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Bangalore import Psychic Force, now in the care of trainer Aashay Doctor, overcame the sharpness of trip on sheer class and made a winning debut on the Kolkata race track staving off the late bid of New England to win the 1400 metres Mayfowl Cup, a terms race for four-year-olds and over which featured the races held on Saturday. Trainer Vijay Singh continued his domination saddling a treble with jockey Hindu Singh being associated with all these wins.
Psychic Force had last won in a mile-long race long ago at Bangalore, beating Ambrosio who subsequently won the Stayers Cup. There was no doubting the talent of Psychic Force though the five-year-old had not been a consistent performer. Relocated to Kolkata, he was making his debut over a seven furlongs trip over which he hadn`t won in his career during which he had won six races. Interestingly, he had won over a sharp of five and a half furlongs early in his career.
Amorous White did the customary front-running role with Prince Satsuma in the chase followed by Psychic Force, Sweet Music, New Moon and the rest. Shivansh was in the penultimate position while New England was in the rear. Amorous White weakened midway in the straight and Psychic Force gained upper hand. The progeny of Multidimensional quickened well and opened up what turned out to be a decisive lead. New England came up a big effort on the wide outside but ran out of the ground. The winner spared half a length at the finish. Shivansh who was another principal contender was baulked for a clear run down the final furlong and his delayed challenge as a result could only ensure him the third position. Psychic Force was ridden by Bangalore based Arshad Alam. Make a note of both New England and Shivansh who showed their readiness to perform better in their next outings. Prince Satsuma (Late Ace Ace Ace), who was a consistent performer at Hyderabad was having his first outing and was not up to justifying the expectations and failed to quicken and faded out of contention when the race took came to a boil.
Raunak Banerji trained Louboutin was unlucky to lose the 1400 metres Punters Delight Handicap, a race for horses rated 41 to 66, in the final stride of the jockey. The temperamental filly took off well from the gates and led by several lengths. She raced keen and aggressively in front but despite which she looked a winner all through the race except in the final stride. The fact that Ashhad Asbar did not make any attempt to dictate a clever pace in front before going all out in the straight told on the stamina of Louboutin who was desperately looking for the winning post. Summer Air who was outpaced in the early part, covered plenty of ground in the final furlong in the hands of jockey Nikhil Naidu to get the nod in thrilling fashion for trainer C Alford. Favourite Excelsior made no impression finding the fast pace her undoing and was a well-beaten third.
Dornish from trainer Vijay Singh`s yard was a smashing winner of the 1200 metres Relevance Handicap, a race for horses rated 21 to 46. Dornish who was in the rear group was brought into reckoning by jockey Hindu Singh with a ground-saving effort along the rails. Dornish proved too good for the opposition storming clear in the final furlong to win by a widening margin of four lengths. Whispering Grass nosed out Script to take the third up berth. The Mumbai import Despatico perhaps needed this outing as she finished in a cluster and finished fifth, not far from the second-placed Whispering Grass.
Hindu Singh also drove out Vijay Singh trained Cliffhanger to a narrow win over favourite Adornica in the 1400 metres Legal Steps Handicap, a race for horses rated 21 to 46, restricted to three-year-olds only. Adornica hit the front inside the final 350 metres but jockey Shezad Khan was unable to provide good assistance to the favourite who was tiring out in the end. Despite going wide under pressure, Cliffhanger managed to neck out the front-runner in the dying moments of the race. Robinson was third.
Vijay Singh`s other winner also came with jockey Hindu Singh in the saddle. Abhya Gama slipped through the rails on turning for home and had the speed to go ahead with a furlong left in the race and won with a measure of comfort from favourite Sullivan, the 1100 metres Noble View Handicap, a race for horses rated 61 to 82. Sullivan had to settle for the second spot for the second time in a row. Kilkarry Bridge who was in contention till the closing stages of the race necked out Namak Halal to save place money.
Trainer Aashay Doctor was also successful with Ableson who swamped the field in the 1100 metres Royal Double Handicap, a race for horses in the lowest category. Beowulf hit the front on turning for home but in the final furlong, was sorted out by Ableson in the hands of apprentice Tejeshwar. Ableson won by a widening margin of six lengths over Beowulf. Knight of Thunder necked out early pacesetter Stevio Pass to get the third place. Favourite Chiara was restless at the gates. She not only made a lethargic start but also showed no inclination to raise a fluent gallop and finished a dismal last.
Favourite Elusive Wave fought out with The Hound and prevailed in the end by a neck to provide trainer Arti Doctor with the success in the opening race of the day, the 1600 metres Beat The Distance Handicap for horses in the lowest category. Elusive Way who led from the start had to stave off The Hound who rallied well despite going wide. Bay Crush too finished on well but literally raced on the edge of the outer track going miles wide. Abenaki was not inclined to raise a gallop.
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Elusive Wave (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Beat The Distance Handicap
Abelson (P Tejeshwar up) winner of the Royal Double Handicap
Dornish (Hindu Singh up) winner of the Relevance Handicap
Abhya Gama (Hindu Singh up) winner of the Noble View Handicap
Cliffhanger (Hindu Singh up) winner of the Legal Steps Handicap
Psychic Force (Arshad Alam up) winner of the Mayfowl Cup
Summer Air (Nikhil Naidu up) winner of the Punters Delight Handicap
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