Nanoli Stud) bagging the Clamp Handicap rather cleverly in the hands of Shrikant Kamble. City Heights is bred for middle and long distances and the stable were confident about his success provided he does not run out of steam if he tries to front-run the entire mile-and-quarter trip. The connections thus used Insider as a pacemaker for two-thirds of the trip where City Heights took over and opened an useful gap to keep at bay her fancied rivals like Combined Operation, Gorgeous Girl and Sugar Sweet. The last named was the medium of a large gamble and is one for the notebook.

The Bengal Area Cup saw Manvendra Singh-trained Law Supremo (West Virginia-Shades Of Beauty / Nakul Stud) complete a hat-trick in the hands of B. Mahesh who too used the speedster to boost his tally on all three occasions and is currently the leader in the jockeys’ table, which is pretty creditable for a top-weight jockey. The ante-post favourite Pedro was done in by an outside draw in a large field while Alondra probably needed the run as she had come into the fray after a long break. Pinball Wizard, who was marginally better than the eventual winner at weights, issued a strong challenge but failed in his quest as Mahesh was determined not to relent.

The BOL Publication Trophy saw plenty of money come on Chimeric but it was the ante-post favourite Sole Power (China Visit-Silver Toy/ Usha Stud) who completed a treble for Arti Doctor. Jockey Kamlesh permitted Lovely Magic to lead till the top of the straight and then took over the running. Sole Power pulled away in the straight but staved off a strong challenge from Luck Luck Lucky, to eventually hold on by a neck. Chimeric was a none too impressive third.

The last race of the afternoon, The Scarlet Prince Handicap, saw Sweet Suspense installed as the favourite but she was totally outpaced from the start where Isle Of Capri shot ahead. It was a ‘no whips’ race and as such it came as no surprise that an apprentice jockey (B. Nikhil) should bag the event. Deepak Karki-trained Sreeyantra (Hammerstein- Nasreen/ Krishna Stud) was kept right behind Isle Of Capri till the straight and Nikhil simply waited on her to call it a day which she did without any show of resistance. Both are five-year-olds. The youngsters failed to make the grade on this occasion.