Calcutta: Apprentice B. Mahesh stole the limelight in stead of jockey C. Alford, who was expected to rule the seven-event race card on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the monsoon season. Mahesh scored a popular double for trainer Darius Byramji. Starting off with a runaway victory of Compton Star in the 2,000m Rising Bell Cup, the apprentice demonstrated a fine piece of judgement while guiding Romantic Scene to a long-neck victory in the main event, the 1,400m Predator Cup.

Alford, however, continues to head the championship table with a seven-point lead over his fellow rider, D.K. Ashish. The season concludes on Saturday.

RESULTS

1. Sweet Ellar Handicap 2,000m: (1-7-3-4) Rock Superstar (Aharwal) 1, Salinger (Vinay) 2, Stride To Strike (Islam) 3, Symphatico (Surjeet) 4. Won by: Nk, Nk, 1-1/4; (2-14.77). Tote: Win Rs 65; Place: 19, 38, 19; Quinella: 409; Shp: 123; Tanala: 3,719. Fav: Blood Rayne (2). Winner trained by Vikash.

2. Rising Bell Cup 2,000m: (1-3-4-6) Compton Star (B. Mahesh) 1, Innovator (C.Alford) 2, Storming Success (Aman) 3, Bold Reply (Aharwal) 4. Won by: Dist, 1, Dist; (2-8.92). Tote: Win Rs 28; Place: 20, 26; Quinella: 61; Shp: 63; Tanala: 254. Fav: Compton Star (1). Winner trained by D.Byramji.

3. Bright Hanovar Handicap 1,100m: (5-2-4-3) Bullet Proof (I.Khan) 1, Acrostic (Afzal) 2, Premier Panache (C.Alford) 3, Noble Replica (Chauhan) 4. Won by: 2-1/4, Ns, 2-1/4; (1-12.06). Tote: Win Rs 40; Place: 11, 12, 15; Quinella: 79; Shp: 36; Tanala: 359. Fav: Noble Replica (3). Winner trained by Javed.

4. Retort Handicap 1,400m: (7-4-3-5) Aromatique (C.Alford) 1, Italian Star (I.Khan) 2, Asiatique (Asghar) 3, Italian Affair (J.Chinoy) 4. Won by: 1/2, 6-1/2, 1; (1-31.45). Tote: Win Rs 21; Place: 12, 15, 29; Quinella: 40; Shp: 51; Tanala: 398. Fav: Aromatique (7). Winner trained by Bath.

5. Predator Cup 1,400m: (3-2-4-5) Romantic Scene (B. Mahesh) 1, Quest For Cash (Islam) 2, Ardelis (C.Alford) 3, Best Of The Blues (Arman) 4. Won by: Lnk, 3, 3-3/4; (1-29.24). Tote: Win Rs 29; Place: 17, 42; Quinella: 165; Shp: 87; Tanala: 409. Fav: Ardelis (4). Winner trained by D.Byramji.

6. Sir Aali Handicap 1,400m: (5-7-1-6) Sangoma (A.R.Mani) 1, Black Dahlia (C.Alford) 2, Secret Move (B.Mahesh) 3, Zafir (Ashish) 4. Won by: 3/4, 1-1/2, Dist; (1-29.69). Tote: Win Rs 49; Place: 13, 12, 15; Quinella: 33; Shp: 37; Tanala: 250. Fav: Black Dahlia (7). Winner trained by Karki.

7. Celestial Gift Handicap 1,000m: (1-5-2-3) Thousand Stars (Ashish) 1, Master Marvel (Arman) 2, Aptitude (Aharwal) 3, Italian Beauty (I.Khan) 4. Won by: 1, 1/2, Snk; (1-6.63). Tote: Win Rs 91; Place: 28, 16, 25; Quinella: 99; Shp: 47; Tanala: 1,044. Fav: Master Marvel (5).

Jackpot: Rs 6,873; (C) Rs 502.

Treble: (i) Rs 165; (ii) Rs 1,238.