By the time the four top grade 1 races were run off at Kolkata on the weekend, the scorecard for Mumbai horses read 2-2, though they just missed out on the Invitation Cup with last year’s victress Temerity going
under to no-hoper Kangra, in a Grandstand finish.

The top showing of the weekend was that of Ruffina, whose trademark blinding turn of foot did not desert her, though the short Kolkata straight made it tighter than what one would have thought. The Excellent Art filly scored her fifth graded win on her fourth birthday and completed the now almost mandatory Dr S C Jain-Sprinters’ Cup double, stamping the S C Jain as one of the most reliable trials of any grade 1 race in the country.

The Stewards of the RWITC almost denied trainer Malesh Narreddu the huge satisfaction of winning the Grade 1 Super Mile with a horse that was written off as unlikely to ever race after a pelvic bone fracture looked to have ended his Indian Derby prospects and also racing career. Who makes the Rules returned to winning form and for his presence at the lead in, Malesh has to thank the Appeal Board who sharply reduced the sentence meted out by the Stewards, as the quantum of punishment appeared to be way out of line with his alleged behavioural misdemeanour.

Another trainer celebrating was Suleiman Attaollahi, who claimed the Invitation with his filly Kangra in a stunning upset. Suleiman also won the Stayers’ with Azzuro and he is having a purple patch after the exploits of Sergeant at Arms last year.

One gathers that the tote investment at Bangalore on Invitation Cup day crossed 5 crore, over five times that clocked at the live centre Kolkata, and way higher than Indian Derby day, proving that GST has yet to seriously hamper the continuing record collections at BTC.

Vivek Jain in Times of India