Trainer Rajesh Narredu’s bay filly Long Lease by Roderic O’Connor out of Nostalgic Memories lifted the first classic of the winter meeting – The Calcutta 1000 Guineas – at RCTC on Friday. Jockey Suraj Narredu rode a flawless race as he settled the bay filly in fourth spot on the outside of piping hot on-money public choice Meropi while Jahzara and Dance Along cut a fairly good pace. After heads turned for home, Srinath on Meropi opted for the rails while Suraj set his mount alight on the outside. The filly responded splendidly while Meropi was sluggish after seeing daylight. All credit to Nautica who moved from the rear of the six-horse field to edge out the favourite for the runner up berth at the wire.

Though trainer Shyam Habbu wasunavailable for personal reasons, deputising trainer Patrick Quinn led in three of his wards to make it a memorable day for the Habbu stable. Two of the three winners were at high odds and put on-money public fancies to the sword leaving punters with burnt fingers. Another trainer who enjoyed a fruitful afternoon was Shafiq Khan who led in Rodrigo (7/1) and Whistleblower (10/1), making it an afternoon that followers of money would rather forget.

The first of Shafiq Khan’s winners was in the day’s opener – The Star Team Handicap. The chestnut five-year-old gelding Rodrigo (Roderic O’ Connor – Ray Of Light) got the better of the ten-to-four-on favourite La Dominate without much ado. Jockey Akshay Kumar on Rodrigo had him racing a handy second behind Indian Tiger before taking over the running in the straight and leave three-year-old La Dominate struggling to keep pace. Shafiq completed his brace with Whistle Blower (Smuggler’s Cove -Amulet) who won the 2000 metres race for the Romantic Zeal Handicap in dramatic fashion. The hot favourite Tiger Shark appeared to have the race sewed up at the turning for home as he was well clear of the field but started to shorten his strides from the distance post. Both Sixty-Seven and Whistle Blower grabbed the opportunity to move up with telling strides in the final furlong with the latter prevailing by a neck. Jockey Shezad Khan was astride the top-weight winner who conceded 7.5kg to the runner-up Sixty-Seven.

The first of Habbu’s winners was Kiefer (Roderic O’Connor-Keukenhof) who won the mile race for the Aggregated Handicap start-to-finish in the hands of Suraj Narredu. Kiefer also had the distinction of being the only favourite to oblige during the afternoon. The bay filly was available at 6/4.

Habbu’s next winner was six-year-old Tigrio ( Phoenix Tower-Tigresse Noire) who won the mile race for the Kangra Cup under somewhat difficult circumstances asa wary Suraj had to avoid running into the riderless public choice Sea Lion. The latterhad the misfortune of clipping the heels of the front-running Summer Night near the 1200 marker and dislodging his rider Akshay Kumar who fortunately escaped unhurt. Akshay in fact rode in the very next race – The Apertivo Handicap- which was the last race of the day. His mount Artemis Ignacia was installed as the 13/10 favourite but could do no better than finish second to recent western India import Swift (Dabirsim-Love Is Enough) who was riddenrather competently by Sujit Kumar Paswan to complete Shyam Habbu’s grand treble.