Trainer Vijay Singh`s half money favourite Multitude once again proved that he is the best sprinter currently stationed at Kolkata. The brilliant performance of the son of Multidimensional which saw him decimate the opposition was ample proof of the fact that he is surely going to be the horse to reckon with in the Sprinters Cup which will be held in Kolkata in the month of March. Trainer James McKeown who is steadily proving his mettle, had a rewarding day, saddling three winners, two of them ridden by the star of the moment David Allan who took his tally to seven winners from eight rides. Incidentally, David Allan had three straight winners before coming to ride in India.

Multitude was ridden off the pace till turning for home as Shivalik Storm attempted to win from start to finish. However, down the final furlong, Shivalik Storm was not able to stave off the challenge of Multitude who unleashed a powerful run and won with a great deal of ease. Multitude was unlucky to lose in the previous edition of the Sprinters Cup at Bangalore and he could well make amends for that failure if he retains his zest and form till the big day on the first Saturday of March. There is nobody in Kolkata who could match his brilliance now.



Vijay`s Half Volley (app. Nikhil Naidu), a 7/2 chance in the betting, was also ridden in a similar manner and the colt`s victory was equally emphatic, over Bharath Singh`s Storm Front, in the 1,400m Horendro Kristo Dutt Memorial Cup. Jockey A. Imran Khan, partnering the course favourite in the race, Celtic King, had no reason to complain as his charge dictated the terms, up-front, but found the winner too good. Half Volley, had apparently met with a check in his last encounter -- which had gone unreported -- with Celtic King, and thus the reversal of form.

McKeown`s winning spree had stared with a narrow victory of I Told You Know (B. Mahesh) in the 2,000m Capt. Fownes Memorial Cup. The front-running horse was, however, ridden in a check behind a strongly fancied runner Arti Doctor`s charge, Friendship (Hindu Singh) who tried to win from the start but was under an immense stress 50m from home as four horses, including I Told You Know crowded around in a blanket finish.

Millenium Glory and Nobu – both hot favourites -- delivered the goods for McKeown in their respective events the 1,200m sprint – the L. Fownes Memorial Cup and the upper division of the BOL Publication Cup – thanks to the power-packed ridings of Allan, who made their victories look easy.

The lower division of the ‘BOL` Cup, was also a close contest between a strongly fancied Vijay`s Charge, Aragon (S. John) and brother Bharath`s Alldero (Dashrath Singh), making his debut. The latter won the race, having covered much ground like a seasoned campaigner to beat Aragon who was mostly in the chase behind the early leader, Shanyaa`s Pet (A. Imran), before taking the charge about 300m from home.

The course withdrawal of Vijay`s hot favourite, Advika (John) left the stage open in the 1,100m N. Karanjawalla Cup, a baby race which was claimed by Houtzen (Hindu Singh), the least fancied runner in the race. The Deen`s Kitten-Ruby Queen son won the race comfortably from the start, from Lakshay (Md Azharuddin).

The day`s opener, the 2,000m Classic Sky Handicap, was also claimed by a long shot, Zurvan (app. Ranidan Singh), who was brought with a late run to score over Arion and the longtime leader Indus Prince.