Neil Darashah trained Pippin made a splendid rally from way off the pace to get the better of Rare And Elusive in the final furlong and romped home in the 1200 metres Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup, a terms race for three year olds, the feature event of Friday`s races. There was a cluster finish for minor slots with Flame of Passion who was loitering in the rear, extricated from a difficult situation and flashed home with a flourish to gain the second spot. The run served to highlight the fact that the filly has not been allowed to run to its potential after the suspension of her trainer for six months at Mysore.

Rare And Elusive went too fast for her own good despite which she led deep into the final furlong. Pippin was in about the fifth or sixth position and he showed lot of speed in the straight and produced striking acceleration which easily took him past the front runner in the closing stages of the race. Flame of Passion showed her brilliance with hardly any strong urge on the part of the jockey to get a better result than the one obtained. Trainer Lokanath was suspended at Mysore for six months for the running of the filly which the Stewards felt was not in keeping with fair practices. Hidden Soldier was another who dragged himself to prominence to finish a close fourth. Favourite Pentagram failed to take a good position early on and though he made some rally in the straight, he was a lost cause well before the race came on the boil. Westside Story was another who was in serious betting but was not so earnest in the race.

Neil had a good day, saddling three winners. Nesto who was ring rusty last time out, packing up in the straight without a trace, had stripped fit after that run. Nesto was nursed in the third position by jockey Colm O`Donoghue and the thee year old, despite changing legs in the final furlong, proved too superior to the rest in the 1200 metres Melkote Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. New Emperor was a suggestive third ahead of Super Force.

Why Should I who had won last time out despite negative vibes, went to the post in the 1100 metres Vidurashwatha Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45 as the shortest priced horse of the day. The three year old son of Noverre readily obliged drawing clear with about 200 metres left in the race. Interactive showed positive intention when finishing second ahead of Delilah. The upper division of the race was claimed by Neil trained Rich Revival who recorded an encore leaving the rest stranded in the straight to win as he pleased. Alecia was the best of the beaten brigade finishing second ahead of late rallying Shoot Out.

Amit Cady trained Royal Rein trounced the opposition in the 1400 metres Smt Satyavathi V Char Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65 quite easily. After being held back in about the fifth position along the rails, Suraj Narredu pulled out the favourite on the wide outside and the progeny of Oath, in a trice stormed clear to win easily. Assiduous who was held up for clear run, was eventually switched out and ran on well to take the second place ahead of a fast finishing Lovely Lady and One of a Kind.

Del Marco had let down as a favourite in the opening race of the season but yet again he was backed strongly to win the 1400 metres Kudremukh Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. There was significant thrust on Hello Boss whose odds shortened close to race time suggesting that there could be an upset. In the event, Hello Boss led all the way and won pulling up from Mandarin and Sagrada. Del Marco was not spotted at the busy end and he reportedly bled and the punters who faith in him as well. Mumbai import Sheer Elation won the lower division of the race without any resistance from the rest. Everest held off the well backed Sands of Time for the runner up berth despite looking far from ready.

Md Khan trained Mister Grey just about managed to hang on to the slender lead to win the 1400 metres Kakanakote Plate, a race for horses rated 0 to 25 from Attractive Bay whose jockey was handicapped by the fact that jockeys were not allowed to carry whips in this race. A better hand driver would have won the race for Attractive Bay.