In a duel for supremacy, Kunigal-bred Captain Cook set the record straight once and for all when he comprehensively defeated his closest adversary and piping hot favourite Setaflame on the showpiece platform of the rainy season  - The Calcutta Monsoon Derby. With that sweeping success, jockey Trevor Patel ended his two-month drought at this centre in dramatic fashion.

Kunigal Stud Farms have won the last four Classics run – Mysore 1000 Guineas (1st & 3rd) Deccan Colts Championship, Deccan Derby (1st & 2nd) and now the Calcutta Monsoon Derby. A product of KSF has also placed a short-head second in the Mysore 2000 Guineas.

Apart from the classic breed (Admiralofthefleet-Polenta) of the powerfully structured brown gelding, several other factors contributed to the first classic victory of his career. The task of this prized property of Dr Vijay Mallya was made that much easier by the rather sedate pace of owner-mate Captain Haddock and the somewhat irrational overconfidence of Setalflame’s rider Shailesh Shinde. But take nothing away from an absolutely superb and well-deserved victory of this son of the highly successful stallion Admiralofthefleet. Trevor had the Bharath Singh-trained runner racing in second slot for most part while Captain Haddock called the shots. Once the baton was passed onto Spyro, Trevor set his mount alight and the gelding responded magnificently. The rider said later that the horse had got used to the ‘pacifier blinkers’ which were first used on him during his miserable Colts Trial essay. “ The pacifier blinkers have undoubtedly helped the horse,” said an elated Trevor during his post-race comments.

As for the run of the on-money favourite Setaflame, the less said about it the better. Somewhat inexperienced when it comes to classics, Shailesh was obviously wrong-footed and caught napping by a well-thought out ploy of the winning connections. Kudos to the team of Captain Cook led by Mr. Zeyn Mirza!

Trainer Bharath Singh, who led in Captain Cook, led in two other winners during a highly successful afternoon for this ‘quality’ trainer in more senses than one. He may have lacked the numbers right through the monsoon meeting, but he more than made up for it by pocketing the plum of the season in great style.

Bharath’s other two winners during the day were Fite Of Honour and Triumphus – both ridden by the reliable Dashrath Singh. The former (by European out of Symbol Of Speed) showed plenty of speed to make every post of the Star Precision Cup a winning one and give Dashrath an armchair ride. Triumphus, on the other hand, saw Dashrath at his very best as he got the better of Free Energy close home. Known to prefer a longer trip, Dashrath ensured that he stayed in touch with the leaders throughout the race for the Silverina Cup, before turning on the heat in the final furlong of the seven-furlong race. Sired by Burden Of Proof out of Arizza, this property of Mr Joydeep Datta Gupta is another product of the prolific Kunigal stud. In this race, the unpredictable Copernicus lost valuable ground as the gates opened, other than which he would have been nearer at the finish.

Returning after his suspension, trainer Vijay Singh notched up a double with Adrestia ( Multidimensional-Gloriosa/ Usha Stud) and Adzukis ( Arazan-Aemilia). The former, available at cramped of 10-to-2-on, won the opener of the afternoon, The Desert Shot Cup, without any hiccups whatsoever. Jockey Christopher Alford had to do precious little as it was a field of no-hopers.

Shailesh Shinde however had to work hard on the bottom-weight Adzukis to overhaul second favourite Bay Of Secrets close home. A recent import from western India, the latter tried to make every post a winning one in the hands of PS Chouhan but came apart after the distance when challenged by the even-money public choice.

The horse that is likely to wear the ‘Horse of the season’ tag is Bath-trained Analyst. The filly by Sharp Attack out of Sweet Pea Jamie (Gee Stud), notched up her fourth win of the season by a widening margin of over five lengths, when she lifted the Alice Springs Cup. Jockey Shezad Khan has partnered her in all her winning essays. She has now reached the highest class and it may be a risk to ignore her even in that category.

The last two races of the day saw Arti Doctor and Robert Gowli record back-to-back wins with Bold Legacy and Kanya Kalyan. Bold Legacy (New Famous-Hoofbeats/ Yeravada) made every post of the Steal The Glory Cup a winning one in the hands of Kamlesh. Kanya Kalyan (Ashhad Asbar up) permitted second favourite Legende Indienne to call the shots till the distance post before overhauling her and bagging the Amorina Cup without much ado.