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Two rank outsiders floored form-workers at the Calcutta racecourse on Friday. While Jaiswal-trained Finders Keepers was running after a long lay-off, Robin Corner's Namgay seemed to have suddenly found his galloping shoes after a listless display in his previous outing on the second day of the winter season. The day began sedately enough as the on-money favourite Bountiful Talent made every post of the head Hunter Plate a winning one in the hands of Imran Chisty. Last outing winner Fragrant Meadow was only a shadow of himself on this occasion. Then came the expected tussle between Dance Music and Alterity in the seven furlongs race for the Eagle Pines Handicap. After pacemaker Acrostic had shot his bolt at the top of the straight, Dance Music was urged to the front by Chisty, with Alterity and Islam close on his heels. It was hammer and tongs all down the straight. Ultimately, it was Chisty's power-packed finish which did the trick. Barnabee and Stride To Strike closed as joint favourites in the race for the Immaculate Handicap. However, it was the speedy Traditional Style who brought the field into the straight before Gajender Singh punched Finders Keepers to a stunning victory. The day's main event, The BOL Publication Cup, saw trainer Vijay Singh and his second string rider Surender Singh have the last laugh. The David stable planned a major coup on Fabulous Emperor with Amil astride — but it came unstuck thanks to little to no help from the saddle. Had the stable played fair and declared their top jockey or an able apprentice for the job at hand, there is very little doubt that the 'Emperor' would have ruled. As it happened, Vijay's Innovator edged him out by a nose. Magic Words, a recent import from western India, pulled off a fine coup for his connections. Vivek rode a gem of a race on this Patrick Quinn-trained ward who staved off a strong challenge from Appetent in the final furlong of the 2000 metres race for the Argus Handicap. Vivek did try to increase his tally with Olympic Wonder in the final event but fell short by a whisker as Namgay refused to give up. |
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