Safer Than the Bank of England - By Mohit Lalvani
Posted on - 31 Jan 2015
Safer Than the Bank of England
By Mohit Lalvani
The Signature Indian Derby is not just India’s most prestigious race but is also the toughest to win proving to be a graveyard for favourites. It comes relatively early in a horse’s career and most, at this age, have never been tested over the mile and a half distance -a trip that requires the perfect balance of speed and stamina. A quality that only a few out hundreds foaled each year possess.
Ability aside though, it is also a race that allows only 4 year olds to run in India which means a thoroughbred gets just one shot. If a Signature Derby contender isn’t ready to peak on that first Sunday of February, there is no second chance. This naturally lends itself to the theory that some of the lesser exposed horses could be maturing late and are underestimated while some of the favourites may already have peaked. Take the example of Set Alight, the wonder filly who lost the Signature Indian Derby in a crop that she should’ve eaten up alive. While the debate raged on then and continues to rage on now about the ride she got, I truly believe that she was cheated by the fact that the race was delayed by two months due to an outbreak earlier in the season. Irrespective of the ride, run the race in February and Set Alight wins. In the April heat however, the filly had to take on a colt whose graph was on its way up while hers was on its way down.
The Signature Derby atmosphere is yet another foil. Mystical, who should have also been a winner and was clearly the best of his batch, allowed the moment to get to him. The noise, the energy, the heat of the day can ruffle the most relaxed customer and does so more often than not. Why then, it should be asked, is Be Safe as safe as nails?
Be Safe, will start as the shortest priced favourite in years and already many are likening him to the greats like Squanderer, Royal Tern and Elusive Pimpernel – a tag that carries a heavy burden of expectation. It’s easy to say so after the race but it takes courage to go out on limb and say so now for race goers are an unforgiving lot and don’t have time for fools.
Be Safe has the form. He has lost just once in his career as a 3 year old to a horse he has demolished since. In fact, the race he lost was the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million over 1400 metres and if anything, that only bolsters his claim to the crown this Sunday. It takes a very specific type of horse to win the Million and generally these are very different from those that win the Signature Indian Derby. Not surprising then that no horse in history has ever won both races.
Be Safe has the versatility. He can sit in any position and can act on any type of surface. Only the greats can do this. His victory in Kingfisher Bangalore Derby over the summer proved this. In going that was as soft as a baby’s bottom, he swam home after sitting aggressively near the pace, winning as liked at the end.
Be Safe has the temperament. This is one of the most important traits that a horse needs to win the Signature Derby. Be Safe doesn’t get jittery in a race and is a thorough professional. He does what he is asked to do without much fuss and can switch off in a slow run race even though he is better suited to an honest and true run gallop.
Be Safe has the pedigree. While Be Safe is the son of a respected sire, Holy Roman Emperor, many believe that this is the chink in his armour. Holy Roman Emperor better known to sire sprinter milers is certainly out of his comfort zone over a mile and a half. His broodmare sire is Kings Best a son of Kingmambo, a sire line again better known for speed and by now, Be Safe’s detractors are licking their lips because surely, he must look vulnerable over the 2400 metre trip. A deeper study however reveals more and in fact tends to suggest that somehow the genes have mixed well. Be Safe’s female family is filled with stamina and in technical terms the stoutness is even safely reflected in Be Safe’s dosage profile and index. While it may be argued that these are numbers suggestive of a 2000 metre horse, a trip that Be Safe has already proven himself over, he does also carry a Saddlers Wells cross with Holy Roman Emperor’s sire, Danehill which has provided many black type horses as has the Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector nick.
At the end of the day, Be Safe has an action with exceptional balance. The best athletes in the world are also the best balanced under pressure and horse racing is no different. Be Safe’s conformation, shape and size are all qualities that lend themselves to how well balanced he is and it is for all of these reasons that Be Safe is safer than the Bank of England this Sunday in the Signature Indian Derby.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)
