Late entry lands the biggest spoils

Veteran mid-card trainer G Nityanand, who finally tasted Derby success on Saturday, owes every bit of it to jockey P Trevor.

Not only did Trevor produce a masterclass performance to power The Invader to a smashing victory in the Catalyst Properties Bangalore Derby at the Bangalore Turf Club, but he also coaxed Nityanand and owners A Muniraja and N Nanda Kumar to register their four-year-old rig for the blue riband event.

Nityanand, despite winning the Manjri Stud Bangalore 2000 Guineas with The Invader (his maiden classic success) last month, initially was very reluctant. The 61-year-old was content with the triumph and felt Trevor was speaking out of adrenaline rush. He didn't believe The Invader could go shoulder to shoulder with more accomplished names in the business but Trevor was immensely confident of the horse.

Then, on January 5, Nityanand and the owners decided to take the gamble by fielding The Invader as one of the final entrants. In a sport that thrives on risk-taking, Nityanand and Co ended up taking home a bounty, winning the prize money of Rs 90,65,925.

"Trevor knows the horse well and this is the fourth time he is riding the horse. He is the one who said put a final entry. Someone has to give courage to the owner because it was a big investment. Trevor gave me the confidence first and then I gave it to the trainers," said a delighted Nityanand.

Trevor, in a rush to catch a flight to Hyderabad where he'll be piloting Arrowfield in the Golconda Derby Stakes on Sunday, said The Invader's performance in a mock run gave him the belief that he could triumph. "The horse ran very well in the 2000 Guineas. He did a good mock race after that because we had to put a final entry. So we had to take a chance. He stayed well in the mock race so we were pretty confident that he will definitely stay. He gave the same sort of feeling last time, in the 2000 Guineas.

"They are small owners and making such a big investment burns a huge hole in their pockets. I gave them the confidence that he will stay. They then decided to take the plunge. Glad it all worked out so well in the end," signed off Trevor.