The draw factor in Kingfisher Derby
The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby has been in the news for more reasons than one. While there is speculation about the fate of Bangalore Turf Club and its continuance beyond December 31, 2009 due to government order asking the club to vacate its premises without an alternative facility available, there is also talk whether this would be the last Derby that BTC would host There is no reason to be cynical at this stage and BTC may still wriggle out of the crisis and get an extended life line. At this point of time, the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby takes centre stage as the biggest racing event of the calendar is scheduled for Sunday.
Interestingly, the Derby has attracted the largest field ever in the history of racing in Bangalore. This is so because the track cannot take any more horses as the starting gates cannot be spread out farther than this. The big field has brought in its wake certain logistical problems for the horses taking part in the fray. The draw has been rather unfavorable to the fancied runners. While those who are in the fray more in hope than with any real expectation, have all got good, inside draws, the ones which are in the focus like Aboline, Jacqueline and Gypsy Magic have been drawn the widest. May be the turf club could at a later day give a thought to the idea of grouping the top performers in the middle draws like they do in swimming. As champion jockey turned trainer Pesi Shroff put it aptly, since one cannot change the draw, one has to go with it and hope for the best. ``Luck of the race as also the draw number may have an adverse effect on merit surfacing,’’ he said while adding that ``a good horse is one which has no excuses’’.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has always said that he makes no excuses for the defeat of his wards. He sends his wards fully fit and he does not mind his horses racing from the front or behind. He has the success and the reputation for any one aspiring to be a champion to take his words seriously. We have all been guilty of finding excuses for the defeat of a champion and the professionals are past masters at this art. Barring the first tricky bend where will be jostling to hold positions, the draw should not adversely affect the chances of a good horse if the jockey is up to it. As some one humorously it, the only way to avoid a bad draw and traffic congestion is to take the fly over!
Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar’s disappointment was there for all to see when he picked post 18 for his horse Aboline at the Derby draw where the glamorous Minisha Lamba was present to help decide the order of trainers and the connections of horses coming to pick the numbers. Zavaray Poonawalla desperately wanted number 9 which he considers lucky but in his three attempts, he failed to get the desired number for horses which he has in partnership, racing in the Derby. Sharmila Padmanabhan drew number 17 for Gypsy Magic. Jacqueline got 14 while Mystic Quest will jump off from post number 13. Among the horses which are reckoned to have a chance, Classerville got a favorable 4, Astral Flash 5 and Polish Patriot 7. Sprint Star got 11. The lesser fancied ones were clubbed closer to the rails.
Pesi Shroff, who has won the Kingfisher many times as a jockey and also as a trainer last year through Set Alight, said that luck of the race, more than the draw, which could have a crucial bearing on the result. ``I am sure most of the trainers of fancied runners would ask their jockeys to hold good positions up front. The 18 horses field is not big in normal circumstances but because of the tightness of the track and the mile and quarter trip, one has to be wary of the field,’’ he added. ``Jacqueline has improved a lot and should be right there. Astral Flash has been working well though she missed a race in the intervening period due to a mild setback, he added.
Trainer Padmanabhan said that he is not unduly worried about the draw. Getting a good draw is good but then in racing, you cannot have everything your way. A good horse and a good jockey will overcome the disadvantages. What you need most in a horse is the ability and a jockey to exploit it during the race without making mistakes. All my three runners are in good shape and I would be happy if any one of them pulls it off.
Interestingly, the Derby has attracted the largest field ever in the history of racing in Bangalore. This is so because the track cannot take any more horses as the starting gates cannot be spread out farther than this. The big field has brought in its wake certain logistical problems for the horses taking part in the fray. The draw has been rather unfavorable to the fancied runners. While those who are in the fray more in hope than with any real expectation, have all got good, inside draws, the ones which are in the focus like Aboline, Jacqueline and Gypsy Magic have been drawn the widest. May be the turf club could at a later day give a thought to the idea of grouping the top performers in the middle draws like they do in swimming. As champion jockey turned trainer Pesi Shroff put it aptly, since one cannot change the draw, one has to go with it and hope for the best. ``Luck of the race as also the draw number may have an adverse effect on merit surfacing,’’ he said while adding that ``a good horse is one which has no excuses’’.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has always said that he makes no excuses for the defeat of his wards. He sends his wards fully fit and he does not mind his horses racing from the front or behind. He has the success and the reputation for any one aspiring to be a champion to take his words seriously. We have all been guilty of finding excuses for the defeat of a champion and the professionals are past masters at this art. Barring the first tricky bend where will be jostling to hold positions, the draw should not adversely affect the chances of a good horse if the jockey is up to it. As some one humorously it, the only way to avoid a bad draw and traffic congestion is to take the fly over!
Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar’s disappointment was there for all to see when he picked post 18 for his horse Aboline at the Derby draw where the glamorous Minisha Lamba was present to help decide the order of trainers and the connections of horses coming to pick the numbers. Zavaray Poonawalla desperately wanted number 9 which he considers lucky but in his three attempts, he failed to get the desired number for horses which he has in partnership, racing in the Derby. Sharmila Padmanabhan drew number 17 for Gypsy Magic. Jacqueline got 14 while Mystic Quest will jump off from post number 13. Among the horses which are reckoned to have a chance, Classerville got a favorable 4, Astral Flash 5 and Polish Patriot 7. Sprint Star got 11. The lesser fancied ones were clubbed closer to the rails.
Pesi Shroff, who has won the Kingfisher many times as a jockey and also as a trainer last year through Set Alight, said that luck of the race, more than the draw, which could have a crucial bearing on the result. ``I am sure most of the trainers of fancied runners would ask their jockeys to hold good positions up front. The 18 horses field is not big in normal circumstances but because of the tightness of the track and the mile and quarter trip, one has to be wary of the field,’’ he added. ``Jacqueline has improved a lot and should be right there. Astral Flash has been working well though she missed a race in the intervening period due to a mild setback, he added.
Trainer Padmanabhan said that he is not unduly worried about the draw. Getting a good draw is good but then in racing, you cannot have everything your way. A good horse and a good jockey will overcome the disadvantages. What you need most in a horse is the ability and a jockey to exploit it during the race without making mistakes. All my three runners are in good shape and I would be happy if any one of them pulls it off.
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