Adjudicate with David Allan up wins The Calcutta Derby Stakes Gr-1 2019

Adjudicate trained by J E Mckeown with David Allan up wins The Calcutta Derby Stakes Gr-1 2019 at The Royal Calcutta Turf Club Kolkata

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Trainer James McKeown`s prized possession, Adjudicate (David Allan-up), kept her date with the 2,400m Calcutta Derby Stakes, on Sunday. It will be an understatement to say that the Multidimensional-Alvarita daughter won the Derby, the 6/10 hot favourite simply mauled the opposition which was amply represented by the different parts of the country.

Adjudicate`s a nine-length-plus victory over trainer Pesi Shroff`s Barbaresco (Leigh Roche) silenced the Doubting Thomas`s about her stamina to last the Derby trip. Leave alone the near-distance victory, the double-Guineas – the Calcutta 1000 and the 2000 – winner was amazingly impressive in her effort when she left the opposition gasping for breath, almost at the top of the home turn. Adjudicate also provided the trainer with his first ever Derby.

Adjudicate was ridden well off the pace while Vijay Singh`s Advika (Dashrath) played the pacemaker`s role. Adjudicate now leaves for Mumbai to match strides with the likes of Sir Cecils, Star Superiors and Sacred Romans in the Indian Derby, about three weeks from now.

Wonder filly Adjudicate left not an iota of doubt in any sceptic’s mind about her staying ability as she trounced the opposition in the Calcutta Derby Stakes at RCTC on Sunday and pocketed a winner’s prize of Rs 65 lakh for her connections. Sired by Multidimensional out of Alvarita, the winner of three consecutive classics at this centre is bred at the Sohna Stud farm. Visiting jockey David Allan rode a well-planned race as he permitted the front-runners Advika, Angelino and Point To Prove to call the shots till the top of the straight before making his move. Such was his mount’s incredible turn of foot, that she was able to the head the pace-setters in a trice. Thereafter, trainer James Mckeown’s ward was simply striding away from the others. David peeped over his shoulder about 100 metres from home. Seeing his mount well clear, he nonchalantly removed the left riding glove with his teeth well before the winning post and gave the filly a pat or two. Barbaresco ran on to occupy the runner-up berthover nine lengths behind and incurred a whopping penalty of 40 points for his good effort. This means that the Pesi Shroff-trained gelding is well and truly in the top category of the handicap scale after winning a sole maiden’s race in his maiden start.Barbaresco was followed by Shivansh, who ran as good a race as can be expected of him and the none too impressive Angelino. The fillies Oriana and Aashna disappointed as well.

In his post-race comments, Mckeown said that he can only take a decision on whether to run Adjudicate in the Indian Derby at Mumbai next month after discussing with the owners (the well-known Khaitan family). However, her authoritative victory on Sunday suggests that her next stop will indeed be Mumbai. It has been a long time coming, but finally the once famous red-and-gold brigade of Calcutta is back in the limelight. Their prized possession will be sending warning bells across the country to her leading rivals who intend to participate in the Indian Derby next month. The last time one of their thoroughbreds won the Calcutta Derby before lifting the Indian Derby was Psychic Flame about a decade and half ago. David Allan, for his part, said he only had to settle down the filly in the first two furlongs, after which it was smooth sailing.