It was mixed fortunes for racegoers at the RCTC on Tuesday as four first favourites obliged in a card of seven races, that amazingly witnessed eight winners – thanks to a stunning dead-heat between Uptown Girl and Mizuno.

However, there was not much luck for punters in the afternoon’s main event, The Horendro Kristo Dutt Memorial Cup, run over the metric mile. The piping hot favourite Mystic Romance pipped front-runner Romantic Flow at the post and finished third behind Amandus and Lanner Falcon. The 8/1 winner Amandus (Carnival Dancer – Elusive Trust/ Dashmesh Stud ) from Manvendra Singh’s yard, was positioned cleverly by Trevor along the rails and once in the straight, the grey was hard ridden to bisect the front-running duo of Romantic Flow and Lanner Falcon. The latter issued a strong challenge but failed. Though a mile winner, he seems better suited to seven furlongs. As for Romantic Flow, the apprentice failed to do justice to his mount. He gave him his head very early in the mile race and then denied him a breather. Had he managed to settle him behind Sergeant Major, it might have been a different story. But then, as I have repeatedly maintained, “in racing, there are simply no ifs and buts – but only winners.”

 Jockey Christopher Alford continued to rule the roost with another well-crafted treble that culminated in dramatic fashion astride the on-money public choice Roman Flame. The first of his winners was neglected Jamaican (Lucifer Sam – SpanishWhisper/ Sans Craintes Stud)  from Bharath Singh’s stable. The five-year-old ran in a strong field in his last essay and ended up sixth. On this occasion, Alford rode the 10/1 shot upfront, behind pace-setter Divine Dimension, and drew way in the straight when the two fancied runners Miraculix and Dayavan issued their challenge.

Alford’s next winner was in the 2000 metres race for the Bountiful Treasure Handicap. Shyam Habbu-trained Ship Rock, a full brother to Booker Jones (Kingda Ka – Giacosa/ Nanoli Stud), stayed the trip well. With Dino and Presence calling the shots, Alford had his mount covered up till the straight where he chose the rails and pegged the duo back. The disappointment in the race was Desert Fox, who was never in it.

Alford completed his treble with another win for Habbu. His filly Roman Flame (Holy Roman Emperor – Christel Flame) was squeezed out at the start of the Glasgow Courser Handicap and raced in the rear of the 12-horse field. Alford gave her time to gather herself and though he took the bend six wide to avoid traffic problems, the three-year-old had sufficient fire in her belly to overhaul Mister Majestic in the straight. She may win again thanks to the narrow verdict – or even otherwise.

The afternoon commenced on a sedate note as Bath-trained Winning Fortune (Oath- Moneypenny/ Pratap Stud) made every post a winning one without any hiccups. Jockey Shezad was content to let the filly do all the work. Ass many as three of the dozen runners returned bleeding from both nostrils.

Trainer Robert Gowli recorded a brace with on-money public choice Mellow Fellow (Chevalier Star Pride/ Ruia Stud) and Uptown Girl (Stardan – Here She Comes/ Rolli Stud). While the former won the Voluntary Plate easily, making every post a winning one, the latter shared the top berth with dead-heat horse Mizuno (Noverre –Sama/ Sohna Stud) from Bharath Singh’s yard. Imran Chisty brought the grey on the wide outside with giant strides in the mile race for the Gurkirpal Handicap to force the dead-heat in the final stride. The colt loves to move into top gear very late which gives the others an advantage in Calcutta’s short straight.