The six-year-old Ragnarok’s long wait to step into the winner’s enclosure ended on Monday when he claimed the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy (Div-II). Trainer Donald Netto’s decision to engage 5kg-claimer Surendra Singh to ride helped Ragnarok to deliver the goods. The young apprentice hit the front with Ragnarok (Tenth Star – Sweet Caroline) and showed a clean pair of heels to rivals all the way over the six-furlong trip. Glorious Power, the runner-up, was in futile chase throughout. Exclusive Black finished in the money ahead of Dyanoosh, who was a head in front of Certanity, who never seemed to be in the hunt. Curiously, Knight Crusader and Catch The Worm, both hailing from RH Sequeira’s stables, ran hopelessly throughout.
 
With an educative run on debut under his belt, Srinivas Reddy-schooled Champion Reef received maximum support in the betting arena ahead of eight other maiden juveniles contesting for the Beloved Prince Plate. No-hopers Svalpaviryasaktih and Veera’s Princess made the initial running and had shot their bolts in the straight where Champion Reef pounced on them to assume command. Trevor Patel then kept Champion Reef (Excellent Art – Hunt for Gold) going under the whip after runner-up Twilight King came perilously close to toppling him. Rajendra and Gacchanmanasvin improved from the rear quite late to finish far away in the third and fourth positions.
 
Power of the Sea, a recent addition to the flock stationed at trainer A. Imran Khan’s stables, also benefited from his first run at Malakpet. Trevor held Power of the Sea on the leash as Lina O Lina led the field with My Way My Rules settled in second. My Way My Rules, driven by Akshay Kumar, snatched the lead inside the last furlong and half, however, Power of the Sea (Phoenix Tower – Sea Bubble) unleashed a brilliant run when asked for an effort by Trevor and easily vanquished his rival close home to claim the Mysore Race Club Trophy (Div-II). Suryavanshi charted a wayward course in the straight before finishing third ahead of Beverley. Sha’carri was never sighted prominently during the race and ended fifth.
 
Having earned the ire of the HRC Stewards after the defeat of Love All recently, trainer K. Satheesh and Akshay had no desire to invite similar trouble with Love In Paris, who was the odds-on favourite to win the Charminar Trophy. Valledonna surged into the lead as the six-horse field embarked on the mile journey for the Charminar Trophy with Kinship, Love In Paris, and Ashwa Jaffna in close attendance. Akshay launched his assault with Love In Paris (French Navy – Translation) shortly after entering the home stretch to overhaul Valledonna and then stretched out well to justify the favouritism. Kinship crept close in the final stages of the race but had to settle for the second berth. Ashwa Jaffna ran third ahead of the tiring Valledonna.
 
After a successful weight-reducing mission undertaken recently, KSV Prasad Raju’s ward Calabasas proved too good for her rivals in the Land of Glory Plate, the day’s curtain-raiser. The Pious led the field in the early stages of the race accompanied by Starlight Dancer, who were followed by Calabasas and Taaliyah. After The Pious and Starlight Dancer had both shot their bolts in the home stretch, apprentice Swarup Singh eased Calabasas (Leitir Mor – Isabella) into the lead following which the filly stretched out well to provide her rider the first winner of his career. Afroz Khan woke up quite late on Winning Attitude, who came with giant strides in the final stretch to finish second. Great Giver ran third ahead of Starlight Dancer and The Pious, who both seemed to be short of a run and faded out.
 
Having run a forward race over a mile in the higher class earlier, trainer Jasbir Singh-saddled December Rain struck immediately on relegation in the Star of Gwalior Plate, a six-furlong sprint for horses in the lowest class. Amboseli showed the way to the field with Most Beautiful in pursuit, while December Rain improved with every stride to be in close touch with the leaders before taking the final turn. As soon as the heads turned for home, jockey Mohit Singh spurred December Rain (Total Gallery – Silsila) into the lead and kicked away as the mare extended her lead in the final furlong. Exclusive Luck finished second after going in futile chase of the winner. Vedanta warmed up late to be third ahead of Hopewell Island. Well-fancied Amboseli and Fortune Art both lost pace in the final stretch and failed to figure on the judges’ board.