It was an afternoon framed for the Kolkata police officers and their families and their presence was the highlight off the field. On the race-track, it was business as usual. Bharath Singh-trained Captain Cook (Admiralofthefleet-Polentia/ Kunigal Stud) lifted the Maharaja of Burdwan Memorial Cup at RCTC on Saturday in dramatic fashion. The 15/1 shot was a winner at every post of the 1200m sprint with visiting jockey Arshad Alam in the saddle. The latter resorted to the stick to keep his mount moving in top gear in the straight and keep at bay the likes of Shivalik Story and Taygetus who were moving up menacingly after the turning for home. The favourite Fortune Express was a tame fifth while 6/1 second favourite Brahmachari was always bottled up – possibly not an apprentice ride. Alam thus completed a double, having earlier piloted Indus Prince to a start-to-finish triumph in the Police Martyr’s Cup.

The Police Commissioner’s Cup saw well-backed Gryffindor (Lucifer Sam-Blumarine/ Sans Craintes Stud) carry the public purse to victory in the safe hands of Dashrath Singh. The dark bay colt from Bharath’s yard moved well in the straight from mid –division to land the spoils close home. Near the distance post, it seemed that the fast drifting front-runner One Man Army might block the favourite in his path but Dashrath’s experience took care of that and well – all is well that ends well! Speedster Gryffindor finally proved his worth.

The afternoon commenced with Manvendra Singh-trained Tsavo (Hindu Singh up) putting in a late run to bag the upper division of the Arisen Handicap. The three-year-old by Eljohar out of Sing Along  (Mukteshwar Stud) was finding it difficult to meet the upper class and the lowest category was quite obviously well within her reach. The favourite Artiste Royal was never in it. Both Queen’s Kitten and Smith & Wesson ran well enough to be worthy of the minor berths.

The lower division saw Bath-trained Fiorelle (Sedgefield-Alsaabeega/ Jai Govind Stud) come good with a terrific stretch run after gracing the wrong end of the field for most part. Front-running Desert Falcon drifted to the outer rails and both Dakota Dreamer and Fiorelle took advantage of this as they galloped down the centre of the track to get the better of the pace-maker quite easily.

Apprentice Bhati rode a good race atop top-weight Lady Two from Arti Doctor’s yard  to get the better of the front-runners without raising a sweat in the upper division of The Aunty Pip Handicap. Choosing the shortest route home Bhati guided the filly by New Famous out of Silken Dancer ( Yeravada Stud) to the winning post and remained calm all the way. The favourite Outrider left all his chances at the gates. The lower division remained a Doctor family affair as Aashay Doctor’s recent western India import Naumee  (S Kamble up) showed that she is superior to the local lot who were in fact far younger than her. The five-year-old mare is by Arabian Gulf out of Autocop (Manjri Stud).

The Kolkata Mounted Police Cup went Bath-trained Marbella’s way as the on-money Aiyana failed to live up to expectations. The two-year-old filly by Declaration Of War out of Isfahaan completed a double for Shezad Khan who had earlier ridden Fiorelle to triumph.

Vikash Jaiswal’s six-year-old Indus  Prince finally came good over a trip after several forward runs. The Noverre gelding out of Patricia (Sohna Stud) was ridden by Arshad Alam. The favourite Very Special was never in it. James Mc Keown’s Nobu (Burden Of Proof-Soviet Lake/ Kunigal Stud) won her third race in four outings when she picked up the Playboy Handicap. Apprentice P Vikram is a composed lad who may be able to pick up a few more races in the near future provided he stays focussed on the job at hand. Though poor judgement by C Alford cost Multivalue some ground at a crucial stage near the distance post, he would never have beaten Nobu on this day.