An intriguing Derby..an unconventional look - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 30 Jan 2013
An intriguing Derby..an unconventional look
By Tom Krish
Talk about a wide open contest, we have one in the McDowell Signature Indian Derby to be run this Sunday. There are 17 horses participating. Jockeyship, always important, will be doubly critical. We have some accomplished reins men who will be plying their trade at Mahalakshmi over the weekend. I have only one comment on the quality of the runners. In recent years, we have seen progenies of some of the top performers in Europe and North America race on Indian soil and the 2013 Derby field ensures that this upward trend will continue.
I looked over the names of the runners. The first to catch my eye was Honest Pleasure. I went to America in August 1975, three months after the Kentucky Derby had been run. Foolish Pleasure had won the race that is called the ‘most exciting two minutes in sport.’ As 1975 drew to a close, there was a two year-old who was touted as the 1976 Derby winner. The colt’s name was Honest Pleasure and he was voted the champion freshman colt in 1975. In 1976, Honest Pleasure, as a sophomore, reeled off three wins in the Flamingo at the Hialeah, the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the Blue Grass Stakes at Lexington. In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Bold Forbes, who had been racing in Puerto Rico as a two year-old, went to the front and would not be caught. Honest Pleasure took the runner-up berth. He was fifth in the Preakness after a duel with Bold Forbes and Elocutionist was the beneficiary. Honest Pleasure skipped the Belmont Stakes. Now, we have the 42-rated Honest Pleasure in the Indian Derby.
.JPG)
Machiavellianism is, I am sure, named after Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of ‘The Prince.’ Machiavelli, in the late 15th century, advocated the establishing of a national army to foster a spirit of patriotism. More importantly, Machiavelli wrote about the importance of power and how to expand and become more powerful. Trainer Vittal Deshmukh has given Hyderabad a place in the national racing scene with his recent successes in big events. He is expanding. He made an impression in Bangalore. He won the 2000 Guineas in Mumbai. He is targeting the crown jewel of the Indian racing calendar now. Deshmukh is following Machiavelli’s advice. Jazil, Machiavellianism’s sire, is the 2006 Belmont Stakes winner. The winning rider was Ferdinand Jara, only 16 or 17, at that time.
Here is a thought or two about Shivalik Hero. Despite a not-so-happy passage in the 2000 Guineas, Shivalik Hero, a son of Rebuttal, ran second. In the 2000-metre Ruia Cup, Shivalik Hero, turned the tables on Machiavellianism but failed to catch An Acquired Taste. The savvy ColmO’Donoghue, now a potent force in the international arena, will be on board the Dr M A M Ramaswamy-owned Shivalik Hero. Mallesh Narredu, a trainer since 2011, is looking for his first Blue Riband score.
An Acquired Taste exemplifies the concept of the roller coaster. At no point his ability has been in question. His progress has been incident-prone but he looked good as gold when getting it right in the Ruia Cup. I was at Arlington Park (Chicago) when Strong Contender won in his debut in the summer of 2005. Strong Contender, sire of An Acquired Taste, was considered a Kentucky Derby contender. He was sidelined for some time. Won as a three year-old and failed to win the Blue Grass and did not make it to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Strong Contender’s father, Maria’s Mon, takes the credit for having sired two Kentucky Derby winners, Monarchos in 2001 and Super Saver in 2010.
In June 2006, across the Atlantic, Sir Percy, a son of Mark Of Esteem, won the Epsom Derby in a four-way photo finish. Sir Percy’s rider was the irrepressible Martin Dwyer. Sir Percy is represented in the Derby field on Sunday. Caesar’s Star, a son of Sir Percy, will have the services of the indefatigable Silvestre De Sousa who makes a 24-hour visit to Mumbai. Silvestre upset Set Alight with Antonios in the shocking 2009 renewal. A rags to riches story, Silvestre is now riding for Sheikh Mohammed. The association is about a year old and beginning to blossom.
Snowscape made mincemeat of the Kolkata Derby field. China Visit, Snowscape’s father, raced in the 2000 Kentucky Derby. China Visit was sixth if my memory serves me right. Snowscape, as a freshman, was not off the bridle, in any of his wins. After looking vulnerable as the Kolkata winter campaign unfolded, Snowscape’s going-away win in the Kolkata showpiece restored his lofty reputation.
Borsalino’s romp in the Bangalore summer Derby sent him soaring to the top of the sophomore chart. In subsequent outings, the Choisir progeny has not been able to live up to that promise. Indian fans know a thing or two about Running Flame. Choisir, a sprinter of repute, won two Group I races at Royal Ascot in five days. Choisir won the King’s Stand and the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Wind Stream is the talk of the town. His work has been exemplary and Martin Dwyer’s upbeat assessment has added to the enthusiasm. If you want a rider for pressure-filled races, you have picked the right one in Dwyer.
