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DESTROYER AND CHOUHAN MAKE IT START-TO-FINISH
By Epsom Ace | 26 Oct 2023 | KOLKATA
Mrs Smita Bajoria & trainer P Quinn leading Destroyer (P S Chouhan Up), winner of The Betbricks7 Calcutta Monsoon Derby (Gr.2)
The curtain came down on the truncated Calcutta Monsoon Meet with a highly entertaining afternoon of racing sponsored by Betbricks7. The plum of the season – The Betbricks7 Calcutta Monsoon Derby – was bagged by Patrick Quinn-trained Destroyer (Exceed And Excel-Abaq) who made every post of the 2000 metres trip a winning one in the experienced hands of PS Chouhan. The runner-up Ramiel was impressive in defeat while Truth was somewhat outpaced by the front-running winner who was expertly given a breather near the half-way mark. Though beaten to fourth, Clifford will be worth keeping an eye on when traversing races up to a mile. For his excellent effort Ramiel was penalised a mammoth 14kg by the handicapper! Trainer Patrick Quinn was supremely confident before and after the race “ I was never in doubt about my colt’s ability” , he commented after the victory. Quinn had earlier in the day tasted success when PS Chouhan had piloted Thousand Words (Arabian Gulf – Ekhabinsky) to a hard-fought triumph over Dr Doom in the Betbricks 7 Online Handicap/ Both the fancied pai of Good Tip and Mozelle disappointed.
Even though Quinn and his trusted knight PS Chouhan grabbed the limelight on the final day, the Narredu brothers Rajesh ad Suraj ended the brief season on a happy note as they lifted the trainers’ and jockeys’ championships respectively. Sharing the spotlight with these professionals was jockey Trevor who notched up a treble with Jawai, Dance Along and Sagittarii.
Bharath Singh-trained Jawai (Top Class – Kabini) pocketed the Betbricks 7 Live Sports Gaming Handicap run over seven furlongs without raising a sweat. The favourite Burmese was a disappointing last of six runners. Trevor’s handling of Dance Along (Sanus Per Aquaam-Dancers Fan} was confidence personified. The public choice won the Betbricks 7 Five and Half Handicap without giving any jitters to her backers. Trevor ended the afternoon with a hard-ridden victory in the Betbricks 7 Mile Handicap with the colt Sagittarii (Roderic O’Connor – Starry Eyes) who was having his maiden start. The one for the notebook is Veneno while Thalames was extremely poorly handled by his rider.
The prestigious Betbricks7 Calcutta Monsoon Cup saw Rajesh Narredu-trained A Star Is Born (Roderic O’Connor-Angel Dust) stamp his class on the small field of four runners. Third Avenue was a notable second. Suraj Narredu rode the winner – settling the five-year-old in third slot behind Siege Perilous and Acrobat, before making his run in the straight.
The day started happily for trainer Rutherford Allford whose Xtravagant Star (Air Support-African Sky) picked up The Betbricks 7 Try Your Luck Handicap by getting the better of Sea Dragon. The others were never in it. Rajesh and Suraj Narredu combined in the very next race to bag the Betbricks 7 Sprint Handicap with Long Lease (Roderic O’Connor – Nostalgic memories) effortlessly.