It was a sad afternoon for horse lovers as two good animals had to be euthanized – Amazing Legend and Dino. The colt and the gelding appeared to be headed for victory in their respective races when the most unfortunate of accidents not only snatched away their triumphs but also more tragically, their innocent lives. What is even more sorrowful is that the youngsters were trying to give their best to win their respective races when the mishaps occurred. Little did they know at that point of time that it would be the last couple of minutes of their playful lives. Fortunately neither of the jockeys (PS Chouhan and Shezad Khan) were hurt. The latter had a fortuitous escape after being thrown into the middle of the track few metres from the winning post.

The main event of the day, The Indian Champion Cup, saw Hyderabad challenger Dare To Dream (Oath-Starynessey/ Pratap Stud) from Srinivas Reddy’s yard, live up to his top rating of 126 and quite easily account for Multitude and Agostini. It was in fact   Mr Gorgeous who produced a late gallop to finish runner-up. Agostini tried to run away with the race in his customary front-running style but was hampered by the early speed of Torch Bearer. Just after the turning for home, Multitude shot ahead and tried to steal a march. But Imran Chisty atop the favourite Dare To Dream was alert to his task and soon had the measure of his younger and inexperienced rival. He spared over two lengths to Vijay Singh duo at the wire.

The afternoon appeared to be jinxed from the very beginning as jockey Sandesh failed to make it to the city. All his mounts, and there were quite a few of them, saw substitutes in the saddle. Subsequently, Shailesh Shinde, who replaced Sandesh atop Corsica in the very first race, suffered a fall and he too had to be replaced by other riders during the rest of the afternoon.

Unfancied Combined Operation (Black Cash – Crepusculaire/ Nanoli Stud) from Vikash Jaiswal’s yard gave Imran Chisty his first winner of the day. The eight-year-old followed leader Romantic Society well into the straight and took over the running thereafter in the upper division of the Sentouki Handicap. Cafe Rio ended up a close third. In the lower division of the same race, Arti Doctor-trained Dussehra (Diffident- Forever Amber/ Yeravada Stud) edged out the forward Super Striker close home.

The SS Bala Memorial Cup witnessed Vijay Singh-schooled Amazing Legend close as the on-money public choice. The three-year-old colt was travelling merrily in front with jockey PS Chouhan having precious little to do. However, on seeing Leopard Creek narrowing the gap, Chouhan used the whip a couple of times in his left hand. This resulted in the youngster changing his leading leg after the distance post and dislocate his shoulder. Subsequently, Bharath Singh-trained Leopard Creek  (Burden Of Proof-Soviet Lake/ Kunigal Stud) and jockey Neeraj Rawal (substituting for Sandesh) strolled home an easy winner.

Jockey Christopher Alford has been in rousing form this season and he displayed his riding prowess by bagging the Indian Champagne Stakes astride the 6/1 shot Abbeville (Abbeydale-Aymaras). The favourite Multitude took over the running from Baccardi and seemed headed for home in the straight but Abbeville responded to his rider’s call and overhauled the public choice in the final furlong. It would be pertinent to mention here that the race with 13 youngsters (Ophion was withdrawn) was made that much more interesting by the flawless commentary of Anit Casyab who did duty throughout the long and eventful afternoon. Calcutta is indeed fortunate to have a young and untiring caller of his calibre.

Manvendra Singh-trained Praise Her Gaze (Express Wish – Foot Tapper/Mebajeona Stud) made every post of the Albert Piperno Memorial Cup a winning one with Mohit Singh astride. The winner drifted out in the straight but held on to his advantage as the favourite Kanya Kalyan moved up to finish runner-up. The disappointment in the race was Monsieur Strauss who fly-jumped and never got going thereafter. The odds of Praise Her Gaze shortened considerably before the start and she closed at 7/2. It was a bold gamble as Mohit opened his account for the season with it.

Bath-trained Dino (Shezad Khan up) led all the way in the 2000 metres race for The Republic Cup and looked to be headed for victory when he drifted out and snapped his fetlock, dislodging his rider. Vijay Singh-trained Adzukis ( Arazan-Aemilia) went on to win in the hands of Neeraj Rawal (filling in for Shailesh). Rawal thus recorded his second win of the day as a substitute rider, having replaced Sandesh atop Leopard Creek.

Jockey Shezad Khan displayed commendable guts to return astride Winning Fortune (Oath-Moneypenny/ Pratap Stud) in the day’s final event and edge out Snow White for a popular victory.