A classy piece of horsemanship by jockey A Sandesh ensured the top prize for Vijay Singh-trained Tudor Hall in the mile race for The Deepak Khaitan Memorial Calcutta Gold Cup. Despite declaring one kg overweight on the five-year-old mare by Kingda Ka out of Enaksi, Sandesh got the best out of her in the final furlong to collar Shivansh close home after the latter had shaped like a winner at the distance post. The property of sporting owner Vikram Bachhawat was kept in fourth slot by Sandesh for most part and only put into top gear after Suraj Narredu had pressed the button on Shivansh at the top of the straight. Considering that the winner had been hindered a couple of times during the trip – once when the lead bag from Consigliori’s saddle slipped off and landed in front of her at the 800 marker and then again when Shivansh had veered out in the straight – it was really a masterly display of cool and calm hands-and-heels saddle artistry by Sandesh.

Trainer Vijay Singh led in four winners during the afternoon. He opened his scorecard with three-year-old Secret Pearl (Planetaire-Noble Lady) in the sprint for the Theogundi Handicap. It was the first of Nikhil Naidu’s two winners. The sprint suited the youngster to the hilt and he showed a good turn of foot in the straight to get the better of Rare Bird.

Vijay’s next winner was Resolute (Air Support-Set Alight) who adjusted well to the sharp essay after running over longer trips through most of his career. Suraj Narredu did justice to his mount who closed as the favourite. Vijay completed his quadruple in the last race of the day when his light framed filly Ielani (Win Legend-One Vision) put her best foot forward in the nick of time after jockey Nikhil Naidu exploited an opening along the rails. An enquiry has been opened into the riding of Scarlet Witch who finished third.

Trainer Vikash Jaiswal pulled off a well-planned lucrative double for his patron Kunal Gupta. Kudos to the connections for their two winners – Nandini’s Pet and Shamshir Sword. The former won the Cradle Of The Deep Handicap start to finish. The speedy filly by New Famous out of Festival Night outclassed the field of this lowest class, thanks to the 4kg allowance ofher apprentice rider Hasib Alam. The favourite Sir Phoenix was a good second.

Vikash completed his brace with Shamshir Sword (Phoenix Tower-First At Summer) in the Fame Star Handicap. With apprentice HM Akshay riding a flawless race, Shamshir Sword outpaced the ten-to-four on favourite Black Pearl who was running after a long lay-off. Apprentice Akshay thus completed a well-deserved double, having won atop Daniel David-trained Sherwin (Burden Of Proof – Showin Off) earlier in the Royal Double Handicap.