An elated trainer Aashay Doctor led in his first classic winner when his filly Izzy bagged the Calcutta 1000 Guineas in styleat RCTC on Saturday. Jockey Suraj Narredu rode a supremely confident race as he sat in mid-division of the eight-horse field while Louboutin set a cracking pace followed by the piping hot on-money public choice Abira. Jockey David Allan on the latter made his move in the straight but an alert Suraj was equal to the task as he set his mount alight with a couple of cracks of the whalebone. The daughter of Western Aristocrat out La Joie De Vie responded magnificently to sail past her rival in a trice. In his post-race comment, the trainer said that the filly’s next target would probably beThe Calcutta Oaks on December 21. Suraj said that she was a responsive and easy ride. He is now seven short of 2000 winners. 

The afternoon commenced with a dramatic win for Bharath Singh-trained Swanlite (Declaration Of War-Lumiere Blanche) who won the Liberty Handicap in the very last stride thanks to Srinath’s perseverance. The handicap horse Rolly Polly came through the centre of the field in the final furlong and looked to be heading for victory but fell short by a ‘nose’. The first five horses finished within a length of each other.

Trainer Vikash Jaiswal and jockey PS Chouhan combined to pick up the Colombiana Handicap with the favourite Shivayy (Charmo-Oluchi). The four-year-old registered a regulation victory – following front-runner Hurricane Storm till the top of the straight and forging ahead thereafter. Sharavati was a fair second. The professional duo completed their brace with Capricious in The Touch Of Silver Cup. The second favourite Perpetual Running did all the running but found nothing in reserve when challenged by Capricious (Gusto-Vivacity). Sweet Music found the trip too sharp but finished on well to be a good third.

The afternoon’s biggest disappointment was Javed Khan-trained Script who closed as the even-money favourite in the Cameron Handicap. The three-year-old gelding finished a poor fifth of seven runners. The six-furlong race was pocketed by James Mc Keown-trained Novikov (Holding Court-Dancer’s Fan) who collared the runaway Mr Fogg’s mid-way up the straight.

Trainer Javed Khan however came back with a bang by picking up a race on either side of The 1000 Guineas. Both his winners Arrowfield and Rather Tippy are recent imports from western India. Four-year-old dark bay gelding Arrowfield (Phoenix Tower-Dramatikos) won the mile race for The Romantic Notes Handicap after lying in the rear for the most part. Eastern Crown was the first to make his move at the top of the straight but was soon overhauled by a superior animal who was conceding 12kg to him. Jockey Imran Chisty rode a calculated race on the winner. Kudos to the connections for pulling off a confident gamble. Rather Tippy (Varenar-Hafawa) brought the curtain down after a brief tussle with Star Of Hollywood in the straight. Jockey Sandesh was astride the three-year-old filly. He rode her off the pace before timing his charge in the straight to perfection.