With a triple entry in a five-horse field for the Mayfowl Cup, the numbers were always in favour of trainer Vijay Singh but very few would have speculated the schooler’s trump card would turn out to be the outsider of five – Mister Gorgeous. The five-year-old horse by Mr Mellon out of Drop Dead Gorgeous (Ruia Stud) graced the wrong end of the field for most part while stablemate and favourite Multitude called the shots. Once into the straight, Mr Gorgeous moved with raking strides under Dashrath’s urgings to bag the honours close home. It was a splendid piece of horsemanship that saw the western India ace ride out his mount hands and heels all the way – something that many upcoming  jockeys will learn a thing or two from.

Due to the ongoing monetary crisis in the country, bookmakers continued to stay away from the Calcutta racecourse for the second successive day. However, the totalisator was operating with notes of smaller denomination being used on both sides of the counter.  The loss of revenue is considerable, but thanks to the efforts made by RCTC, the sport is continuing unhindered.

Jockey Christopher Alford had a successful day at the office as he guided home a lucrative treble which included a cup double. The Pearson Surita Memorial Cup for horses in Class II, had only six in the fray but the race was as thrilling as it gets with three runners vying for top honours in the final furlong. Visiting jockey Suraj Narredu took Mystic Romance to the head of the field at the outset and tried runaway tactics. It very nearly paid dividends as Alford had to work hard on the favourite Adrestia (Multidimensional-Gloriosa/ Usha Stud) from Vijay Singh’s yard to eventually win close home. Top-weight Shourisha also made a worthwhile bid in the closing stages of the race to finish a good third and will be worth keeping an eye on.

C. Alford next took advantage of an inside draw to win the upper division of the Chios Handicap astride the grey filly Atheist (Stern Opinion-Ching Mai). He took the shortest route home astride the 10/1 shot as he made every post a winning one, easing up his mount in the final fifty metres after a quick peep over his shoulder. The race reflected Alford’s complete mastery over the local racetrack as he controlled the pace of the front-runner to a nicety before easing the throttle and leaving all his rivals floundering. Both Significant and public choice Supreme Ruler were heavily under the whip in the straight. It would be relevant to note that the Bharath Singh-trained light-framed filly gives her best after being freshened up, and her last three wins have been recorded in  her very first outing of  a season.

Alford completed his treble with another neglected runner – Multivalue. The Arti Doctor-trained colt by Multidimensional out of Sea Value ( Usha Stud) had had  a raw deal while running in the Colts Trial Stakes during the last monsoon meet. He was knocked out of his stride mid-way through the race by the eventual winner (Tweedle Dee / C. Alford up). On this occasion, Alford compensated the connections with a superb ride to lift the Cavalry Cup. The well-built handsome colt was positioned in a box seat by Alford early in the race to be second behind pace-setter Sergeant Major till the straight.  As he is wont to do, as heads turned for home, Alford quickly hugged the rails and took the shortest route home all the way till the winning post. The favourite Cadman with S. John astride made a strong bid in the final 100 metres but fell short narrowly. Both Rewalding and Auxilium finished well to be third and fourth respectively.

The afternoon started well for the Farley Rodrigues yard as his top-weight runner Pouru Chisti (West Virginia-Trigance/ Nakul Stud) overcame an outside draw to bag The Diabolical Handicap. The speedy filly was piloted by the experienced Surjeet  Singh rather cleverly. She was held in check till the straight before Surjeet released the brakes and showed the filly daylight. She quite easily collared the front-runner Strike It Lucky and pulled away. The favourite Hibiki was a tame second.

The mile race for The Robert Bruce Handicap saw Lochinvar installed as the firm favourite.  The front-runner ran a fairly good race to finish a close third. The surprise winner was the top-weight Bang Bang (Stardan-Ballad Of Glory/ Rolli Stud) who conceded over 7kg to Storm Front and yet collared the latter close home.

A failed favourite in her last outing during the monsoon season, Daniel David-trained Tangaloomaa (Arabian Gulf-Star Princess/ Manjri Stud) made ample amends for her connections by pocketing the Ivanoe Handicap after being installed as the public choice once again.  The filly’s dam Star Princess was absolutely brilliant over a sharp scurry and Tangaloomaa (a full sister to the successful sprinter Avocet) displayed a similar ability in the straight. She overhauled the speedster Words close home after raising a splendid gallop.

The lower division of the Chios Handicap saw another Arabian Gulf filly called Arabian Sky (out of Leeward Passage) using her initial speed to good effect and leaving the field standing. The Arti Doctor-trained filly was piloted by Neeraj Rawal. The curtain came down on the long afternoon of racing with Deepak Karki-trained Fite Of Honour (European-Symbol Of Speed) bagging the Regal Connection Handicap. The friendless colt was the day’s biggest outsider as he won effortlessly in the hands of Zarar Alam, sailing past the favourite Washington in the straight.