Warm sunshine greeted visitors to the opening day of the Calcutta winter season which saw a mixed bag of favourites and  neglected runners occupying the winner’s enclosure. The feature event of the afternoon, The Hilliard Cup, was an absolute cracker of a race. Trainer Bharath Singh had four runners entered in the 1400m race for the Hilliard Cup and it was indeed creditable that the quartet finished within two lengths of each other at the wire. Piping hot on-money favourite Sana looked to have the race in the bag at the distance post with the astute Dashrath showing her daylight late after keeping her in a box seat behind front-running Bang Bang and Flanker. However, stablemate Captain Cook (Admiralofthefleet-Polentia/ Kunigal Stud) with Arshad Alam astride, had other ideas as the seasoned Class I galloper moved with raking strides in the final furlong to hoist the winning flag. It was a welcome return to form for the ‘Captain’ after nearly a year of weight-reducing missions.

Crack sprinter Fortune Express from Manvendra Singh’s yard won the Irma La Douce Handicap as he liked in Hindu Singh’s hands. Allowing Shivalik Story to lead till the distance, Fortune Express (Express Wish-Set The Mood/ Mebajeona Stud) changed gear and simply drew away from the field. The Manvendra-Hindu duo completed a good double with Tiberon in the very next race, thus bringing the curtain down. The filly accelerated in the final furlong to get the better of the front-runners near home.

 The other pros to score a brace were trainer Shafiq Khan and jockey Mohit Singh. Shafiq and Mohit combined in the first race of the day to land the spoils with the enigmatic Ahlan (Rebuttal-Jasoora/ Hazara Stud). Favourite Carpe Noctem ran a good second while the other fancied runneer Rising From Ashes left all his chances at the gates. The lower division of the Adelina Handicap saw the shortest price favourite of the day – the ten-to-four-on Prolific Visit – come good in a nail-biting finish involving I Me N Myself after much coaxing from the saddle by Christopher Alford.  The Raunak Banerji-trained runner by China Visit out of Prolifre (Usha Stud) had the benefit of a mock race on the last day of the monsoon meet.

Jasbir Singh’s speedy filly Aileen (Rebuttal-Perpetual Glory/ Hazara Stud) made every post of the Mng Dynasty Handicap a winning one in Mohit Singh’s hands. The first five runners finished within one length of one another while the 11/10 favourite Gryffindor ended up dead last.

Shafiq Khan’s Be A Star (Green Coast – All Heart) produced a thunderous gallop in the straight and simply floored the opposition while running over a mile for the first time in her career. The light-weight filly had a slight setback after winning her maiden monsoon start. She has come right now and can win again. Apprentice Ranidan Singh rode an understanding and mature race atop her, waiting patiently for the right moment to make his run.

Vijay Singh-trained Volantis (Multidimensional-Silver Print/ Usha Stud) lost a narrow verdict in her only outing during the monsoon. Jockey S John made ample amends on this occasion as he covered up his mount till into the straight for a late run. The filly romped home quite comfortably after keeping at bay much touted Dark Bay in the final furlong

The opening day also saw the welcome return of Cyrus Madan in the Stewards Box. Madan also added his flair in the commentator’s coop along with another popular Steward – Enrico Piperno. The game duo  eased the pressure on one of the best in the business – Anit Casyab. RCTC ought be proud of their callers who are doing this centre proud across the country.