Race number five on the card, The Albert Piperno Memorial Cup, provided a stirring middle-distance contest at the Calcutta Races, Winter Meeting, Fifth Day, on Friday, 23rd January 2026. Run at 3:30 PM over 2000 metres for Class II horses rated 61–86 (with 41–66 eligible), the event saw Ruling Star deliver a commanding performance under Gaurav Singh for trainer B. Rajender Reddy, scoring decisively for owner Mr Koushik Dutta. The victory added further substance to the Kolkata race result 23 January, as the afternoon continued to unfold with quality and competitiveness.
Settled neatly through the early stages, Ruling Star travelled with purpose as the field found its rhythm. Gaurav Singh waited patiently before asking his mount to lengthen stride approaching the final bend, and the response was immediate. Once angled out in the straight, Ruling Star asserted with authority, stretching clear in the closing furlong to stop the clock at 2:06.876, a time that underlined the winner’s control of the race.
Whirlwind finished on resolutely to claim second place, with M. S. Deora in the saddle for trainer Vijay Singh, staying on without ever quite troubling the winner. The third spot went to Zarak, ridden by Imran Chisty and prepared by S. Waheed, who kept on steadily to round off the frame in a well-contested renewal.
With The Albert Piperno Memorial Cup decided, attention now turns to the day’s showpiece, The Indian Champion Cup (Grade I), scheduled for 4:00 PM, a race set to crown the afternoon with top-class drama at Kolkata Racecourse.
Stay tuned to RaceBuzz as the Kolkata Winter Meeting action continues.