Two amazing horsemen were seen at their brilliant best as they powered their respective mounts to a nerve-shattering finish in the JSK1 Calcutta Derby Stakes conducted at the Calcutta racecourse on Sunday.  Suraj Narredu astride Long Lease and Trevor atop Ramiel fought tooth and nail all the way down the Calcutta straight and flashed past the winning post locked together. The camera gave the nod to Long Lease in one of the closest Derby finishes seen in recent times. Trainer Rajesh Narredu said rather humbly after the race that the filly Long Lease (Roderic O’ Connor-Nostalgic Memories) is a very “easy horse to train as she knows exactly what is expected of her – I just let her enjoy herself ”. Jockey Suraj Narredu commented that se is a “brave-hearted filly as she kept her head in front when Ramiel issued his challenge on the outside”. The race was however not without its share of sadness as final entry Hornbill who was still a maiden, had to be put down after a stifle fracture near the 1000m marker.  Outstation challenger Sea The Sun burst his blood vessels during the running of the race and ended up in the ruck.

As expected, powerful front-runner Destroyer set a cracking pace till the final hairpin where he shot his bolt and Long Lease took over the running. That is where Trevor atop Ramiel decided to make his move and make it a memorable Derby for the packed stands of visitors who were brought to the edge of their seats.

Trainer Neil Darashah had a successful afternoon as he led in a hat-trick comprising Fort Nelson, Cosmic Cowboy and Cool Rider. The first and last named were piloted by Zervan while Neeraj Rawal booted home Cosmic Cowboy. Fort Nelson (Phoenix Tower-Fortitude) won the upper division of the Sunrise Song Handicap without too much fuss despite shouldering top-weight. In the lower division, there were three withdrawals at the starting stalls – Almas, Shai and Lord Lucifer.  Cosmic Cowboy (Phoenix Tower- Serenity Star) quite easily accounted for Soul Music.  Cool Rider (Phoenix Tower – Dance To The Tune) had to stave off a strong challenge from Gazino in the Trafalgar Cup before coming up trumps. The favourite Time And Tide was a good third and will be worth keeping an eye on.

Trainer Patrick Quinn completed a well-planned coup with his pair of Speculator and Black Eagle. Eight-year-old Speculator (Multidimensional-Prolific) quite easily accounted for Primo Victoria and Lightning Charlie in the JSK1 Ultimate Dash Cup. Trevor piloted the favourite with utmost confidence leaving nothing to chance as he let Lightning Charlie show the way while he sat in a handy third position before making his move in the straight. Black Eagle (Excellent Art-Classic Sky) got the better of front running Jamaica close home to lift the JSK 1 Live Sports Gaming Cup in the hands PS Chouhan.

Shyam Habbu’s  outstation challenger from western India – Flying Scotsman ( Phoenix Tower -Thread Bare) bagged the opener of the day (The Telegraph Cup)  in the hands of Vinay Jaiswal.  This was the first of the four winners sired by Phoenix Tower during the afternoon. There might have been another one in Tiger Shark had jockey Arul not left matters so late in the JSK1 Mile Cup won by B Rajender Reddy’s Veneno (Win Legend – Odetta) with apprentice Aniket up.