The Wolf 777 Calcutta Derby Stakes with a mammoth winner’s purse of Rs 30 lakh was pocketed by the piping hot favourite Success – but not without a fight. The small filly with a big heart had to stave off a strong challenge from the bay colt Trevalius who came with raking strides in the final furlong to finally succumb by half-a-length. It was a sunny afternoon at RCTC with a large and colourful crowd witnessing the blue riband of the winter season and they were not disappointed as the mile-and-half classic turned out to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Champion trainer Vijay Singh was at the forefront of affairs with an amazing booty of five winners – three of them ridden by Suraj Narredu. The piece de resistance turned out to be a race to remember. Arrow Point set a cracking pace, followed by Monteverdi and the others. About ten lengths separated the leader from the favourite. The filly Success (Havana Gold-Columella) was in fifth slot with Trevalius and Trevor in close touch. Monteverdi took over the running at the 600m marker and tried to run away with winner’s prize but was soon challenged by the fast improving Success who collared him near the distance post. Suraj had to go flat out thereafter as Trevalius came at him with all guns blazing. It was truly a memorable finish that will remain etched in the memory of those privileged enough to be at the RCTC premises on Sunday afternoon. In his post-race comments, trainer Vijay Singh was all humility as he said that Success is a filly with a lion’s heart and hence very easy to train. She knows exactly what she has to do. Jockey Suraj Narredu for his part said that she would have a great chance in the Indian Derby at Mumbai but that would be the trainer’s and owner’s call.

The festive afternoon commenced with three strong favourites from the Vijay Singh stable obliging punters. These were Regency Smile, Arabian Queen and Odin. Regency Smile (Kingda Ka-Regency) completed a hat-trick with Imran Chisty on her back  when she won the Wolf 777. Com Handicap from stablemate Presidency. Arabian Queen (Win Legend-Aymaras ) was a facile winner of the Wolf 777 Mile. She was Suraj Narredu’s first winner of the day. Suraj had a tougher ride on his hands when he had to go flat out on Odin (Kingda Ka – Vittoria) to get the better of  stablemate Prosperous Prince in the 2000 metres race for the Wolf 777 Cup.

Imran Chisty atop Vikash Jaiswal-trained Mount Reno (Phoenix Tower-Zalfana) caused the first upset of the day when he bagged the Wolf 777 Dash from Bread N Butter. The disappointment in the race was the favourite Beautiful who finished a tame fifth. Ace jockey Trevor picked up the next two races of the afternoon with a large fan-following filling their pockets. The first of these winners was atop B Mahesh-trained Blue Origin ((Roderic O’Connor-Messalina) who made every post of the Wolf 777 five & a Half a winning one. Trevor picked up the Hyderabad Race Club Cup in near similar fashion with Cape Tanaros (Western Aristocrat-Laurita) who thus notched up his fourth win on the trot for the Aashay Doctor stable.

The curtain came down with the temperamental filly Yazh (Win Legend-Real Presence) deciding to get in the starting stalls and make the Wolf 777 Sports Exch Handicap a mere formality with Hindu Singh in the saddle. The Vijay Singh ward tore away from the field of eleven into a long lead, eventually winning by five long lengths from Swift Lady.