The sport of thoroughbred racing is indeed a game of fluctuating fortunes. The wheel of fortune may turn in your favour one moment, and the next you may be down and out – literally or otherwise. It happened to ace rider PTrevor at the RCTC on Saturday. The leading pro had just completed a brace and was riding the even-money favourite Bibury in the upper division of the Moon Forest Handicap. Unfortunately, the filly suffered a fall mid-way through the seven-furlong race. Both Trevor and his mount escaped with minor injuries. It is learnt that Trevor has hurt the area below the knee and his nose. He has returned home to rest and be treated by his personal physician. Bibury returned lame due to the fall.

The feature event of the day – The Calcutta 2000 Guineas- saw jockey Suraj Narredu at his best to bring home the bacon for his connections. Satish Narredu – trained public choice Casteel (Sanus Per Aquam – Castle Queen) scrambled home under Suraj’s perseverance in the final hundred metres to peg back the pace-maker Global Influence close home. The other three runners appeared to be outclassed. Habitual offender Nomitsi was once again slow-off from the blocks and ended up last of five. Suraj said after the race that the mile trip was too sharp for Casteel and that he will be a different proposition in the Calcutta Derby to be run in the second week of January.

Suraj completed a double in the final race of the afternoon – The Daring Don Handicap. He guided home the on-money favourite Soup And Sandwich (Roderic O’Connor – Mint Approach) to a narrow triumph over La Dominate and Outlander, both of whom looked dangerous in the straight. Once again, it was Suraj’s ‘never say die’ attitude which fetched him the honours.

The afternoon commenced with the Quasar Plate for two-year-olds. Neil Darashah-trained Kyoto (Fiero – Venus Star) with Trevor in the saddle quite easily accounted for stablemates Victoria Cross and favourite Galway Girl who closed at half-money. Trevor completed his brace with the filly Main Street (Smuggler’s Cove – Mykonos) who won the 2000 metres race for The Supreme Choice Handicap. She swept past Champagnesupernova in the final furlong as the latter was making a bee line for the winning post. Vivek, on the runner-up, objected as the winner had drifted in towards the rails, but failed to convince the Stewards. It was a fair decision. Winning trainer Arti Doctor said after the race that her ward’s next target would be the Calcutta Oaks traditionally run on Boxing Day.

Quite a few unfancied runners occupied the winner’s berth during the day. Vikash Jaiswal-trained Emperor Ashoka (Lord Admiral – Lucy Diamond) came good in the hands of R. Vaibhav to bag the Sentouki Handicap. He edged out runaway Sky Hawk close home after a keen tussle in the straight. After Bibury’s fall in the upper division of The Moon Forest Handicap – it looked like anybody’s race. Mahesh-trained Marcolini (Dreamfield – Terracita) finally fetched the honours with Tejeshwar in the saddle. It is difficult to fathom why Suraj was atop Malakhi. Had he been astride Super Sapphire the colt would have probably won the race.

Rutherford Alford’s Italian Gold (Excelebration – Age Of Elegance) was fancied strongly by the stable to bag the lower division of The Moon Forest Handicap. The five -year-old obliged his mentor in style in the hands of his trusted knight Imran Chisty. Though running after eight months, Rutherford had quietly prepared him during the monsoon season to help him break out of the maiden ranks after three years in racing – and changing stables four times! Kudos to the trainer !