Giant-slaying has been the norm in recent editions of the Indian Derby. Several names come readily to mind. Mystical could do no better than be third in 2006. Southern Empire could not catch his stablemate, Diabolical in 2007. Bourbon King was a disappointment in 2008. The 2009 Indian Derby, in the opinion of many a pundit, was a formality for Set Alight. The Razeen filly came into the Blue Riband with impeccable credentials and was backed to the exclusion of her rivals. Antonios lowered the colours of Pesi Shroff’s prize charge. Are we in a similar setting? Given the results of the past four years, supporters of Jacqueline need to step back, catch their breath and give the Derby a long look. Yes, on paper, the King Charlemagne filly will be hard to down. Her record, three Classics in her bag including the 2000 Guineas in which she taught her male counterparts a stern pacing lesson, makes it easy to make a case for her. She is consistent. There is not one subpar race in her performance lines. She can be placed anywhere at any stage of a race. Her acceleration is remarkable. Is there a chink in her armour? One may have to work overtime and yet, may come away without finding one. Let us consider Bruckner. He may have come to hand late but he has made marvellous progress. Jockey Paul Mulrennan heaped praise on Bruckner after the pair ran away with the Kolkata Derby. He is not in the same league as Jacqueline but he is, without question, on an upward curve. Can he take his game to a much higher level? Onassis has reeled off three wins in a row. Two months ago, he was just another four year-old. His win in the Ruia Gold Cup, a 2000-metre race, was gained with a fluent rally in the lane. It is believed that Onassis has not been exposed fully. The Shroff trainee should not have any trouble getting the Derby distance. He is fine fettle. Kieren Fallon flies to Mumbai after fulfilling his commitments at the Meydan on Friday. Fallon is an excellent big race rider. He knows Mahalakshmi. Astral Flash has been playing second fiddle to her illustrious stablemate. Trainer Shroff feels that Astral Flash’s moment in the sun is coming soon. Trainer Padmanabhan comes into the Indian Derby doublehanded. Classerville made a promising start to his career by winning his first two starts. He has had a succession of losses but his race in the Deccan Derby at Malakpet last Sunday has generated new optimism in the Padmanabhan camp. David Allan set the pace and for a moment or two, looked like making it before yielding to Arabian Prince who had stalked the pace. Classerville has to move up a notch or two to deal with the likes of Jacqueline and has to come up with another good effort in a seven-day span. Becket carries the hopes of trainer Padmanabhan. The apple of his trainer’s eye, Becket has raced four times and is unblemished and now goes into the fifth start of his career, the Indian Derby. Becket’s travails are well documented. Given his victory in a handicap and the sparkling showing in the Bangalore Derby, it is clear that any problems Becket may have encountered are things of the past. Padmanabhan has his sights set firmly on the big prize. He exuded optimism in a conversation with me soon after the Bangalore Derby. “Becket has enormous potential. I am hopeful we will see him in his best light in the Indian Derby,” Padmanabhan said. Native Knight is a maiden. He has chased Versaki. He has chased Jacqueline. He has followed Onassis home. Trainer Narendra Lagad does not mince words. He is fully aware of what lies ahead but that has not diminished his confidence. Olivier Peslier is not coming. Silvestre de Sousa, the 2009 Derby riding hero, gets the leg up. There are others in the field. They have not been mentioned. They figure to be outsiders. Any one of them could have the last laugh. The Derby field has some future stars. There are several jockeys of international calibre. What is my pick? It is hard to go against Jacqueline. A case may be made for another four year-old but it takes a lot of courage to wager against the streaking filly. I remember what Richard Hughes told me in Bangalore. “Pesi must get credit for keeping Jacqueline in such good form. She has done everything right. Especially with a filly, one has to take one race at a time. The Derby will be a tough test for her, tougher than any race so far. Am I confident? Yes, I am.” I expect a solid pace. The faster it is, the better it is for Jacqueline. Becket likes to lay in mid-division. A fast pace will suit him too. Onassis and Bruckner should be close to the top. In a 12-horse field, I believe there will be no hard luck stories.

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