An amazing afternoon of racing unfolded at RCTC on Saturday as only a single favourite – Star Studded – obliged in a card of eight races. The second classic of the season – The Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Gr.2) – saw Adhiraj Singh Jodha’s handsome chestnut colt Arrived (Deauville – Transformation) come out on top in the hands of MS Deora. Tracking local hope Pantazi till the straight, Arrived sailed ahead to win well from a fast-finishing Mahler. The favourite Superstar ended up third after coming off the blocks slowly. Speaking to www.indiarace.com, part owner of the winner Vikram Bachhawat had this to say after the race “We were always confident but the trip was too short for him. He will relish the Derby trip. This was my first win in a 2000 Guineas event and that makes me very happy.” When reminded that Superstar was six-lengths slow-off and yet finished less than four lengths behind the winner, Vikram added, “We have finished ahead of Superstar in the Deccan Derby after being bumped around, so we can definitely finish ahead of him again in the Calcutta Derby”.

Jockey R Vaibhav was in great form during the afternoon as he notched up a well-deserved treble. He cashed in brilliantly on an afternoon of racing shorn off top drawer riding talent due to the ban imposed by RCTC on all out-station racing personnel to keep the dreaded glanders disease at bay. Vaibhav opened his account in the day’s opener astride Javed Khan trained Oromello{Tenth Star – Smokie) who was available at 5/1 in the mile race on her first run in the lowest class after two sprints in Class IV. It was a clever modus operandi by the stable as form-workers were in the dark about the mare’s current fitness and form.

Vaibhav next piloted the even-money favourite Star Studded (Deauville-Immortality) to a smashing triumph in the mile-and-half race for the Aristotle Handicap. His breeding and fashion of winning suggests that he will be a handful in the Derby. Vaibhav completed his treble in the last race of the day – the lower division of The Aboline Handicap – when he won a blanket finish of four horses while astride Aashay Doctor -trained Magnifico (Whatsthescript – Dance The Dream). The finish was a handicapper’s dream and he ended the afternoon with a smile on his face.

The two divisions of the Xisca Handicap which were ‘No Whips’ events, saw outsiders to the fore.In the upper division, Shafiq Khan-trained Chilli Lady (Whatsthescript-Chilli Girl) made it a start to finish affair with Md Sameer astride. Like Vaibhav, Shafiq Khan’s stars were shining bright on Saturday afternoon as he pocketed the second division as well with the help of a legitimate objection against the winner Cyrenaica who drifted miles wide taking Dubai King ( Perfect Stride-Highland Ghillie) and Shezad Khan with her. The stipes and officials were divided in their opinion but ultimately the objection was upheld.

Deepesh Narredu-trained Pluto (Fiero-Summer Rays) bagged the Moon Emperor Cup with Nikhil Naidu astride. The favourite Shine made her move along the rails and ended up second. The upper division of The Aboline Handicap saw a close contest between Only Dreams and Hermod(French Navy-Romania) with the latter prevailing. Trainer Rutherford Alford was all praise for his rider Vishal Bunde whose rails passage was blocked and he was forced to switch his mount out to win close home.