It was an event-free afternoon at the Calcutta racecourse with racing more or less on expected lines. The main event, The Midnight Cowboy Cup, saw Vijay Singh-trained Dandified (Rebuttal-Dandoona/ Hazara Stud) make a bold return to winning ways in the hands of the ever-confident Christopher Alford. Alford was stroking the poll and crest of the big-boned animal with his left hand long before he had crossed the winning post, as if to say “well done boy, we are back in business”. The seven-year-old seems to have accustomed himself to the short sprint distances and had no difficulty at all in collaring the front-running Macedonian near the distance post and drawing away from the mediocre six-horse field.

The supporting event, The String Of Pearls Cup, witnessed a blanket finish involving top-weight Cohiba, Shourisha and the 10-to-4-on favourite Beyond Expectation with Kamlesh astride. The Javed Khan ward by Ikhtyar out of Zuni (Nanoli Stud) prevailed by the proverbial whisker after Kamlesh had urged him to raise a gallop on the wide outside in the short Calcutta straight.

The leading jockey completed a well-deserved brace when he guided home Arti Doctor-schooled Bold Legacy (New Famous-Hoofbeats/ Yeravada Stud) to a well-deserved encore by overcoming Annie Oakley in The Metal Plate.

Jockey Munna Alam looks certain to end the season as the most successful apprentice as he too completed a double with Vijay Singh-trained Azienda and Shyam Habbu’s Secret Talent. Top-weight Azienda (Win Legend – Aelenia/ Dashmesh Stud) was cleverly handled as he permitted Fire Falcon to call the early shots before taking over the running in the straight. The disappointment in the race was the favourite Conquest who was never in it. Bottom-weight Jamaican received some support in the ring and finished a tame third.

Alam completed a double in the day’s final event as he piloted Shyam Habbu-trained Secret Talent (Mr Mellon - Local Secret/ Ruia Stud) to a start-to-finish triumph in the six-furlong sprint for the Belligerent Handicap. The apprentice did well to put away the stick and ride out the maiden starter hands-and-heels in the final 100 metres to peg back Songstress at the wire who was threatening to overhaul him along the rails. The four-year-old gelding was responsible for the afternoon’s biggest Totalisator win dividend of Rs 226/- for a tenner.

Jockey Imran Chisty ensured that his trip to the city was not fruitless as he piloted top-weight Torero (Brave Act-Rhapsody In Blue/ Kunigal Stud) to an overdue victory in the race for the Tubal Cain Handicap. Lying a handy fourth while Jassi’s Star set the pace and Axstone followed under duress, Chisty set the Bharath Singh colt alight in the straight to win as he liked. In a departure from his earlier style of winning, Never Apart moved up from the rear of the field to finish a good second.

The afternoon commenced on a sedate note for punters as the top-weight Secret Builder (Arabian Gulf-Sanskara/ Manjri Stud) was given a flawless ride by Sandeep Rajput to land the spoils. The Vikash Jaiswal-trained runner was maintained behind stablemate Dance In China and Divine Dimension who were up front. Near the turning for home, Rajput cut down the leeway and smoothly took over the running to win effortlessly.