Pesi Shroff-trained Alice Springs threw the Derby-form book out of the window as she swept past the on-money favourite Hall Of Glory in the Calcutta St Leger and made it a clean sweep of the local classics for the trainer. While ‘Alice’ picked up the 1000 Guineas and the Leger, Xisca pocketed the other three. The 2,800 metres marathon was run to a plan by the Vijay Singh yard but at the end of the day Alice Springs (Razeen-Allinda) proved that she is the better stayer. This full sister to the brilliant Southern Regent was given a flawless ride by Christopher Hayes. He kept the bred-in-the-blue filly off the pace and only improved his position just before the bend.

Thereafter, the filly from the elite stable of Dr Vijay Mallya moved with giant strides. She could be spotted a winner well before she went past Hall Of Glory who had taken over the running from pace-setter Strike A Deal as heads turned for home. In retrospect, it would appear that the Vijay Singh stable had erred in their judgement. Firstly, this was not the manner in which he was ridden in the Derby where he was kept off the pace by C Alford. Moreover, if they were bent on changing tactics, was it necessary to give the chestnut fast work after a gruelling race in the Indian Champion Cup. This is not to question the professional competence of the centre’s leading trainer but merely a passing thought. Either way, it is doubtful whether he would have been able to topple the filly but at least he may not have lost the runner-up berth to Razmaden.

Both the last-named and the winner were final entries and shows good assessment on the part of their respective stables. Dandified (Rebuttal-Dandoona) completed a hat-trick of wins in great style as he pocketed the Calcutta Million at cramped odds of 4-to-1-on. The colt stopped the clock at a brilliant time of 1 min 37.87 and his fashion of winning suggests that there are more laurels in store for him. It would not be far-fetched to suggest that he is without a doubt all-India class and a live contender for the Poonawalla Million which is likely to be his next target. On this occasion, jockey Christopher Alford kept the prize property of Mr. Deepak Khaitan in the rear of the seven-horse field and said au revoir to his rivals in the straight. The colt seems to be intelligent enough to know what is expected of him. He is definitely in good hands.

Bath’s pair of Raznandan and Manhattan Rain occupied the minor placings and are unfortunate to find themselves in the same batch as the winner who is a cut above. Nevertheless, the fashionably bred Raznandan is bound to excel over middle distances and should be a force to reckon with in the classics to come next season. Palazzio’s Sun was backed to the exclusion of all others in the six-furlong sprint for the Metropolitan. The top-weight has been known to burst a blood vessel in the past and the malady recurred on this afternoon. Jockey David Allan was on a start-to-finish mission but his efforts came to nought as first Alacrity and then Born To Fly chose to challenge the Richard Alford-trained horse on the outside. Spitz made his move along the rails and this resulted in a close three-way finish.

Darius Byramji-trained Born To Fly (China Visit-Born To Dance) got the nod and thus picked up his fourth race of the season. Jockey Neeraj Rawal may have taken the bend wide but kept the pressure on till the winning post. The afternoon started well for Arti Doctor who scored a back-to-back double with Songstress (China Visit-Cacophony) and Zillionaire (Senure – Zillion Figlia). Both runners were handled identically by Kamlesh and won with something to spare. All the stable’s retained rider had to do was ensure that he hugged the rails after the gates opened and take the shortest route home. Christopher Alford notched his first winner of the afternoon astride the even-money favourite Work Force (Placerville-Amnesty Bay). The Arjun Mangalorkar-trained colt won the 2,000 metres race for the Indian Air Force Cup without any hiccups.

Autocrat failed to stay the trip while Washington Irvine was done in by his winning penalty after beating Work Force in an earlier race. The curtain came down with Bharath Singh-trained Star Of Cardiff (Ikhtyar-Baloustar) being given confident ride by Dashrath Singh. The horse was shifting out of a straight course and he used his hands and heels to ward off a strong challenge from the heavily gambled River Pride who was boldly entrusted to apprentice Tamang.