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Trainer Bharath Singh`s filly, Sana (Dashrath Singh-up) kept her date with the 2,000m Calcutta Monsoon Derby, on Sunday. The 11/4 chance in the betting found the western India challenger, Daffodil (Neeraj Rawal) – a 16/10 favourite an easy prey on a wet track, thanks to the heavy shower, about half-an-hour before the start of the day`s programme. The afternoon also witnessed two trebles: One recorded by Dashrath and the other by trainer James McKeown a pricey one.
Clouds burst out about an hour before the start of the day`s programme but the heavy downpour failed to dampen the spirit of the Derby enthusiasts as the weather remained murky even after the rain relented. There was no hard luck story in the afternoon`s eight event card, including the Derby; which was contested in true spirit, though the follower of the beaten 16/10 favourite -- the western India Invader, Daffodil, trained by Pesi Shroff and ridden by Neeraj Rawal -- complained about speedster Shohin (Hindu Singh) being a spoil sport, admittedly, for not allowing the free front runner like Daffodil to dictate her own pace, upfront.
Daffodil was left to chase Sana`s stable-mate Shohin, who was slow into his stride but quickly recovered to be at the helm till his assigned job was accomplished, nearing the 600m marker.
Daffodil was pushed into the lead, from that point but equally quick was Dashrath on Sana, sniffing the tail of the favourite as the as the two fancied fillies waged a close battle. The race over about 225m from home when the local challenger put her head in front. The final verdict between was a yawning three and half-a-length with trainer Rutherford`s Alford`s Derby hope, Hartnell (Ashhad Asbar), finishing further nine lengths behind.
Early in the afternoon, Bharath`s failed-favourite, Lochinvar, had given Dashrath an armchair ride in the 1,600m Stoney Valley Handicap. Dashrath allowed the 9/2 chance in the betting to run in close attendance of Mariska (Suraj Narredu) till turning for home and took off for a six-length victory as trainers Vikash Jaiswal`s El Cid and McKeown`s I told You Know (Hindu) jumped late on the scene to contest for the minor placings.
McKeown`s winning spree started early, in the curtain raiser, the 1,200m Desert Shot Handicap when his long-shot, Nobu (Hindu) produced a spirited performance to down Javed Khan`s strongly wagered Tomorrow Forever (C.S. Jodha). The Burden Of Proof filly who had met with interference at the start, in her maiden run, was a convincing winner. In the same race trainer Vijay Singh`s heavily backed Smith And Wesson, once again, performed poorly, finishing a faraway fourth.
McKeown`s another long shot, Invincible Prince (C.Alford), scored a back-to-back win. The aging galloper, put in a spirited performance, leading all the way to win the 1,200m Smart Ruler Cup. In the same race Vijay`s 6/4 favourite, The Talisman (Prashant Dhege) failed to justify support despite his light impost of 50-1/2kg.
McKeown 6/1 chance, Millenium Glory (B. Mahesh) also recorded an easy victory to claim the upper division of the 1,200m Roll ‘N` Twist Cup. The Win Legend filly, who was a decent fourth to a classic contender, Prevalent Force, recently in Bangalore, fully justified her win as Vijay`s Devotion (Dhege) cornered most of the money at 14/10 in the betting ring, along with another western India migrant, Malana (C.S.Jodha). Millenium Glory made every post of the 1,200m race a winning one, leaving the two fancied runners to occupied the minor slots.
The victory of Millenium Glory in the upper division of the race, set the stage for Jump And Run`s (S. John) victory in the lower set of the 1,200m Roll ‘N` Twist Cup. Understandably, Vijay`s ward was backed down as a good thing, closing as a 7/10 favourite, and also delivered the goods to the relief of the champion trainer`s battered followers.
It was trainer Vikash Jaiswal`s Ivy (app. Sujit Paswan) who showed the way to the hot favourite, Jump And Run, who easily got the measure of the front runner, inside the last furlong.
Washington`s victory was also on the cards and the Arti Doctor`s much improved Phoenix Tower`s filly, once again demonstrated her mettle as she cantered home in the hands of Dhege to claim the 2,000m Tiger Tops Handicap. Washington may be rested now but she is going to be a major force to contend with in the Terms races, during the big season.
Patrick Quinn`s charge, Apalachee (S.John) attracted a solid support in the concluding event, the 1,100m Assertive Handicap. However, the Serious Spender colt was declared a non-starter at the start, paving the way for, his stable-mate, Spear Of Trium (Dashrath) to record a smart win. However, the 8/1 chance had to fight every inch of ground with a quietly fancied Raunak Banerji`s charge, Romantic Lass (Alford) who took over the running from the 600m marker but got stumped by the winner, literally at the post.
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Sana (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Calcutta Monsoon Derby (2017) (Gr.2)
Nobu (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Desert Shot Plate
Lochinvar (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Stoney Valley Handicap
Millenium Glory (B Mahesh up) winner of the Roll `N` Twist Cup (Div-I)
Jump And Run (S John up) winner of the Roll `N` Twist Cup (Div-II)
Invincible Prince (C Alford up) winner of the Smart Ruler Cup
Washington (Prashant P Dhebe up) winner of the Tiger Tops Handicap
Spear Of Trium (Dashrath Singh up) winner of the Ascriptive Handicap
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