The daughter of Girl From Ascot by Chevalier (Ruia Stud) is named Xotica and she lived up to her name in no uncertain manner as she pocketed the Honk Kong Jockey Club Trophy by four lengths, running away from the field. The fight was for the runner up berth. What was even more impressive was that jockey Nikhil realised that the Javed Khan-trained filly was moving so smoothly that he need not use the stick or urge her in any way. He moulded in well with the speedster and let her do all the work which she seemed to enjoy. For her wonderful effort, her mentor planted a kiss on her as she was being led in. A couple of the two-year-olds played up at the gates and had to be withdrawn. They were Milestone and Hondo Monterrey who threw his rider and broke the railings. Hence there was delay of about 15 minutes.

The race itself saw a string of runners at fluctuating odds with the fancied set of Blazing Bullet, Milestone, Ophion, Yamazaki and Abbeville varying between 7/2 and 9/2. However, the connections of Xotica were quietly confident and the filly was backed down to close as the 7/2 favourite. Ophion set the early pace with Javed’s ward in hot pursuit. After the turning for home, she simply flew past the front-runner to win as she liked. Third placed Intersteller will be worth keeping an eye on while the trio of Yamazaki, Blazing Bullet and Abbeville were huge disappointments.

The supporting event, The Secret Fire Cup, saw Ship Rock (Kingda Ka-Giacosa/ Nanoli Stud) close as the 12/10 favourite and Shyam Habbu’s colt justified the confidence showered on him by punters as he lifted the cup without being threatened by any of the runners. Jockey Christopher Alford had the colt racing second behind Bindass till the half-way mark and thereafter changed gear. Kanha (Trevor atop) left all his chances ta the gates as he is wont to do. It seems the champion jockey’s poor mounts at this centre have become a topic of conversation.

C.Alford had earlier won a thriller while astride Mr Majestic (Varanar-Stringsofmyheart) in the Reminiscent Handicap. The chestnut three-year-old made it a start to finish affair but only just held on by the skin of his teeth. Second favourite Dreams Unlimited came with a rousing gallop in the final furlong and went down by the narrowest possible margin. It is a fact that if Alford’s mount is allowed a good break in the short Calcutta straight, it’s rather difficult to grab the race from him as he always has a little extra when the heat is on. However, no blame can be attached to jockey Asbar as he did his best. Perhaps, if speedy stablemate of Dreamz Unlimited - No Politics Please, had not been withdrawn, things may have been different as Mr Majestic wouldn’t have had things his own way from the outset. But then, racing is not a story of ifs and buts abut a ground reality. Mr Majestic won fair and square.

Jasbir Singh’s Cool Conqueror (Kingda Ka-Amount/ Nanoli Stud) opened the account for his mentor this season when he won the opener, The Piato handicap, without much ado. Prabhu Naidu rode an understanding race atop the winner as he permitted top-weight Dark Angel some early leeway before sailing past the forward filly.

Much hyped Anarosa and his trainer J Mckeown let down a host of supporters as the filly bolted and fizzled out in the straight. One is not certain what instructions were imparted to apprentice Alam but the rider obviously had no clue on how to handle the established miler. The race was bagged by the course favourite Sunset Sail (Arabian Gulf – Perilous Pursuit/ Manjri Stud) from Arti Doctor’s yard. Jockey Zervan had her racing third till the bend before sailing past the front-runners for a facile triumph.

Bharath Singh-trained Torino (Rebuttal-Persian Delight/ Hazara Stud)made every post of the Loveisblind Handicap a winning one in Sandesh’s hands. Course favourite Beyond Expectation was hard ridden in the straight to finish a fair second. Piping hot favourite Soviet Dancer (Burden Of Proof-Soviet Star/ Kunigal Stud) finally came good. Trevor took the Manvendra Singh-schooled filly to the front immediately after the start of the Galashiels Handicap and held on to the advantage at the wire.