Trainer Vijay Singh and jockey Suraj Narredu combined fruitfully to fetch home a treble with Vallerysthal, Court Jester and Multitude. The last named won the Calcutta Champions Sprint Trophy while shouldering 61.5kg, after a keen tussle with stablemate Lesrel. This was the big-hearted eight-year-old’s sixth win on the trot – an amazing record at this age. Lesrel incurred a penalty of 5.5kg for his brave effort. The runner most affected by his effort in this ‘terms’ event was Juno’s Guest whose rating was pumped up from 68 to 90. The disappointment in the race was St Andrews who cried off after failing to match strides with Multitude (Multidimensional-Haedi) in the straight. 

Court Jester (Net Whizz-Matilda) won the BK Poddar Cup by a street, with the rider easing up the colt a long way from home. The supporting event, The Horendro Kristo Dutt Memorial Cup saw unfancied Exception (Western Aristocrat – Edessya) from James Mckeown’s yard taking the shortest route home in the hands of Nikhil Naidu. It was quite a shock result considering that this was her first outing after nearly eleven months. The on-money public choice Valeria appeared to be out of her depths despite the fly-weight that she was carrying and finished a tame fourth. Top-weight Wave Rider ran a good second and is one for the notebook.

The afternoon commenced on a happy note for punters as Vijay Singh-trained Vallerysthal (Multidimensional-Romantique) simply ran away with the public purse on her back. The second race of the day, a ‘No Whips” event,  saw the biggest outsider of the afternoon entering the winner’s enclosure. Vikash Jaiswal-schooled Knight Of Thunder (Varenar-Cogito Ergo Sum) with apprentice Hasib Alam astride, moved with a thunderous gallop in the straight to peg back San Remo who ended up a close runner-up for the second time this season. The one for the notebook is Vijay Singh-trained Advait who finished a good third despite an outside draw.

The Dancing Colours Handicap, run over seven furlongs, suited the 7/2 favourite Communique (Air Support-Cocktail Circuit) to the hilt. Lying a handy second behind pace-setter Apalachee, Communique and Imran Chisty shot ahead near the distance post to win a hard fought race. Fancourt (Dashrath Singh up) made a bold bid to grab the honours but Chisty put his mount into top gear in the final 100 metres to pull it off.

The last race of the day saw Richard Alford-trained Houtzen (Dean’s Kitten-Ruby Queen) produce a winning gallop in the straight to peg back Ajeeta at the wire. Houtzen (RS Bhati up) showed her staying ability like her dam Ruby Queen, who had won the Golconda Oaks several years back. Ajeeta was rather the unlucky loser in the race as she was squeezed for room near the midway point by Elusive Wave and lost position rapidly. Apprentice Vikram atop Ajeeta was in a box seat till then behind pace maker Cool Conqueror. Ajeeta came with a second wind to collar stablemate Darsh but folded in when challenged by Houtzen.