The Singh brothers – Bharath and Vijay – dominated the seven-event card at RCTC on Boxing Day as they pocketed a treble each. Vijay’s classy filly Success (Havana Gold – Columella) continued her success story by adding yet another classic to her list after dead-heating in the Monsoon Derby and picking up the 1000 Guineas earlier this season. She bagged the Wolf 777 Calcutta Oaks on this day without raising a sweat. In his post-race comment, jockey Suraj Narredu quite naturally stressed that this priceless property of AC Muthiahis a front-line contender for The Derby slated for January 8. Sonata set a moderate early pace in this mile-and-half ‘Ladies Derby’ and increased the tempo after the 1000m marker, but had no answer to Success’s quickfire acceleration in the straight. Kiefer, who was following Sonata for most part of the race ultimately edged her out to occupy the runner-up berth. It was indeed a vastly improved showing after her unimpressive Guineas run.

Vijay had earlier led in Derby aspirant Leonardo (Speaking Of Which-La Dona) who had won the 2000 metres race for The General AS Vaidya Memorial Cup by six long lengths from a hapless Creation Of God. It was a poor field of four runners but it served as a race-gallop for Leonardo in preparation for the Derby. Vijay completed his treble with the two-year-old Dedicate (Dali-Star Mountain) who made every post a winning one in the six-furlong sprint for the BM Verma Memorial Cup. Running in the renowned colours of the late MAM, the bay colt who is an early foal, outclassed the field in the hands of Suraj Narredu who thus notched up a double. The best of the rest was La Dominate.

Trainer Bharath Singh came into his own with a wonderful pricey treble. His winners were Silverita (5/1), Agnostic (11/10) and Mezcal (3/1). Agnostic (Top Class-Kabini) carried top-weight to a bloodless victory in the Army Cup to record his sixth win on the trot. Jockey Trevor seems to know his mount inside out and has ridden him to victory on the last four occasions. After a couple of reminders in the straight, Trevor eased him up in the final fifty metres for a highly impressive win. Kudos to his mentor for maintaining the prized property of Santanu Sharma in such immaculate condition. Bharath kicked-off his treble with the victory of Silverita (Multidimensional-Silverina) in the So Amazing Handicap run over seven furlongs. Tracking favourite Galen till the distance post, jockey Sujit Kumar Paswan did well to collar his adversary inside the distance without much ado. The five-year-old mare thus recorded a hattrick, having won two races last monsoon. Mezcal (Western Aristocrat – Amber Valley)completed the treble for Bharat by picking up the ‘No Whips’ race for the Sentouki Handicap in the hands of Trevor who thus completed a double. It was a clever piece of horsemanship which fetched him the race. Permitting course favourite Dr Doom to steal a march on him in the straight Trevor opted for the rails and took the shortest route home.

The opening event – The Aayush Handicap – once again saw the withdrawal of the ante-post favourite Yazh who was unruly at the gates. The two fancied runners – High Spirit and Sporting Trainer – occupied the first two berths. Vikash Jaiswal-trained Sporting Trainer (Chinese Whisper – Mount Rushmore) was handled with more finesse than his closest adversary to land the spoils. The one for the notebook is third placed Silken Lady.