The New Year’s Day races at this centre has always been a glamour event that socialites of this city are keen to attend. The stands were well and truly bulging by the fourth race of the day.  With the current cold weather playing its part, this year’s mega event witnessed an attendance of over 17,000.  The totalisator collection crossed Rs 1.10 crore.
The Indian Produce Stakes, run over 1200m, saw Vijay Singh-trained on-money favourite Black Pearl (Suraj Narredu up) maul his four rivals. The Planetaire-Alvarita colt made it a one-horse race from the distance post. The race for the prestigious RCTC Gold Vase run over 2200m, provided a suitable climax to the day’s proceedings. Javed Khan-trained Arrowfield (Phoenix Tower-Dramatikos), with Imran Chisty astride, fought tooth and nail to overhaul Lord Of The Sea at the wire.  With this triumph, Arrowfieeld completed a well-deserved hat-trick. 

A wave of nostalgia swept oldtimers at RCTC as veteran champion jockey Christopher Alford finally decided to hang up his boots after a highly successful career spanning three decades, during which period he guided home 1500-plus winners. His fans and followers will no doubt be happy to learn that Christopher has been granted a trainer’s licence by RCTC. Along with uncle Richard (who was a jockey of legendary proportions) and cousin Rutherford, that makes three professionals from the Alford family at this centre. 

Trainer Vijay Singh completed a treble during the afternoon, commencing with his filly Vallerysthal (Multidimensional-Romantique) who was the even-money favourite in The Telegraph Cup. With Sandesh’s help from the saddle, she managed to pip Sullivan close home. It’s quite likely that she would have got the race in the Stewards room even if she had finished runner-up as Sullivan caused severe interference to her in the straight. But it’s just as well that Sandesh left nothing to chance. Vijay and Sandesh next combined to pocket the Arabian Rose Handicap with the chestnut Lesrel (Mayson-Tarkamara). The sprinter left the field standing in the straight. Both winners won in the popular colours of sporting owner Vikram Bachawat.

Two schoolers who completed a brace each were Javed Khan and Vikash Jaiswal. Before leading in Arrowfield, Javed had led in Incendio (Win Legend-Angel’s Glory) in the Astrodance Handicap.  The filly, with Imran Chisty astride, had no trouble at all in collaring recent migrant Belgravia near the distance post, to win as she liked. 

Vikash Jaiswal picked up both divisions of the Club Fenicia Cup. The upper division went Shivayyy’s way with a delighted apprentice Rupal Singh astride. The grey by Charmo out of Oluchi had to fight hard to get the better of Aggression close home. Vikash completed his brace with Namak Halaal (Surfrider-Aveline) who made every post a winning one with PS Chouhan atop.

Trainer Arti Doctor’s Simply Soaring (Air Support-Sabre Dance) won the Network Handicap in dramatic fashion as jockey Dhanu Singh Deora brought her with telling strides on the wide outside to peg back Inca close home. Apprentice Sujit Kumar Paswan had one race earlier recorded a similar triumph with Bharatrh Singh-schooled Glendower (Knight’s Tour-Linette) who was the highest paying outsider of the day.