The curtain came down on the Calcutta Cold Weather season on Monday with some amazing results in the seven-event card. Trainer Vikash Jaiswal was at the forefront of events with a stunning treble that left punters gasping for breath. His winners were Earl Of Warwick (20/1), Blue Mountain (7/1) and Andrology (6/1). A Rs 10 roll would have fetched Rs 11,000 plus. In fact, the Totalisator win dividend on Earl Of Warwick was Rs 315. So much for ifs and buts. In reality, punters burnt holes in their pockets. Trainer Arti Doctor, who had four potential strikers in the line-up for the Star Magic Cup, ultimately landed the spoils with Debonaire Girl (Senure-Strasbourg), MF Ali Khan up, after stablemate Asiatic Star had called the shots till the distance post.

Arti’s fancied runner, Bayberry, opened as a joint favourite with Must Be Magic, but raced in the rear. Eight-year-old King’s Desire came with a great run to place a good second while Must Be Magic was a tame third and never looked dangerous. In the opening event, the upper division of the Philanthropist Handicap, Highland Magic closed as the favourite, but lost all his chances at the starting stalls as he was seven lengths slow off. Earl Of Warwick (Woodman-Teodolinda) set a good pace with Promised Glory in tow. After the bend, it seemed for a moment that Promised Glory may collar the front-runner but Malcolm Maseyk used the stick freely to pull ahead.

In the lower division of the same race, Viking Valor opened as the favourite and drifted out to 5/1, while Oriental Magic was backed down to 18/10 favouritism. Both runners finished in the ruck. It was left to Vikash’s Blue Mountain (Razeen-Stolen Kisses) to produce a scintillating run and collar Glorious Dancer near the distance post. On the previous occasion, the winner had burst a blood vessel but there was no such problem this time. Saddler Jasbir Singh didn’t want to be left out of the party and joined in the carnival in the third race, The Curtain Call Handicap. His Sartaj (Greensmith-Small Fry) moved up with giant strides opposite the grandstand to put paid to the pretensions of the 55-paise favourite Elusive Thought whose lack of outings cost her dear. She, in fact, finished third but was demoted to the fourth spot after an objection from the fourth placed horse, Silken Senorita. Apprentice Mohit Singh rode the winner to cap a good season. Sartaj was well prepared with King’s Desire for this race.

Jockey Christopher Alford opened his account with Bath-trained Glorious Invention (Glory Of Dancer-Inventive) in the High Born Handicap. Despite the top-weight, the gelding was quite comfortable to race in the second slot behind Mrs Jones. In the straight he sailed clear to be the sole favourite to win during the afternoon. Rithambhra ended dead last after bursting a blood vessel. Much was expected of the filly Secret Love in the Red Bay Handicap. The Bath-trained four-year-old closed as the on-money favourite but once again lacked the courage to overhaul the pace-setter, which in this case was the eight-year old Andrology (Razeen-Adored) who was having his last career outing at this centre. If one talks about courage, one has to talk about Andrology, a big-hearted horse indeed. He matched strides with far younger horses throughout the season and yet placed nine times.

Kudos to this ‘grand old man’ of the Calcutta racecourse. Jockey Deep Shanker thus completed a double, having earlier piloted Blue Mountain. Christopher Alford too completed a brace with Bharath Singh-schooled Short Radius (Serious Spender-Temple Quest). Jockey Mahesh atop the favourite Stalker seemed in a hurry to get to the winning post and shot his mount to the front well before the home turn. This made things rather easy for Alford who smoothly collared the public choice in the straight. It was a fitting finish to a great season for the champion rider. PRIZE WINNERS Leading Owner: Mr Deepak Khaitan Leading Trainer: Vijay Singh Leading Jockey: Christopher Alford Leading Apprentice: Shezad Khan Tipsters Competitions RCTC Tipsters Cup: Winner: Vishwamitra; Runner-Up: Indiarace.com RCTC Tipsters Tally: Winner: Fonn & Co; Runner-up: The Statesman