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The Kunigal Stud Farm retained its stranglehold on the title of being the Leading Stud Farm during the Bangalore Winter Season 2009-10. For the seventh consecutive year, it emerged at the top of the seasonal tallies. What was more significant was the score this season. By winning 46 races, The Kunigal Stud farm set an all-time record for the number of winners coming from a single breeding establishment. With some of the finest specimens racing at this centre, it is really tough to win a race. The huge score speaks volumes of the domination of Kunigal-bred horses at Bangalore.
Being the backbone of Dr Vijay Mallya's racing activities, the farm has grown over a period of time. Despite being one of the oldest stud farms in the country, it houses the most modern facilities. Led by a top class team of professionals and veterinary doctors, the farm produces about 60 horses every year. The farm operates on a self sustainable model, wherein half the horses are retained for racing while the other half are sold to its regular patrons. The management of this farm is equally delighted when horses bred at this farm win in the colours of those other than Dr Mallya's. Many Classics in the past one year were won by horses bred and sold by them.
The year 2009 was quite special for Dr Vijay Mallya. It was after a long time that he scored a century of winners in a single calendar year. Sans Pareil completed this milestone by winning the Calcutta Oaks during the end of December. Even though it took him more than a decade to replicate this feat, the earlier one being in 1996, it was the more significant of the two. The breeding industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last ten years, and the competition has become fierce. Good horses, versatile trainers and talented jockeys constitute a winning combination. The charismatic billionaire has always believed in retaining the best in the business, and that is the main reason of his domination of the sport. It was natural for him to emerge as the leading individual owner during Bangalore Winter Season. With both Dhariwal and Suleiman Attaolahi scoring frequently, the famous colours were seen to advantage on the local track. With most of his horses winning as public choices, Dr Vijay Mallya received the adulation of the racing fraternity.
The present crop of three year-olds from this farm has thrown up some wonderful prospects. Dhariwal's pair of Aprillia and Siachen, Prithviraj's Eagle Claws and Irfan Ghatala's Tsavorite are amongst the top first season performers. All the four fillies won their maiden races with ease. Aprillia and Tsavorite have progressed further, while the other two are set to reappear and dominate the Summer Season. The superb looks of Tsavorite and Eagle Claws are a compliment to the Kunigal Stud Farm. Both of them have furnished beautifully, and look majestic while being paraded alongside some fashionably bred runners in the paddock.
The Farm has decided against sending wonder filly Set Alight to a foreign location for breeding. The management has decided to keep her back, and breed her to Burden Of Proof. It will be an exciting prospect to see her foals racing in India. Burden Of Proof has shown that he is a versatile sire. His progeny respond to training and are equally effective over longer distances.
With everything moving like a well oiled machine, The Kunigal Stud farm is set to achive bigger and higher goals. However, a threat of removal from their present premises hovers overhead. The Railway Ministry has made plans for a new line on the Bangalore Hassan sector. This line is designed to pass through the Kunigal Stud Farm. Efforts are being made to ensure that such a thing does not happen, and the activities at this farm are allowed to continue peacefully.
