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Trainer Vijay Singh`s filly Adhira (Nikhil Naidu-up) scored a decisive victory over the Aashay Doctor`s colt, Atom (Arshad Alam), on her way to lifting the 1,100m Calcutta Juvenile Sprint, Tuesday`s main attraction in the seven-event card. The afternoon also witnessed Vijay`s Mighty galloper, Multitude (Suraj Narredu), putting in a strong gallop in the home straight to claim the 1,200m Calcutta Monsoon Sprint. Early in the card, Vijay had saddled another of his filly, Marigold (C. S. Jodha), to victory in the 1,100m Thrifty Allan Handicap.
Adhira was, somewhat, unlucky despite her creditable win as the Varenar daughter dangerously veered-in and scraped the rails, barely 30m from the winning post. Jockey Nikhil Naidu, therefore, was unseated, with minor injuries, right after the winning post but the filly returned profusely bleeding with a horrible cut, shoulder downwards.
Adhira was in hot chase of her stable-mate, Astoria (Trevor Patel) and Raunak Banerji`s new purchase from western India, Arabesque (B. Mahesh); until approaching the distance-post when she took over the running. The filly, a 5/1 chance in the betting, was, however, seen shifting in and out badly before scraping rails and the fall of Naidu.
Atom, on the other hand, came full of running but the Arazan colt found the slated trip a wee too short to his liking. Yet he placed a good second, a shade under two lengths behind the winner, and as much ahead of the third placed Angel Grace (Suraj) who also found the early pace too hot to her liking.
The Terms of the race, the 1,200m Calcutta Monsoon Sprint, were as usual against Multitude and the Suraj left to his charge much to do in the home straight. The champion jockey, however, managed to get a devastating run out of the 7/4 favourite, to catch up with the long time leaders, Raunak`s another western India gain, Lincoln (Mahesh) and Vikash Jaiswal`s quietly fancied, Amorous White. Incidentally, Magnitude was expected to start as an on-money favourite but the race day rumours, about fever, saw his odds expanding to 5/2 when the heavy wagering followed. Lincoln, on the other hand, displayed early speed but went backwards soon after entering the home stretch.
Vijay`s Multigold, a 3/1 shot, was the trainer`s third winner. The filly had to sit behind her fancied slable-mate, Gaurish (Naidu) till about the 200m marker before making the winning run to claim the 1,100m Thrifty Allan Handicap.
Much was expected from Vijay`s another favourite, Sniper (Suraj) in the 1,600m Desiree Handicap but the last outing winner failed to his handicap disadvantage and went down meekly to trainer Harvinder Bath`s fancied runner Fiorelle (C. Alford).
Equally peevish was the performance of trainer Manvendra Singh`s top-weighted runner, Topnotch (Y.S. Srinath) who made just about a meaningful run in the home straight. Raunak`s Joss (Mahesh) won the race after allowing Shyam Habbu`s Singapore Sling make the running till about 300m from the winning post. Topnotch does not seem to be liking the monsoon track and the youngster may be followed in the big season.
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The Last Judgment (C S Jodha up) winner of the Sweet Senorita Handicap
Marigold (C S Jodha up) winner of the Thrifty Allan Handicap
Aquitania (P Tejeshwar up) winner of the Sir Aali Handicap
Adhira (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Calcutta Juvenile Sprint
Multitude (Suraj Narredu up) winner of the Calcutta Monsoon Sprint
Fiorelle (C Alford up) winner of the Desiree Handicap
Joss (B Mahesh up) winner of the Palazzio`S Sun Handicap
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