The RWITC’s prized event, The Indian Derby, is drawing near, and that it is trite to say that all roads will lead to Mahalakshmi on the first Sunday of February. With this year being the 33rd successive running under the UB Group umbrella, it is quite possibly a record, deserving a mention in the Guiness Book. And, a huge statistic is that it marks the 75th running of this Blue Riband of the Indian Turf.
The Weekend carnival will feature racing under the lights on Saturday, every race a million, an international cast of performers, pop up food stalls all over, live music gigs, huge prizes, all of which will vie for attention with the big race. That a sea of humanity will descend on the lush green turf is now par for the course, and expect upwards of 25,000 in linen suits and black dresses who make the once-a-year sojourn to the races. The Derby is so big that to a novice, every race is called the Derby!
This year’s renewal seemed to be a fillies’ race, but with Ice Glacier, suffering a muscle strain and being rendered hors d’ combat, their arsenal is diminished. And the absence of another front runner, Whomakestherules, has taken some sheen away from the race. However, towering above all is Seargent at Arms, the best miler in the country who added the R R Ruia in his lead up. The only chink in his armour is his ability to stay the mile and a half, having faltered once over 2,000 metres in Mysore. He seems to have strengthened and matured and if he can be ridden in restraint, has the class to beat any on his day.
The main threat is in form of the grey filly, Hall of Famer, who spread-eagled the field in the Kolkata Derby. The star In the Spotlight had famously done the Kolkata-Indian Derby double a few years ago. Bred at Dashmesh, who had reared the all time great Elusive Pimpernel, they have as big a chance as any, especially with the in form David Allan astride her.
The Derby lure is such that even no hopers, on paper, take a tilt at the over Rs 3 crore purse, with the winner getting around Rs 2 crore. The ex- Dr MAM Ramaswamy stable has the dark ‘un in Supreme General, and ace trainer Pesi Shroff has a potential quarter in Mathayius, Mrs Patmore, Sherlock and Oaks heroine, Temerity likely to be in the line-up. As of now they do not seem to measure up to the others. The joker in the pack is London, owned by Shapoor Mistry, who has the class to be on the board. As always it will be a cracker, and quite likely the two minutes 30 seconds barrier will be lowered on a track running true and fast.
