The Calcutta Cold Weather Season got off to a sedate start on Saturday with fancied runners holding sway for most part of the compact six-event card. The main event – The RWITC Cup – saw Deepesh Narredu-trained Anastasia (Multidimensional-Clementi) wrap up the five-and-half furlong sprint quite comfortably in the hands of jockey Trevor. The ace rider had the filly racing in a handy third position behind Areca Legend and Consigliori till the turning for home where she shot ahead and won without any trouble from a fast-finishing Hidden Gold.

Trainer Patrick Quinn and jockey PS Chouhan combined successfully to bring home the bacon with Compliance and Dream Chaser. In the day’s opening event – The Ardelis Handicap - five-year-old mare Compliance (One Lucky Dane- Another Reema) collared runaway Lion Queen quite easily at the top of the straight but had to stave off a strong challenge from Beautiful close home. In the day’s closing event – The Abbeville Handicap- five-year-old horse Dream Chaser (New Famous-Commelina) was shouldering a heavy-weight of 61.5kg and travelling over a trip considered a little sharp for him. Nevertheless, the big-boned dark bay moved with giant strides from the rear of the field to sweep past front-running Bread N Butter in the closing stages of the sprint. The winner was available at 6/1. The disappointment in the race was the favourite Island Lass who was seen to struggle from the top of the straight. She seems incapable of collaring a speedy front-runner but loves to run freely in front herself.

The other runner who won at lucrative odds of 5/1 was Third Avenue (Ampere-Avant Garde) who pocketed the mile race for The Serendine Handicap. The Arti Doctor-trained four-year-old colt was seen to race fourth in a field of five till the 600m marker where apprentice Tejeshwar gradually improved his position to be in close touch with the favourite Galen who was racing behind runaway pace-setter Livisilla. The latter shot her bolt at the top of the straight and was soon collared by Galen. From the distance post, Third Avenue was locked in a keen duel with the latter and got the better of him close home. Basharat – who was slowly off the blocks – came flying in the final furlong to occupy the runner-up berth. The stipes were not satisfied with the running and riding of Aashay Doctor-trained Livisilla and have opened an enquiry into it.

Trainer Aashay Doctor’s classic hopeful Harvestime (Western Aristocrat-Jack The Cat) won the mile race for the Relevance Handicap without too much trouble. Jockey YS Srinath had the three-year-old colt racing third till the turning for home, behind Thar and Mandolin, before taking up the running without much ado. Thereafter, a couple of reminders kept him galloping to the winning post as Roka made a late bid for honours. Three-year-old Odin was a disappointment in this rather weak field. Harvestime may be more comfortable over seven furlongsthough he is more than likely to run the 2000 Guineas on the first Saturday of December.

Thousand Guineas candidates Queenstown and Arabian Queen were the top two finishers in the seven-furlong race for the Sangfroid Handicap. Neil Darashah’s Queenstown (Phoenix Tower-Kaleidoscope) was taken to the helm of affairs by Neeraj Rawal from the outset and stayed there all the way with Arabian Queen trying to bridge the gap.