Trainers Aashay Doctor and Arti Doctor pocketed the two major events on New Year’s Day at RCTC.  The former’s three-year-old filly Meropi (Western Aristocrat-Panamera) produced a splendid turn of foot in the straight to leave the Vijay Singh runners Kind of Magic and Contribute flat-footed in the Wolf 777 Indian Produce Stakes. The latter named pair along with tote favourite Ramiel were at the forefront of the six-furlong sprint for most part but they had no answer to the bay filly’s acceleration once Neeraj Rawal put her into top gear - after lying in fifth position till the turning for home.

One race earlier,in the 2200 metres race for the Wolf 777 RCTC Gold Vase, trainer Arti Doctor had led in the five-year-old bay horse Third Avenue (Ampere-Avant Garde) to his fourth victory on the trot with apprentice Tejeshwar in the saddle. It was encouraging to note the apprentice’s post-race comment whereby he lauded the winner’s capacity to read the race rather than his own. Third Avenue was lying fifth of six runners till the top of the straight where the apprentice chose to go for the rails and succeeded in finding a gap. Thereafter, there was a brief tussle with Stockbridge (who had taken over the running from pace-maker Psychic Force) before he pulled away for a comfortable victory. The fact that Stockbridge was conceding 5kg to his adversary makes him one for the notebook.

One race earlier, the same apprentice had piloted Christopher Alford-trained  Mandolin (Animal Kingdom-Little Widow Maker) to a thrilling victory over Divine Hunt in the seven-furlong race for the Wolf 777 New Year’s Day Handicap.  It would be fair to say that the apprentice did well to weave a passage in the straight before going flat out to collar Divine Hunt close home.The favourite Senturion ended up a poor fourth.

The other rider to complete a brace during the afternoon was Imran Chisty who piloted Javed Khan-trained Hellblazer and Vijay Singh-trained Regency Smile to victory – both running in the colours of Ajay Jalan. Chisty is a reliable hard rider and he displayed his flair for his craft in both the races. Hellblazer (Ampere-Attalea) got a dream run along the rails as pacemaker Big Brown veered out in the race for the Wolf  777 Seven Furlongs Handicap. The favourite Full Of Grace graced the wrong end of the field for  most part before making a late bid for victory but Chisty on Hellblazer was in no mood to relent. Regency Smile (Kingda Ka-Regency) brought the curtain down in style -so much so that it prompted the commentator to say that there is a ‘no race’ here. Agostino Carracci closed as the 18/10 favourite but he ran a lacklustre fourth. Pisa finished on well to occupy the runner-up berth. Dreams pipped the favourite for the third spot.

It was a colourful New Year’s Day crowd of over 20,000 who graced the race course and they were off to a good start when ace rider Trevor guided home the top-weight favourite Summer Night from the stable of Bharath Singh to a comfortable victory in the mile race for the Wolf 777 Happy 2023 Handicap. The six-year-old son of Night Of Thunder out of Ghar Shoop made every post a winning one. Second favourite Eastwood had to be withdrawn because of his poor gate manners. Punters were however in for rude shock when the piping hot favourite Asterix in the first leg of the jackpot (Wolf 777 Handicap) had to be withdrawn as he was unwilling to go to the start and delayed matters considerably. The race also produced the biggest upset of the day when Shyam Habbu-trained Sun God (Crimson China-Resolution) won as he liked from another outsider – Shivalik Silk.