Barring the ever-reliable Christopher Alford who guided two favorites past the post, outstation jockeys by and large called the shots at the RCTC last Saturday. The likes of Neeraj Rawal and Ryan Marshall notched up a brace each at lucrative odds while the low-weighted P.S. Chouhan showed immaculate pace-judgment over a 2000 meters trip win the Star Contender handicap with Italian Affair.
Rawal pocketed the one that mattered most. The manner in which he bagged the afternoon's prize is another story. The highlight of the marathon nine-event card was the running of the Calcutta Champions' Sprint Trophy, a Grade III terms race. The six-furlong sprint had as many as 14 runners in the fray. The Deepak Khaitan-owned trio of Afforce, Conquering Love and Elusive Study were in the betting, as was Beckham and Diomedes.
Suraj Narredu on speedy Conquering Love had no hesitation in taking his mount to the helm of affairs as the gates opened. He happily took the shortest route home, only to lose by the proverbial whisker at the winning post. His conqueror was his very own owner mate Elusive Study, on whom Rawal rode an absolute blinder. Gradually improving from an exterior draw, Rawal is sued his challenge on the outside with hardly a hundred meters left. Both riders were going hell for leather from that point onwards and crossed the winning line locked together. So close was the finish that none in the crowd were sure of the winner till the camera gave the nod. Great stuff to set the adrenalin flowing!
Trainer Patrick Quinn had a lot to cheer for as his Italian Affair picked up his second race of the season in as many starts, despite being penalised 7kg by the handicapper. Jockey Chouhan gave his mount full throttle after the turning for home, but had to stave off a strong challenge from public choice Agnation.
Saraah Alam was the most facile winner of the afternoon as she galloped away with the lower division of the Areonative Handicap without much ado. She completely outclassed the front-running A'Ma Jaju while the second favopurite Allied News, who is known to be a bleeder, finished on when it was all over bar the shouting. The upper division of the same handicaps saw Traditional Style come good after a struggle to keep the fast-finishing Amazing Look at bay.
The Galstaun Cup gave Marshall his first win of the day. The six-year-old Asiatique strode away from the field at the top of the straight after Marshall cracked his whalebone a couple of times. Fabulous Emperor tried to squeeze through along the rails but to no avail while the favourite Antonique was an utter flop.
The Hyderabad Race Club Cup saw the Darius Byramji-trained Forza leaving nothing to chance as Rawal urged him to collar Florican and show a clean pair of heels to his rivals.
Rawal however blotted his copybook in the afternoon's final event, the Gypsy King Cup, where his mount, Brave Quest, left all her chances at the gates after being installed as the firm favourite. It was second favourite Namgay who made every post a winning one in Marshall's hands.