Thursday’s Kolkata races produced a couple of baffling results and a few good ones as well. The debacle of Earl of Warwick at the hands of Storming Success in the Young Lady Handicap was somewhat confounding. The reason being that the former had displayed considerable class and staying ability during his outings in western India. Why Chinoy decided to cut pace with the favourite Exclusivity is difficult to understand. Islam, on the three-year-old Storming Success, sat tight and watched the fun from a box seat. He grabbed his opportunity the moment Christopher Alford’s mount called it quits. A keen tussle ensued between the Earl and Storming Success; aided by a pull of 5.5 kg, the latter prevailed.

Three professionals pulled off a brace each. They were Errol Bhungard (Prince of Gold and Disco Star), John Stephens (Horse Raddish and Foot Tapper) and apprentice Amandeep Singh (Silent Hunter and Disco Star).

The afternoon commenced with an enquiry into the run of Amazing Look who graced the rear. The favourite Italian Affair tried to steal a march in the straight but was collared by the unpredictable Silent Hunter from Daniel David’s yard. The run of Ferrazza was extremely disappointing while Betelgeuse played the unusual role of pace-setter.

It is good to see promising apprentices make headway at this centre. In the Audubon Handicap, the pair of Italian Star and Prince of Gold were most in demand. They were ridden by 5-kg allowance apprentices I. Khan and Arman Khan. The closing favourite Lizzie Arden was out at weights to the ‘Prince’ and Arman did not disappoint his backers. He collared the front-running Smiles quite easily.

John Stephens played a shrewd card yet again when he negated the 6-kg penalty on Horse raddish by declaring a 5-kg allowance apprentice Md Sameer. The lad recorded his maiden triumph by leaving the field standing in the straight. The favourite Royal Navy, a Christopher Alford mount, pulled up lame.

Alford was definitely not having things his way on this day as in the very next race, his half-money mount Green Valley bolted and had to be withdrawn. That paved the way for a facile victory for Foot Tapper. Mark Reuben used the stick liberally on this six-year-old to get his to collar the front-running Triple Edge.

The Moon Mission Cup, run over 1,100 metres, saw a scrimmage for the lead while the favourite Attention Seeker was sitting pretty in the fifth berth. When asked for an effort by Afzal Khan, she responded well despite her 9-kg penalty. However, Red Sails issued a strong challenge in the straight but failed to find that little extra. Incidentally, the last named was another Amandeep Singh mount.

The curtain came down on the afternoon’s proceedings with a fine gamble on Disco Star. The chestnut was backed down from fives to 2/1 favouritism. Though veering of a straight course in the straight, he managed to stay ahead of Mezzano who looked menacing along the rails.