Aashay Doctor-trained Awesome One (Dean’s Kitten-Aim To Achieve) completed a well-deserved hat-trick of wins at this centre when he lifted the Wiseman Cup at RCTC on Wednesday. Piloted by Neeraj Rawal, the seven-year-old turned the tables on an exhausted Shivansh who had got the better of him twice this season on more unfavourable terms. The prized property of the Sumant Dalmiya syndicate showed that seven furlongs was well within his ambit. Though installed as the even-money favourite, Shivansh was only a shadow of himself and had nothing to offer when the whips started flashing in the straight. He bowed out of the contest without a fight to finish a tame third behind stablemate Dandi Satyagraha.

Favourites took a back seat during the day as jockey Chotu Singh Jodha completed a smooth treble while astride Basharat (7/1) , Hellblazer (9/2)  and Cormorant (7/2). Shyam Habbu-trained Basharat (Stardan-Amanda’s Queen) bagged the Navy Cup with a flourish as she too completed a hat-trick of wins. The five-year-old mare was gradually made to improve her position from the rear of the eight-horse field before making a beeline for the winning post in the home stretch. The fact that she stopped the clock in 1min 36.877sec for the mile trip proved beyond any doubt that she has improved in leaps and bounds this season. Kudos to the trainer! The favourite in the race – Exotique – left all her chances in the stalls to end up an unimpressive third while top-weight pace-setter Fenicia Glint occupied the runner-up berth.

Javed Khan-trained Hellblazer (Ampere-Attalea)pocketed the Oakmead Plate after a brief tussle with Island Lass in the straight. The seven-furlong race for three-year-olds saw Ghyama being installed as the favourite but the colt ran an insipid third. Hellblazer looked impressive in victory and may lap up an extra furlong or two without too much trouble. Island Lass is a full-brother to Court Jester and like her sibling may prefer the six-furlong trip.

Trainer Javed Khan completed a double when his Cormorant (Phoenix Tower-Give Me Five) moved with giant strides in the straight to bag The Robin Hood Handicap in style. The seven-year-old showed plenty of zest to move with telling strides from the rear of the field and sail past Shivalik Silk opposite the grandstand. The favourite Ember Glow ended up a close third.

The afternoon commenced with Daniel David-trained Eastside (Arabian Gulf-Khursaniyah) lifting The INS Hooghly Cup with apprentice Rupal Singh in the saddle. The six-year-old mare staved off a strong challenge from Atom in the straight while the favourite Whispering Grass was never in the picture. To quote a cliché “ the morning showed the day” for followers of money who burnt their fingers in virtually every race barring the Zelda Handicap where Shyam Habbu-trained Sun God (Crimson China-Resolution) obliged them. Ridden by leading jockey RS Bhati, Sun God trounced the opposition to justify favouritism. Second favourite Mr Gucci burst his blood vessels and was never in the hunt.

The curtain came down with Aashay Doctor-trained Arrow (Speaking Of Which-Arlene) providing the biggest upset of the day in the mile race for the Partisan Handicap. Vanguard tried to make every post a winning one but came unstuck close home when apprentice Tejeshwar coaxed a rousing gallop out of Arrow. Thoughthe latter was better placed than Vanguard on handicap from their earlier clash, Arrow was neglected in the ring as his last two runs were very poor indeed!