It was a day reminiscent of what one would call ‘glory days’ at the Kolkata Racecourse on Sunday. The feature in the trophy-studded card was the Grade I Eveready Kolkata Derby Stakes. The 2400-metre event offered prize money of Rs 60 lakh to the winning owner. The official attendance was 17,000 and in Kolkata, big racedays at Hastings are social events as well. There was colour and more colour and most men in the members’ enclosure were attired in a jacket and a tie.   Moments before Derby Trophy Presentation   The Derby was the eighth race in the nine-contest card. A 45-minute interval between the seventh race and the Derby would have let the Derby be run on time. An objection in the seventh race pushed the clock back. Yet, nothing took away from the truly-run Derby and there was a well-deserved winner. A cursory look at the past performances led one to the inescapable conclusion that Aboline had the best chance. The Arjun Mangalorkar trainee, beaten only once in his career, had a resume that included victories in the (summer) Bangalore Derby and the Kolkata 2000 Guineas. The Burden of Proof colt had not gone beyond 2,000 metres. With the exception of Sans Pareil who had won the Kolkata Oaks, none had tried 2,400 metres. Three knowledgeable racing luminaries I chatted with expressed serious reservations about Aboline’s staying ability. Yet, that doubt did not clarify matters. Can a filly (Sans Pareil) beat the boys one more time as has been the pattern the world over in 2009? Fair Option had lost narrowly to Aboline in the 2000 Guineas and there were those who believed that the extra 800 metres would help the former avenge that defeat. Bruckner was coming into the race with two distinct advantages. Pesi Shroff, Bruckner’s trainer, was sweeping everything in his way and he was not showing signs of slowing down. Bruckner was taking on stronger company but was coming off two easily-gained Mumbai wins and was giving every indication that we had not seen his best yet. Aboline set a steady pace with Chris Alford. It was a pressure-free lead. With 800 metres to run, Aboline was keeping the margin but the others were beginning to be viable dangers. In striking range and ready to pounce, Bruckner came the shortest way around as Aboline made the run for the box. Jockey Paul Mulrennan let Bruckner loose and the Kolkata Derby had been put to bed. Bruckner, much to the delight of his backers, sped past the defenceless Aboline and made a beeline to the wire. The winning margin was six and three quarter lengths. Bruckner clocked 2 30.18 and was five and one quarter lengths ahead of Fair Option who ran on to take the runner-up berth. Aemilia was a distant third. Aboline weakened considerably and finished sixth of eight runners. By Ikhtyar (Ireland) out of Allies Serenade, Bruckner a four year-old gelding, was a 7-2 chance. I will leave the analysis of Bruckner’s blood lines to more learned friends. It was a class hike and Bruckner had no problem in taking it in his stride. There is no substitute to current form and Bruckner should be one of Pesi Shroff’s leading Indian Derby prospects. I spoke to trainer Shroff. I asked him if there was one reason that he gave him optimism given Bruckner was taking a leap of faith. I asked him to comment on Bruckner’s days leading up to the Kolkata Derby.   Kolkata Tote Board   “He (Bruckner) had been training very well. I was pleased. His two wins in Mumbai told me that there was more to come. There was a long way to go to reach his limit. His breeding, on the dam’s side, suggested that Bruckner will have no trouble doing 2,400 metres. Based on that assessment and his excellent work, the only decision I could come to was have him take his chances today. His travel to Kolkata was anything but smooth. He was held up and the delay was a serious concern. He got to Kolkata much later than I wanted. Yet, he overcame all that. He is capable of overcoming adversity.” Shroff said. I referred to Shroff’s hot hand at the moment. “I don’t worry about numbers. It is hard work and there’s a good team supporting me. It is a new beginning every day. Winning races is fine but the work goes on. You are only as good as what you can do on a given day.” Paul Mulrennan is articulate. He is friendly. We were in the paddock. I said hello. He wanted to know who I was. An introduction by Shroff followed. The ‘riders up’ announcement came. I waited for jockey Mulrennan near the weighing room after the Derby. He warmed up quickly. “I am 27. For a year or two, I had been considering riding abroad to gain experience. Fallon, Murtagh, Kinane and for that matter, Jimmy Fortune rode in India before going on to do bigger things. I became convinced that India would be a great option. As you can see, I am enjoying it and it’s working out well,” Mulrennan elaborated. I brought up the Mumbai travails. “It is something that happens and there’s nothing that I can do about it. I want to be India until the Invitation Cup. That’s the plan. I will take it on the chin and work Pesi’s horses. This race, the (Kolkata) Derby is the biggest money race I have won. It’s great. I won the Grade III Winter Derby back home,” Mulrennan spoke matter-of-factly. The supporting card provided a number of high points. Aamar Kaku made it five in a row. The Javed Khan trainee won the 2000-metre Telegraph Cup in the waning yards from Absolutely Royal. Jockey Nirmal Jodha persevered and deserves to be complimented on a fine riding job. Jockey Imran Khan worked his magic when steering three winners in a row. All the three horses are owned by Dr MAM Ramaswamy. Touch of Magic was prominent and struck the front turning for home. Celtic Charm lowered the colours of Terrazas, the odds-on favourite. Grand Madame, the 2009 Kolkata Oaks champion, returned to winning ways. That was a 107 to 1 riding triple for Imran Khan who is making a name for himself at the highest level.   View of the Grand Stand   This story will not be complete without mention of the Kolkata management team. Lt. Col. J.R. Mukherjee is the Chief Executive Officer. His hands-on style is evident in the perceptible progress that RCTC has made. Getting sponsors and keeping them is commendable. There are better creature comforts in the members’ area. New restrooms are a welcome change. There is a tote area that should be rated first class. New television sets and a good sound system make it a pleasure to see the races on monitors. Robin Corner is the General Manager and acts as a Racing Adviser. He is quiet but very effective. The fields are big and the competition keen. A large part of the credit must be placed at Mr Corner’s door. Aspey Pestonjee is the man on the go. He is everywhere. His imprint is seen in everything that goes on. In effect, he’s the Secretary of the RCTC. A word on Anit Casyab, the commentator. He is young. He’s energetic and eager to refine his skills. I loved listening to him. The objection-resolving method followed by the RCTC is one that needs emulation. It is transparent. The Stipendiary Steward’s opinion is given due importance. “We take into account if the interference had not occurred, would the outcome have been different,” explained Cyrus J Madan, the Chairman of the Stewards. Cyrus Madan is leading the RCTC to new heights. However, there’s a lot more to come. He responds to every question and every concern. He finds the time to greet people and build relationships. Cyrus is race-savvy and the practices he is instituting at the club are there to stay. I have made Kolkata a stop that I will not leave India without making. It is a trip I enjoy a great deal. The 2011 Kolkata Derby is a blip in the large screen. Given what Hastings is today and the promise it holds, I am already thinking of my 2011 journey.

[News Around Archives]

Rate this review	Any comments ?
Excellent Good Average Poor	Name Email Comments