James Mckeown-trained Apsara Star (Win Legend-Actuate) lifted the Poker Guru Cup run over 2000 metres  without much ado at RCTC on Saturday. The filly was looking a picture in the paddock and ran true to her looks. Maintained in fourth slot in a field of five, jockey Srinath only asked his mount for an effort after the turning for home. She swept past front-running Inca in a trice and it was all over bar the shouting. 

Trainer Vijay Singh continued to rule the roost with yet another treble and now has 41 winners against his name. With 14 race-days behind us, that makes it an average of almost three per day ! Quite an amazing achievement if one may add. 
His winners on this day were Clear Vision (who finished a bad last time out when stablemate Theon won), Court Jester (who rather unfortunately veered out under the whip last time out) and Excelsior (whose stablemate and favourite Daring Heart ran on a poor third after gracing the wrong end of the field for most part).All three winners were piloted by his trusted knight Suraj Narredu.

It was good to see the late MAM’s colours in the forefront as both Clear Vision and Court Jester sported them. Clear Vision (Decado-Envision) bagged the Artesia Handicap run over 2000 metres after Marazzo had veered out in the straight. Court Jester (Net Whizz – Matilda) was squeezed out at the start but madeup considerable ground to win the Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium Cup from a fast-finishing Atom. Excelsior (Whatsthescript-Loveofmylife) was running fourth, in touch with the leaders, till into the straight and accelerated thereafter to pick up the Rotary Club of Calcutta Victoria Cup. 

Using his 4kg allowance to good effect, apprentice Prathvi Singh opened his career account with Javed Khan-trained Stelvio Pass (China Visit-Analeah) in the Our Owen Handicap. Fancied runner Sirona failed to collar the front-runner despite jockey Srinath pulling out all stops. Capriconia finished a flying second while tote favourite Mystic Wonder finished in the ruck.

The curtain came down with Vikash Jaiswal-trained Scarlet Witch (Tenth Star-Tasveer) running a true run mile race. Jockey Akash Rajput did the honours. Kept in touch with the front-runners from the outset, Rajput faced no difficulty at all in steering his mount to the helm of affairs in the straight. Thereafter, it was smooth sailing for the winner.