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SANA RECORDS A BLOODLESS VICTORY

By Epsom Ace | 25 Nov 2017 | KOLKATA


Mr Joydeep Datta Gupta leading Sana (Dashrath Singh Up), winner of The Calcutta 1000 Guineas (Gr.3)

There was no deviation from the script in the race for the Calcutta 1000 Guineas as Bharath Singh-trained Sana romped home a clear winner in the hands of Dashrath Singh. The filly by Multidimensional out of Yana (Usha Stud) thus became the prime local candidate for the Calcutta Oaks next month. Allowing Bangalore challenger Implicit Trust to lead till the top of the straight, Sana and Dashrath simply sailed away thereafter for an effortless triumph. The other three fillies were never in it.

Jockey S John was in his element on this day as he recorded a well-deserved treble with Namcha, Shivalik Story and Setaflame – all trained by Vijay Singh. Namcha’s effortless victory after an unruly start is likely to make him one of the fancied runners in the 2000 Guineas to be run a fortnight from now. Trainer Rutherford Alford and jockey Aashad Asbar combined fruitfully to notch up an unlikely brace with Modification and Sheer Force.

The opening race of the day, the upper division of the Artwork Handicap, saw Outrider installed as the favourite and the three-year-old gelding was pretty comfortably placed midway up the straight. At that point, it seemed that All Rounder may be his only challenger. But thereafter, the filly Modification (Rebuttal-Hazel Eyes/ Hazara Stud) moved with raking strides to sail past the duo in taking style. The neglected runner paid a whopping Rs 393 on a Rs 10 win ticket.

Rutherford and Asbar combined once again to bring home the bacon with two-year-old Sheer Force (Net Whizz-Celtic Manor) who made every post of the Fly Like The Wind Plate a winning one. Trainer Vijay Singh’s fancied trio of Alyssa, Vrishank and Christiana were disappointing to say the least. Richard Alford’s Aiyana was an impressive runner-up.

S John and Vijay Singh opened their account for the day with classic hopeful Namcha (Arabian Gulf-Royal Liverpool/ Manjri Stud). The three-year-old gelding veered out drastically as the gates opened and took Heading Glory with him. It was John’s calm yet firm handling which got him back on course to eventually win effortlessly. The jockey-trainer duo next picked up the Own Ability Handicap with Shivalik Story (Acclaimatin-Sweeping Story/ Hazara Stud). John handled the speedster expertly as he kept him in the third slot till the straight before pulling away from front-running Cocoanut. They completed their well-deserved treble by lifting The DR Gupta Memorial Cup with Setaflame (China Visit-Set Aside/ Usha Stud). Both Taygetus and aged Copernicus ran impressively to finish first and second runner-up respectively. They will be worth following.  Shourisha was never in it despite Trevor’s best effort and it may be because he is getting on in years. Nevertheless, he would be worth keeping an eye on.

Patrick Quinn’s friendless Summerhill (Burden Of Proof-Summer Wine/ Kunigal Stud) got the better of the fancied trio of Shohin, Multivalue and Multiple who finished in that order. Of the beaten brigade, the favourite Multiple was the least impressive. Jockey Arshad Alam coaxed a late gallop fom his mount to eventually win quite comfortably.

Young apprentice Rupal Singh finally broke his duck by guiding home the filly Zandra (Dancing Forever-Sinner Girl/ Hazara Stud) to victory in the 2000m race for the Striking Handicap. This ward of trainer Jasbir Singh was the best on handicap and proved herself with this triumph.