Aashay Doctor Clinches Champion Trainer Title
The Royal Calcutta Turf Club’s winter season concluded in thrilling fashion as Aashay Doctor clinched the Champion Trainer title, narrowly beating rivals in a nail-biting finale. Suraj Narredu dazzled with a sensational treble, while King Roger and Liban stole the spotlight on a day packed with surprises and splendid rides.
Well, after a fortnight of hoof-thundering drama and more twists than a detective novel, the winter racing season at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) wrapped up on Friday in classic style – with a right old ding-dong battle for supremacy. Aashay Doctor, cool as a cucumber and sharp as a tack, pinched the Champion Trainer’s title by the narrowest of margins, edging out the ever-consistent Rajesh Narredu and the quietly dangerous Rutherford Alford.
And where was this nail-biting moment delivered, you ask? None other than the 1,400-metre Alaskan Handicap, a No Whips race – yes, you heard right, no persuaders involved – where Aashay’s charge, the four-year-old gelding Go For The Moon, absolutely flew home under top weight. Jockey Vivek, calm as you like, gave him a peach of a ride, proving once again that brains sometimes beat brute force.
While Aashay Doctor was quietly collecting his laurels, Suraj Narredu was having a bit of a knees-up of his own. Not content with a double on Thursday, the lad came out all guns blazing on Friday, rattling off a treble that sealed the Champion Jockey title with the kind of panache that would make Lester Piggott raise an eyebrow.
He kicked things off with Winsangel in the Snow Forest Handicap for trainer B. Mahesh, making all the running like he owned the place. Though, in a turn of events straight out of a Greek tragedy, both Winsangel and favourite Swift Lady were later found to be bleeding – putting a bit of a damp squib on an otherwise jubilant start.
Not to be outdone, Suraj then pulled a rabbit out of the proverbial hat with Clever Hans, storming down the straight like a bat out of hell to pip hot favourite Gimmler to the post – a win that likely left punters checking their tickets in disbelief. And just when you thought he might’ve used up all his magic beans, he returned aboard La Dominate in the Police Cup, laying down the law in emphatic fashion and giving Mahesh another winner to polish up.
Elsewhere on the card, the Toroloco Cup proved to be a one-horse race – literally. King Roger, trained by Rutherford Alford and guided by Imran Chisty, galloped away like he was late for tea, winning by a whopping eight lengths. Even-money favourite, you say? He ran like he’d been backed at 1/10.
Meanwhile, Neil Darashah and his trusty pilot J. H. Arul were busy doubling their winnings with Honey Cake, who led them a merry dance in the Royal Mantle Handicap, and The Presence, who turned up just in time to snatch the Angeles Handicap in a thrilling finish. Quite the double act, those two.
It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, mind. Patrick Quinn and P Trevor had a bit of a stinker. With fancied runners like The General, Roman Spirit, and Don’tstopthemusic falling flat, they might be off for a stiff drink and a rethink.
As the curtain came down on the season, Casteel (trained by Rajesh Narredu) was crowned Champion Horse, while Liban (Anil Kumar) trotted away with the title of Horse of the Season.
And there you have it – the RCTC winter season, wrapped up with more drama than an EastEnders Christmas special. Until next time, may your bets be lucky, your horses honest, and your trainers slightly superstitious. Tally-ho!
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