The mid-week Calcutta races commenced on a sombre note with a minute’s silence observed for the departed soul of legendary jockey of yesteryear – Nelson Reuben. Thereafter, punters more or less got the better of bookmakers, though trainer BR Reddy pulled off a lucrative double with Lineupandcollect (8/1) and Happy Morning (5/1). The day however belonged to trainer Aashay Doctor and his trusted knight Trevor. The pair combined to fetch home a treble with Admiringly, Cigar Galaxy and Trakila.

The feature of the afternoon – The Stewards Cup – was lifted by Trakila (Western Aristocrat – Nickel Chrome) with a degree of comfort though it must be mentioned that aged Black Eagle once again put up a good fight. In his post-race comment, Aashay said that Trakila has a lot of class and that was enough to see her through though she was a little on the heavier side on this occasion.

The facile win of Admiringly in the 2000 metres race for the Star Phoenix Handicap must have pleased Aashay even more as this was the three-year-old colt’s dress-rehearsal for the Monsoon Derby to be run on October 3. The son of Letir Mor out of  Goldilocks carried top-weight and yet treated his nearest rival Goodwill with utter disdain.  This run must have given the connections of Colts Trial winner Bullet Proof a lot to think about when the pair clash in the Derby.Much improved Cigar Galaxy (Western Aristocrat-Celestial Way) lapped up the seven-furlong race for the Dr Anil Kumar Memorial Cup which he pocketed comfortably as he outclassed the front-running favourite Big Bay.

The sprint for the Fairy Heights Plate saw well-prepared Fifty Shades from the yard of B Mahesh at his best in the hands of Vishal Bunde. The colt by Letir Mor out of Justice Angel was fractious at the gates but eventually  settled down to win comfortably from the fancied pair of Valerian and Starliner.

In the next race, the mile event for The Flamenco Star Handicap,B R Reddy’s six-year-old gelding Lineupandcollect (David Livingston-Satwa Pearl) made every post a winning one with the well-backed pair of Keitaro and Royal Member struggling to keep pace with him.  The curtain came down on the brief card of six races when Vishal Bunde rode Happy Morning (Arazan-Queen Of Hearts) to a start-to finish encore. In the seven furlong race for The Unleashed Handicap The antepost favourite and stablemate Fortune Warrior was withdrawn as he was reluctant to go to the start.