The winter solstice brought with it gloomy weather and light drizzles. However, the elements failed to deter local railbirds from making a beeline for the racecourse on Saturday. By and large, fancied runners filled the winner’s podium, lifting the spirits of punters considerably. Though the first five races were conducted smoothly, the Stewards decided to cancel the last two races of the afternoon due to dicey underfoot conditions. Trainer Patrick Quinn’s Dubai Princess (Gusto-Whistling Strait) was in the limelight as she lifted the Police Commissioner’s Cup run over a mile with a degree of comfort in the safe hands of Sandesh.Bottom-weighted Raffaello put in his best effort to finish runner-up just over two lengths behind. Speaking to www.indiarace.com after the race, Quinn said that he had originally planned to run the filly in a 2000 metres race in preparation for the Derby next month but unfortunately that race was cancelled by the authorities. “ I am quite happy with her effort today and am confident that she will get mile and a half ,” he added.

Sharing the limelight with Quinn and Sandesh was jockey PS Kaviraj with a scintillating display which fetched him two winners at lucrative odds. The first of these was the four-year-old filly Salome(Win Legend – Flight To Glory)from the yard of Bharath Singh. Grabbing the rails ahead of speedster Zucardi, Kaviraj never looked back as he kept extending the lead on the 6/1 shot, ultimately winning the seven-furlong race for the Mounted Police Cup by a good five lengths from the course favourite Sea Eagle. Owner Joydeep Datta Gupta was particularly elated with this piece of silver and related a little  anecdote mentioning that one of his runners ‘Margarita’ is with the Mounted Police force of the city.

Not prepared to rest on his success, young Kaviraj capitalised on a chance ride astride the 2/1 favourite Kanya Rashi in the mile race for The Police Martyrs Cup. He rode a well-judged race astride the four-year-old gelding by Kingda Ka out of Enaksi from the stable of Adhiraj Singh Jodha. The recent import from western India gave his mentor his third success on the local track this season using a similar modus operandi. Trainer Shyam Habbu has been deputising for him at this centreand doing a fine job too. Top-weight runner-up Italian Gold ended up six lengths behind the winner but is nevertheless one for the notebook. His next race will be in the higher class.

In the ‘No Whips’ event for The Arktouros Cup, jockey Imran Chisty rode the top-weight Banksy (Roderic O’Connor-Amazing Ray)to a comfortable victory over Fortune Warrior. Lying third till the turning for home while Cristaldo called the shots, Shafiq Khan-trainedBanksy shot ahead and held on to his advantage by over a length. One race earlier, in the opening event for the HKJC Cup, Morano (Dali – Harmonica) from the stable of Aashay Doctor with Sandesh in the saddle, got the better of the on-money public choice Victoria Cross.