Prime Monsoon Derby candidate Setaflame (China Visit – Set Aside/ Usha Stud) displayed his amazing versatility on Saturday with a thumping victory in The Calcutta Colts Trial Stakes run over seven furlongs. The Vijay Singh-trained colt (currently under the care of competent trainer Robert Gowli) was up with the leader Captain Cook till the distance post before taking over the running after a reminder from Shailesh Shinde and pulling away from the field sans fuss. The ‘Captain’ had no option but to go to the front as speedy Claymore played a waiting game which helped him finish runner-up. Trevor Patel, who rode Captain Cook, once again finished win-less at this centre. The outstation ‘final entrant’ Dragon, whose connections paid a late entry fee of Rs 4.5 lakh, was the subject of a huge gamble but was under Suraj Narredu’s stick from well before the turning for home. He finished an unimpressive fourth, much like his predecessor Stateira in the Fillies Trial a week earlier.

The winner’s next run is certain to be The Monsoon Derby where he will be under the care of his original trainer Vijay Singh whose suspension period will be over by then. There’s no doubt that the fashionably bred property of the Nandas is a classy colt with a wonderful turn of foot, who has thrown down the gauntlet to outstation challengers for the ‘Big Un’.

Robert Gowli led in four winners starting with Adiella (Multidimensional-Psychic Flame/ Usha Stud) who produced an encore in the hands of able apprentice Hindu Singh. The five-year-old mare seemed to be quite aware of her task at hand as front-running Gallop To Glory drifted out in the straight as he is wont to do, but Adiella nevertheless raised a winning gallop.

Gowli next led in two winners from his very own backyard. Gimme Credit and Lexi, both part-owned by Mr K Haidermota who later said ‘It was the happiest day in my life’, closed as well backed favourites at nourishing odds, and were piloted by jockey A Ashhad Asbar. Gimme Credit (Chevalier-Star Pride/ Ruia Stud) lifted The Defence Forces Cup by outpacing aged Bongani who may have fared better with an apprentice.

Lexi (El Johar – Tia/Mukteshwar Stud) pocketed the Amar Jawan Handicap with ridiculous ease. She allowed stablemate So Regal to do the running till the distance post before bidding adieu.

The Usha Stud farm tasted success thrice during the afternoon, commencing with Manvendra Singh-trained Scarborough Fair (China Visit – Pricewise) who bagged The Armed Forces Handicap in style. It was also the first of apprentice Hindu Singh’s two winners. Backed down to even money, Scarborough Fair (the name immortalised by Paul Simon’s lyrics) allowed Bindass to call the shots till the straight before skating clear. The good looking filly belonging to Mr Joydeep Dutta Gupta has more races in store for her.

Bath-trained Dino (Declaration of War – Ummagumma/ Lingwood Stud) was the shortest priced favourite of the day and won the opening race without fuss, though brave-hearted Romancer did pose some sort of threat to finish a good second. Javed Khan-trained Bucharest (Placerville-Bratz/ Poonawalla Stud) picked up his second race of the season by lifting the Unknown Warrior Cup in a close finish from Signor Sassi in the hands of apprentice Jorawar Singh.