A close second favourite in the ante-post market, trainer Neil Darashah’s prize filly Violin (Phoenix Tower – Nojoom) pegged back the on-money public choice Silver Bracelet without much ado in the mile race for the Calcutta 1000 Guineas at RCTC on Saturday. Apsara Star finished up a close third. An elated Neil Darashah is eyeing the Calcutta Oaks next – to be run less than three weeks from now on New Year’s Day. Jockey Y Srinath on the winner Violin rode a calculated race as he sat tucked in along the rails in fourth spot while Mystic Wonder set a cracking pace. Stablemate of the pacemaker and the piping hot public choice – Silver Bracelet – was lying in the second slot with Zoya not too far behind. Apsara Star was also in touch with the fancied runners. Silver Bracelet took over the running in the straight and looked to have the winning post in her sight. However, the wily Srinath had other ideas and found an extra gear on his mount who responded magnificently to sail past the favourite in a trice. Neil will be back on Friday to saddle Mountain Lion in the 2000 Guineas. The colt may have needed the earlier run where he finished second to Silver Bracelet opined the knowledgeable trainer.

The afternoon also belonged to the handicapper who ensured five close finishes in a card of seven races. The Cradle Of The Deep Handicap saw Javed Khan-trained filly Ahnika (Air Support – African Sky) make it a start to finish affair – but not without a tooth and nail duel with Estrella Star who was running on debut. Apprentice Sujit  Kumar Paswan who was astride Ahnika went on to complete a brace with Daniel David-trained Philadelphia (Varenar – Oh So Romantic) in the very next race – The Sholay Handicap. The favourite  Fenicia Mist and Astoria were involved in a tussle for supremacy till the 300 marker after which they both shot their bolt. It was Angel Grace who took over the running and appeared to be headed home before the seven-year-old mare Philadelphia put her best foot forward and pulled off a difficult win for her connections.

The spate of nail-biting finishes continued in the Theogundi Handicap, also run over five-and-half furlongs. The favourite Daring Heart was squeezed out after the jump-out and raced in the second last spot for most part. After heads turned for home, Daring Heart and Hindu Singh made their run on the wide outside but was taken even further wide by Krishaa’s Choice. Despite this pathetic run she finished within half-length of the winner Mystic Star. She was easily the unluckiest runner of the day. But for this pathetic run, she would have undoubtedly hoisted the winning flag. Take nothing away from the winner Mystic Star (Eljohar – Elzaam) who was ridden flawlessly by Dhanu Singh Deora. When opportunity knocks, one has to grab it and that is exactly what Deora did!

Trainer Vijay Singh picked up the last two races of the day to take his season’s tally to 12 winners in just four days. Top-weighted Arjuna from his yard edged out stablemate and favourite Inca at the wire.   Hindu Singh on Arjuna (Pleasantly Perfect – Disarming ) made every post of the mile race for the Fame Star Handicap a winning one. Aged Dancing Lord finished on a good third.  

Despite popular belief that Moskova (Multidimensional-Brushed Aside ) might not get the mile trip for thee Birthday Girl Handicap, the brave-hearted filly proved the doubting Thomases wrong as she moved with raking strides in the final furlong to win by the proverbial whisker from runaway Kimaya. The victory meant that ace rider Suraj Narredu avoided a blank scoresheet for the day. While most of the races set the adrenalin flowing, there was no such excitement in the day’s opener which saw jockey Akshay Kumar atop Starofhollywood (Phoenic Tower-Tigi) from trainer Aashay Doctor’s yard, make every post a winning one effortlessly.