Cellini caused an upset in the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, defying expectations in the 1200 meters Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup – a race designed for horses rated 80 and above. The small fields have a knack for producing upsets despite favourites looking overwhelmingly superior on paper. The fancied duo of Son Of A Gun and Joaquin were overshadowed by the long shot from trainer Bezan Chenoy`s stables.

The races on Sunday most events unfolded as anticipated, with well-backed horses meeting expectations. Last week, Narendra Lagad-trained Son Of A Gun had secured a victory, but it was nullified due to a technical issue in the gates. This time, Son Of A Gun, considered a strong favourite, faced off against Joaquin, the previous favourite in their clash. Apprentice jockey Navnath Bhosale aggressively guided Joaquin to an early lead, maintaining it deep into the straight. As Son Of A Gun pursued, Cellini trailed behind the leading pair. While Son Of A Gun appeared poised for victory in the final furlong, Cellini, ridden by jockey Saqlain, unleashed a powerful sprint in the dying moments of the race. This late surge allowed the underdog Cellini to overtake the favourite and secure an unexpected triumph.
Pesi Shroff`s well-bred horse, Sea The Sun, had previously shown promise but had given a disappointing performance at Hyderabad in the Deccan Derby. However, in the 1800 meters Sir Rahimtoola Chinoy Trophy—a handicap race for horses rated 60 to 86—Sea The Sun had a favourable opportunity to regain its winning form.

The main competition was expected to come from Geographique, trained by Imtiaz Sait, who had demonstrated her ability with an impressive victory in the Pune season. Navanath Bhosale took Sea The Moon to the lead right from the start, setting a pace that suited his horse perfectly. Sea The Moon enjoyed an uncontested lead, thus enhancing his chances of success.

However, Neeraj Rawal, aboard Geographique, seemed to misjudge the race`s pace, allowing the front-runner considerable leeway. This tactical decision forced Geographique to cover more than six lengths in the stretch to catch up. Despite a powerful late surge, Geographique`s tendency to run out and the fact that she bled during the race hindered her chances, and she narrowly fell short. Own Voice edged out Regal Command for the place money.

The advantage of prior racing experience played a pivotal role for Field of Dream, trained by Dallas Todywalla, in the 1000 metres Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (VI Bart) Trophy—a race for maiden two-year-olds. Fast Approach set a blistering pace, with Akshay Kumar strategically positioning Field of Dreams in second place. Turning for home, Akshay initiated his move, and the offspring of Leitir Mor effortlessly closed the gap on the front-runner, surging ahead for an impressive victory. Esconido, another horse with the benefit of a previous race, secured the second position, while Jade, initially considered a strong contender, finishing a distant third.

In another notable race, Dallas Todywalla`s Irish Gold, targeted for the Indian 2000 Guineas, demonstrated resilience by fending off the strong challenge from Generosity in the 1200 metres Anne Wright Trophy—a race for horses rated 40 to 66. Despite starting from the widest draw, Generosity, trained by Pesi Shroff, had more backers than Irish Gold. Irish Gold, aided by an inside draw, tracked the pace-setting Maysar well into the straight before jockey Akshay Kumar urged him to take the lead. Despite a fierce battle in the final furlong, with Trevor Patel on Generosity making a determined effort, Irish Gold held on to victory by a narrow margin. Lord Vader made a late surge on the wide outside to secure the third position.

Trained by Imtiaz Sait, Endurance dramatically emerged from the back of the pack to thwart the victory hopes of Kariena, trained by Karthik Ganapathy, in the 1600 meters Director General Of Police Trophy—a race tailored for horses rated 20 to 46. Kariena had taken the lead in the final furlong, giving backers hope, but Endurance showcased remarkable superiority by storming to a decisive win with a substantial margin of five lengths. The previous winner, Lion King, settled for third place.

In a redemption tale, Nelson River from Shiraz Sunderji`s stable claimed the 1000 meters Gateway of India Plate—a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Despite strong support for the ten-year-old Untitled from Antia`s stables, Nelson River, the firm favourite, delivered a powerful surge in the straight, ending Untitled`s lead and clinching victory. Sentinel and Jetfire put in strong efforts to secure the second and third spots, respectively, while Untitled weakened to finish fourth.

Antia`s fortunes took a positive turn as the well-supported Sussing managed to hold on and win the 1200 meters Raza Ali Plate—a race for horses in the lowest category. Chasing Spiritual Rock into the final furlong, Sussing surged ahead and resisted a late challenge from Silver Steps, who came from far off the pace. The pace-setter Spiritual Rock was a close third.