It all began with a horse named Silver Jet in the year 1965. Forty-two years later, Dr. MAM Ramaswamy claimed his record-breaking 500th classic with a filly called Classic Sky in Calcutta on Saturday.
In the hands of Irishman Colm O'Donoghue, the filly by Placerville out of Imperial Satsuma made a complete mockery of the opposition pitted against her in the Usha Stud Calcutta Oaks.
During the period in which he created this amazing world record, Dr. Ramaswamy has stood like a rock in the racing industry of the country.
Some of the horses which have brought laurels aplenty for this colourful owner are the diminutive Own Opinion, Ministrella, Birthday Girl, Red Chieftain, Smart Chieftain and Mystical. The last named has also won races abroad and placed the Indian racing fraternity on the global map.
Barring this major milestone of a great owner, Saturday also witnessed the complete domination of the Daniel David stable at this centre. The hardworking trainer led in five winners, the spoils being shared by O'Donoghue (3) and Imran Chisty (2). David's winners were Golden Celebration, Our Dragon, Regent Appeal, Classic Sky and Red Sails.
It was also an afternoon when RCTC, for the first time in its history, saw a lady trainer saddling her charges. Mumbai's very own Aarti Doctor led in a triumphant Sea Monarch — the very first horse that she saddled here. The three-year-old made every post of the Twilight Lady Handicap a winning one in the hands of apprentice C.S. Jodha. Despite his 35 winners, Jodha's inexperience over this tricky course was exposed when he piloted the ten-to-4-on favuorite Supreme Attraction in the very next race. She was in a box seat along the rails till the 600 marker but had the chagrin of being squeezed by Mark Reuben's mount Alonso and lose position rapidly. She came on again but it was too late as opportunist Chisty had taken Our Dragon well clear from the distance post.
Trainer Vijay Singh had a fairly quiet afternoon as he led in only one winner. The fashionably bred Azureus (China Visit-Treasure Land) completely demolished the opposition in the Pearson Surita Memorial Cup.
Jockey Mallesh Narredu's flight was delayed and he could not make it in time to ride Aristotle in the Hovercraft Cup. Had he been astride this class horse of trainer Vijay Singh, then he may have well delivered the goods. As it was, his place was taken by Mark Reuben — an able rider but obviously not in the same league as Mallesh.
After Chisty had taken Regent Appeal to the helm of affairs in the straight, it was Diomedes who challenged him first. In the final 100 metres, Aristotle came flying to lose by long-neck. It was Chisty's hard riding which kept the big hearted colt going and won the day.
The Calcutta Oaks field had only four runners in the fray, including two pacemakers. However, it was Mallesh Narredu astride Elusive Trust who chose to call the shots at a decent clip. The filly seems to be a one-pace horse. She had no answer to the wonderful turn of foot of the winner Classic Sky, who after lying second till the bend, simply swept past her in the straight.
The manner in which Red Sails won the T.N. Banerjea Gold Cup must have amazed form-workers.O'Donoghue had to do precious little as the top-weight accelerated past Sephora for an easy victory.
Jockey Mallesh Narredu made his visit worthwhile, when he brought the curtain down on this Christmas meeting with a fluent win astride Namgay. Roal Navy, a fancied runner from the Vijay Singh yard, was outpaced on this occasion.
