Derby hasn't been kind to favourites - By Mohit Lalwani | TOI
Posted on - 30 Jan 2019
Derby hasn’t been kind to favourites
By Mohit Lalwani |TOI
WHICH is the greatest race horse ever? Many have argued this over a drink and on the odd occasion, have even landed a blow or two in absolute passion and frustration. The truth is that there are no absolutes in sport despite which, most will never agree to disagree. The truth also is that the title of ‘great’ is all too often bandied about loosely and many a ‘great’ pretender has wilted under the glare and pressure that the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby subjects them to.
Many will remember the most famous of these, ‘Mystical’. Almost invincible, he got into a panic a few minutes before the race and was awash with sweat, suffering a shocking defeat in the process. He did go on to redeem himself with many a great victory including two in Dubai but having lost the most important race of all, will never be mentioned as the greatest ever. There are two however, that will be.
In 1978, the great trainer Rashid Byramji saddled one of the shortest priced favourites in the history of the race. ‘Squanderer’ owned by Ranjit Bhat and Indru Mirchandani, came into the race with just one defeat as a juvenile in what many believe was a controversial ride.
From there on there was no stopping him and he began a 15-win streak that has never been matched in the history of Indian horse racing. With 18 victories from 19 starts and a Triple Crown to his credit, his achievements also saw him listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Eighteen years later, Rashid Byramji was back at Mahalaxmi with yet another champion. ‘Elusive Pimpernel’ who ran in Deepak Khaitan’s silks was yet to lose a race and came into the Indian Derby with an invincible tag. Unbeaten so far, he had won the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Indian 2000 Guineas and easily won the second too when he won the the Indian Derby from his stablemate.
Rashid Byramji has always given him a slight edge over ‘Squanderer’, but many will debate that even though no one knew them as well as their master did. Elusive Pimpernel did not run the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Indian St. Leger, due to an injury and hence missed out on having one of the rarest accolades in horse racing credited to his account. However, he did win 22 from 23 starts and few will ever argue the fact that if not ‘Squanderer’, he was the greatest ever. ‘Elusive Pimpernel’ was bred by the Brar family as is ‘Sir Cecil’. Like ‘Elusive Pimpernel’, he comes into the Indian Derby with an unbeaten tag. To merit further comparison with these two greats, ‘Sir Cecil’ has much to achieve, starting with the Indian Derby.
Will he stand up to scrutiny and be counted when only the bravest and best can dig deep and find more, or will he wilt when asked the all-important question?
Come to Mahalaxmi race course this Sunday and find the answer to this question for yourself.
