Horse racing: Close fight between Redefined and Ranquelino

Bengaluru: A niggling issue with the Bangalore Winter Derby is it’s scheduling. With Bangalore Turf Club authorities sticking to the longstanding tradition of conducting it on Republic Day, a week from the Indian Derby, a majority of the owners prefer to showcase their best horses in Mumbai rather than the Garden City.

So unlike the Summer Derby in July here, one of the richest races in the country that attracts the creme de la creme, the Winter Derby is a somewhat subdued affair. The script is no different this time too with the top guns eyeing the spoils at the Mahalaxmi Race Course next weekend. The buzz too was missing at the draw of lots ceremony on Thursday here with many of the trainers/ owners missing for various reasons, quite unlike the marquee summer event where most are in attendance.     

Having said that, a good amount of talent still has been assembled for the HPSL Bangalore Derby — the marquee event over 2400 metres — and racing aficionados in their Sunday best will be flocking the BTC with the tickets sold-out two days in advance.

The pre-race prediction in the nine-horse field is a tough fight between two in-form geldings — Redefined and Ranquelino. Mumbai-based Redefined, to be ridden by Akshay Kumar and trained by Prasanna Kumar, arrives in Bengaluru on a high, having won the HPSL Pune Derby over 2000m last October and the SA Poonawalla Million over eight furlongs a month before, also in Pune. The four-year old has won three times in five starts and although he hasn’t competed since the Pune Derby triumph, he’s well rested and raring to complete a hat-trick that would enhance his credentials.

Right next to Redefined is fellow Manjri Stud Farm’s Ranquelino, the four-year old to be ridden by A Sandesh and trained by Darius R Byramji. Like Redefined, Ranquelino too has been in ominous touch, having won in his last two starts — the Bangalore 2000 Guineas and V Venugopal Naidu Memorial.

What gives Ranquelino a slight edge over Redefined is his experience in big events, having finished second in the HPSL Calcutta Colts Trials Stakes and Mysore Colts Trial Stakes — both over 1400m. In big events, nothing substitutes experience and although Ranquelino came up second best, top jockey Sandesh knows how to correct them and no better than Derby day to rectify it.

The trio of Mandarino, Excellent Lass and Magnetic too have the potential to spring a surprise and emerge champions in a race some pundits are calling the most open Winter Derby in recent memory. Mandarino (astride L Alex Rozario) finished second in the Bangalore 2000 Guineas after having won the Cubic Mysore Derby last October.

Excellent Lass, to be ridden by the irrepressible Suraj Narredu, was in great form last year, finishing second in the Summer Derby here before developing bad habits and tailing off. The Narredus are confident those issues have been addressed and the filly is ready to rock again. And watch out for South India Oaks winner Magnetic, to be ridden by Yash Narredu.