Patrick Quinn-trained Imperial Power (Multidimensional-Majestic Opinion) lifted the Wolf 777 Calcutta 2000 Guineas at RCTC on Saturday. Jockey Akshay Kumar took no chances with the on-money public choice as he hit the front from the word ‘go’ and made every post a winning one. The runner-up Monteverdi is one for the notebook while fourth placed second favourite Leonardo was somewhat of a disappointment. Trainer Quinn said in his post-race comment that the best horse in the field of six won while Akshay was confident that the handsome dark bay colt will get the mile-and-half Derby trip.

The victory of Imperial Power gave Usha Stud its 200th classic winner which is an all-India record. Owner of the renowned stud farm Ameeta Mehra was elated after this achievement and said : “ I am delighted at being the first stud farm in the country to breed 200 individual classic winners and I congratulate my team, my owners and trainers of these 200 classic horses. And most importantly the Divine Grace without which this classic record could never have been created.”

It was an afternoon when young apprentice Hasib Alam bagged a treble with Nandini’s Pet, Cold Pursuit and Perfect Rendition. Closing as the 16/10 favourite in the sprint for the Sniper Handicap, Vikash Jaiswal-trained Nandini’s Pet (New Famous-Festival Night) got the better of runaway Footprints in the straight. Recent import from western India – Cold Pursuit – from the Suraj Shaw stable - was cleverly piloted by the lad to land the spoils in the seven-furlong race for the Goodfellas Handicap. From the rear of the field along the rails, the grey gelding by Excellent Art out of Grey Allure was switched neatly to the outside in the straight and he swept past Mandolin who had threatened to steal a march along the rails. The disappointment in the race was the ante-post favourite Orchids who finished in the ruck. Suraj Shaw completed a brace with another recent import Perfect Rendition (Gusto-Celtic Rose) when the six-year-old won the Quasar Handicap in a tight finish from By The Bay and course favourite Jean Lafette.

The 2000 metres race for the Aggregated Handicap witnessed another blanket finish as Bharath Singh-trained Mandeville (Multidimensional-Ambrosia) edged out on-money stablemate and Oaks candidate Sonata at the wire. Bottom-weighted Creation Of God was a close third. Jockey Hindu Singh atop Mandeville had to use the stick liberally to keep his top-weight mount going and keep at bay both Sonata and Creation Of God.

Stablemates Cape Tanaros and Delphini were also involved in a close finish in the sprint for the Romantic Dancer Handicap. Jockey Srinath on Cape Tanaros (Western Aristocrat-Laurita) did well to correct the drift of his mount in the nick of time and hold on by the skin of his teeth from Delphini. Snap tote favourite Black Pearl finished third and will be worth keeping an eye on in the future. Baaeed ran a forward race but failed to kick on when placed under pressure by the ultimate winner.