Calcutta: The course-favourite, Best Of The Blues, was unstoppable in the Rising Star Cup, on Thursday, the opening day of the cold weather season. The Daniel David-trained hot-favourite took over the running at the top of the final turn and drew away to win by six long lengths. Jockey Imran Chisty partnered the three-year-old colt by Warrshan out of Briar Creek.

Silver Print was the other favourite to deliver the goods in the afternoon’s six-event card which was, otherwise, ruled by less fancied winners. The piping hot-favourite, from trainer Vijay Singh’s yard, was, however, a shade of her past with jockey C.Alford having to belt the Steinbeck filly for a two-length-plus victory in the Absolution Handicap.

Vijay had a bigger shock coming. The trainer’s debutante, Aromatique, failed to justify his short odds in the 1,200m Turf Hawk Cup. The D. Khaitan-property was under pressure right after the final bend. He finished a poor third behind the winner, his ownermate, Aluminous — a Javed Khan-trainee, ridden by S. Shanker.

Trainer Farley Rodrigues, Eglevsky, made most of the favourite’s, Tip Toes’, withdrawal in the Record Reign Handicap. The favourite unseated her jockey, Mark Reuben, on her way to the start and bolted round the course. Sources close to her stable, however, were hardly shocked by the filly’s antics.

1. Absolution Handicap 1,400m: (5-2-6-3) Silver Print (C.Alford) 1; Lasting Love (Chisty) 2; Arabie (Paswan) 3; Arabian Boy (K.Kumar) 4. Won by: 2-1/2; 6-1/4; 2; (1-33.8). Tote: Win Rs 11; Place: 10; 15; Quinella: 13; Shp: 13; Tanala: 43. Fav: Silver Print (5). Winner trained by Vijay.

2. Eagle Pines Handicap 1,400m: (6-2-1-7) Midas Touch (Gajender) 1; Boogie Nights (Reuben) 2; Allegary (Shanker) 3; Arrayal (Domingo) 4. Won by: 3/4; 8; Ns; (1-32). Tote: Win Rs 167; Place: 27; 12; 13; Quinella: 210; Shp: 47; Tanala: 1,044. Fav: Allegary (1). Winner trained by Daniel.

3. Record Reign Handicap 1,200m: (7-4-5-2) Eglevsky (Surjeet) 1; Legacy Of Love (Chisty) 2; Secret Desire (Aharwal) 3; Thoughtful (Islam) 4. Not run: Tip Toes (1). Won by: 3/4; 3/4; 4-1/4; (1-19.6). Tote: Win Rs 223; Place: 45; 12; 54; Quinella: 136; Shp: 35; Tanala: 6,768. Fav: Legacy Of Love (4). Winner trained by Farley.

4. Turf Hawk Cup 1,200m: (1-4-3-2) Aluminous (Shanker) 1; Polar Magic (Chisty) 2; Aromatique (C.Alford) 3; Mischevious Notes (Vinay) 4. Won by: Ns; 1-3/4; 3-1/4; (1-18). Tote: Win Rs 104; Place: 23; 13; 12; Quinella: 120; Shp: 31; Tanala: 805. Fav: Aromatique (3). Winner trained by Javed.

5. Rising Star Cup 1,200m: (8-6-2-7) Best Of The Blues (Chisty) 1; Way To The Stars (Vinay) 2; Regal Empress (Yadav) 3; Flag Bearer (Akhtar) 4. Won by: 6; 1-1/4; 3/4; (1-16.1). Tote: Win Rs 14; Place: 12; 18; 67; Quinella: 45; Shp: 53; Tanala: 704. Fav: Best Of The Blues (8). Winner trained by Daniel.

6. Adelita Handicap 1,100m: (8-3-4-2) Legal Lady (Islam) 1; Ardella (Shanker) 2; Amber Glory (Chisty) 3; Aptitude (Vinay) 4. Won by: 3/4; 3; 2; (1-10.1). Tote: Win Rs 46; Place: 17; 32; 15; Quinella: 301; Shp: 105; Tanala: 1,334. Fav: Amber Glory (4). Winner trained by Stephens.

Jackpot: Rs 71,864; (C) Rs 12,682.

Treble: (i) Rs 2,718; (ii) Rs 1,120.