THE COLD WEATHER SEASON 2018-19 KOLKATA

The Royal Calcutta Turf Club.

The Cold Weather Season kicked off on November 4, 2018 before the weather could really add value to the apt name for the winter racing season in Kolkata. The season will have 25 days of racing, similar to last year, with about half of them being held on the weekend, which is a welcome change. About 177 races have been scheduled with about 64 of them being Trophy races. Advertised stake money for the season is about 9.40crore, about 50lacs short of last season with a further 19lacs added, being the value of the trophies on offer. There has been around a 5% decrease in the number of horses and currently there are 463 horses in station including 99 two-year-olds. 21 trainers and 24 jockeys have been issued ‘A’ licenses and 22 ‘B’ licensed jockeys and 10 apprentices will be seen in action. As always there will be the outstation invaders who will arrive in Kolkata with an eye on the Group races and Classics. The Calcutta Derby Stakes, Gr.1 is scheduled to be run on January 13, 2019.
While there was talk about Sir Cecil doing the Kolkata circuit en-route to the Indian Derby, it appears now that there is a change of plan in place. If he were to visit and enthrall the Kolkata racing fans with his presence on the track, there was very little left to preview at this centre. In the advent that he takes in the Bangalore and Madras Guineas before heading for Mahalaxmi then there will be a large sigh of relief as then, local contenders can fight hard for honours. We preview horses in order of their rating that should fare well this season.

SHIVANSH
(Top Class-Immortal Story) b c rated 88

SHIVANSH

The winner of the Calcutta Monsoon Derby is the winner of five of his six starts, three of them being over the mile trip. His winter campaign started with a win over the mile, a Class II race in open company, when as favourite he won by 3¼lengths. In the absence of Sir Cecil he stands out as the leading contender for the colts Classic and Derby, and with the top colts in the country likely to give Kolkata a miss this year, it looks like this candidate will keep the trophy at home base.

SIR CECIL
(Win Legend-Elusive Trust) gr rig rated 82

SIR CECIL

The Multi Classic winner, unbeaten in seven starts, will have absolutely no opposition if he decides to pay Kolkata a visit. As plans are still uncertain as to his winter campaign the local contingent as well as outstation horses that would like to take a go at both the Calcutta 2000 Guineas and Derby are waiting to

EASTERN STAR

get a confirmation before they head for Kolkata.

EASTERN STAR
(Knights Tour-Lyocel) b g rated 81

With four wins from seven career starts, the winner of the Calcutta Colts Trial Stakes during the monsoon season, is on course for the colts Classic. He won the Bahrain Trophy over 7f, beating Punjabi Girl by ½ length and is now ready to strike over the mile, though he will have tough opposition from Shivansh, the winner of the Calcutta Monsoon Derby.

PUNJABI GIRL
(Win Legend-Chapmans Peak) b f rated 68

PUNJABI GIRL

She won the Fillies Championship Stakes in the summer in Bangalore, coming with an impressive late challenge to beat Realmsoffantasy and Isn’t She Lovely. She ran a very disappointing race in the Mysore 1000 Guineas finishing sixth, 8¼lengths behind Isn’t She Lovely. Sent off to Kolkata with an eye on the Classics there, she got to within ½length of Eastern Star, winner of the Colts Trial Stakes in the monsoon, in the Bahrain Trophy run over 7f. She is well and set to stake her claim for the fillies Classic and is one of the leading contenders for the Calcutta 1000 Guineas.

ADJUDICATE

ADJUDICATE
(Multidimensional-Alvarita) dk b f rated 61
She had a single win over the 6f trip in Kolkata after which she was brought to Mumbai where she finished third to Pioneer and Mozart in the Breeders Produce Stakes over 7f. She was third to Excellent in the F D Wadia Trophy and then finished second to him in the S A Poonawalla Million, run over the mile trip. In preparation for the fillies Classic she was pipped on the post by Advika in a 7f race, while conceding 3½kgs to the winner. She looks to be the frontline contender for the fillies Classic and will now be saddled by trainer J E McKeown, in whose stable she now resides.

EXCEPTION
(Western Aristocrat-Edessya) dkb f rated 56
She won the Fillies Trial Stakes run over 7f on the second outing of her career, then jumped into the deep end to soon, finishing 10½ lengths behind Shivansh in the Calcutta Monsoon Derby run over 10f. She needs to start all over again at a distance best suited to her, to start living up to the minor reputation she earned herself earlier.

ADVIKA
(Multidimensional-Set Ablaze) b f rated 56
This well bred filly did not have the credentials to step into the Classic picture till the start of her winter campaign when she came out and beat Adjudicate by a neck while receiving 3.5kgs from her. Will she be as lucky next time out? Seems unlikely though she is capable of winning her share of races this season.

SPITFIRE
(Phoenix Tower-Athlone) b g rated 54
He was summered in Ooty, finished fourth in the Nilgiris 2000 Guineas to Mozart, My Opinion and Mongolian King and then turned the tables on Mozart and Mongolian King when finishing second to My Opinion in the Nilgiris Derby. He finished 6¼ lengths in fifth in the Colts Championship Stakes in Bangalore. He won his first outing in Mumbai over the 7f trip by 1¼ length from Timeless Deeds so he may just try his luck for glory here.

INDIAN PHAROAH
(Excellent Art-Running Flame) b c rated 50

INDIAN PHAROAH

The stable mate of Sir Cecil won his fourth start, the Mystical Million over the mile in Bangalore and then finished over 15 lengths behind Sir Cecil in the Mysore Derby. The start of his winter campaign in Bangalore was very disappointing when he finished in seventh to King Of The Wind. His prep race for the colts Classic, either in Bangalore or at an outstation centre has obviously not gone according to plan, so whether he still travels to Kolkata, will have to be seen. Even if he does, he will face stern opposition if he chooses to do so.

MAHALI
(Midnight Interlude-Allies Serenade) b f rated 50
This filly has won twice in four starts, first over the 7f trip and the latest, at the start of this season over the mile trip. If she attempts the fillies Classic she will find the competition tough but is capable of winning her share of races this season.

SABREJET
(Air Support-Siachen) b c rated 47
The winner of two of his three starts over 7f and 8f, may find it hard to compete on the Classic stage but could otherwise continue his winning ways.

HAMMERSMITH
(Phoenix Tower-Samsa) dk b f rated 37
This filly has had a win over 7f, and on her last outing was fourth in the General Rajendrasinhji Million run over the mile in Pune. While still appearing on the list of contenders for the fillies Classic she may not make the trip, and may be sent to another outstation centre to try her luck in the fillies Classic there.

SECRETIVE FORCE
(Multidimensional-Secret Garden) b c rated 53
He shed his maiden status on his third start in Bangalore, with a smart win over 7f, winning by 6½ lengths from Ciel Etoile. He was no match for the champion Sir Cecil in the Mysore 2000 Guineas and the Mysore Derby, finishing over 13 lengths adrift of the winner on both occasions.
As Sir Cecil appears to be staying on in Bangalore for the Guineas, the obvious strategy would be to get away from his shadows and prove worthy elsewhere. He is capable and experienced and can upset the local contenders should he travel to Kolkata for the Classics.