Saturday afternoon belonged to riders Ashhad Asbar and S John. The duo picked up five races between them while Nirmal Jodha and apprentice Hindu Singh pocketed one each. The main event, The Calcutta Juvenile Sprint, saw Aquitania installed as the favourite at odds of 2/1. The filly was looking well in the paddock and shaping like a winner. at the distance post, which is where her woes started.  The filly began to drift out under pressure and Vijay Singh-trained Dysnomia (Rebuttal-A La Votre/ Hazara Stud) started to gain ground on her in the hands of S John. The last named had finished third in mediocre company in her last essay and was available at 6/1. With hundred metres to go, she was travelling the better of the two while the rest of the field were outclassed. One race earlier, John had piloted Vijay Singh-trained Multitude (Multidimensional-Haedi/ Usha Stud) to a start to finish victory in the Arktouros Cup.

Jockey Ashhad Asbar set the ball rolling for his followers with a fluent win astride the heavily gambled Auberon (Carnival Dancer-Auryn/ Dashmesh Stud). The five-year-old gelding provided the meticulous and methodical Raunak Banerji with his second winner in as many days. However, the runs of a couple of runners in this race left much to be desired – Kamchatka and Uptown Girl. It was as if the others in the field were suddenly treating Auberon as a world-beater. Romantic Society lost some ground at the start and was once again a creditable ‘best man’ for the occasion in John’s hands.

Asbar’s next winner was Legendofthephoenix from Manvendra Singh’s yard. The mare by Win Legend out of Fairytaleending / Dashmesh Stud followed Aculeus till the top of the straight and sailed ahead for a comfortable victory. The others including the favourite Sunset Sail were never in it.

Asbar completed his treble with Daniel David-trained Kanya Kalyan (Mull of Kintyre – Fatat Alarab/ Sohna Stud) who got the better of hot favourite Half Volley in the straight. The win does not show the current crop of three-year-olds in good light. One cannot blame the connections of Dreamz Unlimited for exposing the potential of their ward – after all, if Kanya Kalyan can do it – ‘why not us?’ In fact, Jaiswal’s charge finished ahead of the fading’volley’ who was hit for a six by the experienced duo.

There was some drama in the Accuser Handicap as Sushi and Illidan fought tooth and nail all the way down the straight. The top-weight with Christopher Alford astride was drifting out badly and taking Illidan with him. Sushi also made contact with his rival. It was a foregone conclusion that the objection by Nirmal Jodha astride Illidan (Intense Focus-Edeessya) would be upheld. The favourite Waveafterwave was never in the picture and needed this outing. She will be better for it. However, jockey KG Steyn was fined Rs 15,000/- for incompetent and ill judged handling of his mount – which seemed a trifle harsh as the filly’s tongue strap had come off during loading.

Theo (Top Class-Real Queen/ Mukteshwar Stud) from trainer Manvendra Singh’s yard has come on a lot this season and seems to understand what is expected of him. Apprentice Hindu Singh timed the colt’s run to perfection as he drew away in the straight. The favourite Ballister with C Alford in the saddle was a good second and may have ended closer to the winner had he not tripped at the top of the straight after being squeezed for space and falling back to the rear of the field. Perhaps , it was just not Alford’s day.