Trainer  Jasbir Singh’s Hartnell (Western Aristocrat-Mother’s Pride) carried his top-weight to victory without much ado in the race for the Maharaja Of Burdwan Memorial Cup at RCTC on Thursday. Stablemate Rewalding was sacrificed as a pacemaker. The six-year-old set a moderate pace, followed by Cold Frontier, Pothus and Hartnell along the rails. At the top of the straight, B. Mahesh on the last named took a box seat along the rails. Thereafter, a few cracks from his whalebone saw Hartnell streaking clear of the field. Cadman ran on to take the runner-up berth. Jockey Imran Chisty was in great form as he notched up a treble during the afternoon – his winners being Caiden, Artiste Royal and Tough Enough. The last named was a chance ride as jockey Sandesh failed to fulfil his engagements for the afternoon, as did PS Chouhan. 

The afternoon commenced with a fabulous victory for Shafiq Khan-trained Caiden (Net Whizz-Kentucky Queen) who made mince-meat of his six rivals in the Accrews Handicap and in the process completed a hat-trick of wins. The facile victory in the 2000m race in fine timing places a feather in the cap of his mentor and suggests that there are greater things in store for this handsome big-boned chestnut. Barring runner-up Montecasino, the others were completely outclassed.

Chisty’s next winner was on the top-weighted Artiste Royal (Tariq-Absolutely Royal), also from the stable of Shafiq Khan. The six-year-old came with telling strides in the final furlong to get the better of  Knight’s Gambit who was threatening to pull it off. Chisty took full advantage of a chance ride on seven-year-old Tough Enough (Ontario-Thorns Of Life) from Javed Khan’s yard to complete a well-deserved treble. Fancied runners Roxor and Ruby Cube occupied the minor placings.

The race for two-year-olds – The Gurkirpal Plate – saw Vijay Singh-trained filly Silver Bracelet (Win Legend – Silver Profile) make every post a winning one in great style. It also meant that Suraj Narredu has 2001 winners under his belt. Well gambled Pinatubo was a decent runner-up and needs to be followed.

The No Whips race , The Mister Twister Handicap, witnessed apprentice RS Bhati inch closer to being a full jockey. He is now one short of the requisite 40 winners. After Marigold had stolen a march over Moskova in the straight, Bacaardi (Whatsthescript-Shanghai Gal) moved well with Bhati in the saddle to win by half-a-length.

The curtain came down with Jasbir Singh-completing a double with six-year-old Modification (Rebuttal-Hazel Eyes). Apprentice Rupal Singh did the honours. The favourite Bang appeared to leave it too late, other than which he may have well got the better of his adversary.