B R Sharan Kumar

  Importance of Promoting the Sport   By Sharan Kumar   Indian racing authorities have long struggled to promote the sport effectively. Many prefer the status quo, resisting change even as attendance dwindles and racing quality deteriorates under the influence of betting syndicates. Clubs like the Bangalore Turf Club are particularly adept at making racegoers feel unwelcome, imposing unreasonable restrictions while offering subpar facilities despite charging exorbitant entry fees. Apart from the Derby, which draws crowds due to its inherent prestige, most clubs have failed to attract new patrons, leading to a stagnant, ageing audience and a declining sport.   In contrast, the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) at least makes an effort to promote its events, particularly the Indian Derby. And what an event it is! The Indian Derby is not just a race; it’s a spectacle, an annual parade of high fashion, high stakes, and, occasionally, high drama. It’s th...

Oisin Murphy: A Jockey at Heart, An Adventurer by Passion   By Sharan Kumar It was an absolute privilege to chat with Oisin Murphy, the English champion jockey who’s already racked up four championship titles before hitting his thirties. Seriously, what’s next? This guy’s done it all – and in four languages to boot! Irish, English, French, and German – if you ever need a translator who’s won races on four continents, Oisin's your guy. A true gentleman, he gladly answered every question, despite his superstar status which could’ve made him act too busy for it. But Oisin stayed humble. Of course, fame came with its challenges. Achieving legendary status that early means you’re under the spotlight 24/7, and Oisin found himself weighed down by the heavy expectations – leading to a few off-track infractions. A couple of suspensions here, a few questionable decisions there – the usual stuff when you're too busy being a global sensation. But here’s where it gets interesting – Oisin...

  Ranquelino triumphs in chaotic Indian Derby   By Sharan Kumar   If you were expecting a textbook Derby where class, pedigree, and logic prevailed—well, think again. The Gr 1 HPSL Indian Derby at Mahalakshmi on Sunday turned into a chaotic spectacle that could give a Shakespearean tragedy a run for its money. The only thing that didn’t defy expectations was Bangalore Derby winner Ranquelino, bred at the Shapoor Mistry owned Manjri Stud Farm, who strutted onto the stage, unfazed by a gruelling one-week turnaround, and coolly picked off his rivals as if they were practice cones on a morning gallop.   Pesi Shroff’s Santissimo was widely regarded as the most talented horse in the race, but his stamina was a major concern. As the son of Gusto, a sire known more for speed than endurance, he had never run the Derby distance before. That concern proved valid as he struggled to stay the course when the race took an unexpected turn.   Expectations of a cl...

  Santissimo’s Derby quest: Can class outrun stamina?"   By Sharan Kumar   Pesi Shroff-trained  Santissimo  has built up an imposing reputation—so imposing that the Indian Derby might just need to roll out the red carpet in his honour. Of course, there’s a minor detail: the Derby’s mile-and-a-half trip is an unknown frontier. You know, the kind where class strides into the limelight but quietly whispers to stamina, "Don’t let me down."   Santissimo’s sire, Gusto , has a habit of producing impressively consistent sprinter-milers—think of them as Formula 1 cars that occasionally fancy a rally course. Yet, the stallion has surprised with two progeny, Evaldo and Knotty Legend , proving their worth over the Derby’s demanding trip. As for Santissimo, well, he hasn’t won beyond a mile yet but gave us a jaw-dropping clock-busting performance in a mock race over 2000 metres. Sure, it was a mock race where the pace is as scripted as a Bollywood climax. ...

 The Indian Derby: Triumph, Turmoil, and Tall Tales   By Sharan Kumar   The Indian Derby is the ultimate battleground where India’s finest equine athletes clash for glory—until, of course, reality bites and the so-called “unbeatable” contenders find themselves eating dust. After a barrage of Derby races across the country (because one just isn’t enough, apparently), the grand spectacle in Mumbai finally takes shape.   But if history has taught us anything, it’s that being a favourite in the Indian Derby is the racing equivalent of carrying a ticking time bomb. Legends-in-the-making like Mystical, Southern Empire, and Set Alight waltzed into Mahalaxmi with sky-high expectations, only to be humbled by fate—or, more accurately, by bad luck, bad legs, or bad riding. If there’s one thing the Indian Derby guarantees, it’s surprises, upsets, and a truckload of shattered egos.   Speaking of challenges, the road to the Derby is hardly a smooth gallop. The...

  Ranquelino stakes his claim for Indian Derby glory   By B R Sharan Kumar   Darius Byramji-trained Ranquelino proved he wasn’t just a flash in the pan but a full-blown thunderstorm as he stormed home in the HPSL Bangalore Derby, the biggest event of Bangalore Winter Racing Season on Sunday. Everything aligned perfectly for this emerging superstar: a meticulous training regimen, a penchant for the mile-and-a-half trip, and a turn of foot that could make even seasoned sprinters blush. Add to the mix jockey Sandesh, whose career graph is climbing faster than a Derby-winning colt, and you had a recipe for a smashing success.   The Manjri Stud Farm-bred son of Fiero left no room for doubt, relegating the Prasanna Kumar-trained favourite, Redefined, to the role of an also-ran. Redefined, another product of Manjri's stellar breeding program, carries the legacy of the late Phoenix Tower, who seemed to specialize in producing sprinter-miler types. While Phoenix ...