B R Sharan Kumar

  Poonawalla Million: Speed, Glory, Mayhem!   By Sharan Kumar   The Gr 1 Poonawalla Multi-Million , the grandest stage for juveniles and second only to the Indian Derby in terms of glitz, glamour, and the number of designer handbags per square foot, is upon us. This isn’t just a race—it’s an event , where the who’s who of high society descend upon the racecourse, some for the thrill of speed and others just to be seen. Thanks to Zavaray Poonawalla , who ensures this spectacle stays in the limelight, the race has once again drawn a full house— 16 hopefuls, each dreaming of stardom .   The problem? Most of them are still figuring out how their legs work. These babies are at an age where they either turn into the next superstar or spend their careers impersonating a fancy lawn ornament. Some arrive with flashy credentials, others have barely proved they belong, and a few were probably entered on a whim. But that’s the beauty of it— chaos and unpredictabili...

  Permanent Invitee Status should go to the deserving   By Sharan Kumar   The Indian Turf Invitation Cup weekend—just a fortnight away, and along with the races, we get the much-anticipated tradition of nominating a worthy soul to the Hall of Fame. Now, in an ideal world, this honour would go to someone with undeniable charisma, a significant contribution to the sport, and the ability to elevate horse racing through sheer influence. But, as we all know, ideals are for dreamers.   Historically, even politicians—those with a “keen interest” in the sport—have managed to worm their way into the Hall of Fame, thanks to their “invaluable” knack for rubbing elbows with the government. Case in point: the Bangalore Turf Club once decided to honour actor-turned-politician Ambareesh. His dominating presence and political muscle certainly proved useful for the club, not to mention his enthusiastic participation in the races, his horse ownership, and the extra glamour...

  Stewards display a sea of cluelessness   By Sharan Kumar   The last race of the day at Bangalore on Friday was quite the spectacle—though not for reasons one might expect from an actual horse race. Oxytocin, a horse with a track record of  miraculously  avoiding scrutiny despite her dubious past performances, finally won a race. However, the victory came with a side of chaos, courtesy of jockey Ramu, who appeared to be riding on the assumption that steering was optional. He gleefully cut across half the field, tightening up a group of unsuspecting jockeys on the inside, creating a situation that could have resulted in a pile-up worthy of a demolition derby.     Fortunately, the unfortunate victims of this reckless manoeuvre were seasoned jockeys with reflexes sharper than the Stewards’ understanding of their own rulebook. They somehow managed to stay upright, preventing a disaster that could have turned the track into an emergency room....

  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 ...

  Pesi Shroff redefines winning Derbys as a way of life   By Sharan Kumar   Show me the Derby, and I’ll take it home” might as well be engraved on Pesi Shroff’s coat of arms—if he ever needed one. Winning Derbies at every racing centre isn’t just a habit for Shroff; it’s practically a reflex. He doesn’t just win them; he collects them like stamps, except instead of sticking them in a book, he puts them on his trophy shelf with the casual ease of someone rearranging furniture.   As a jockey, Shroff won more Derbies than most riders could even dream of participating in. Now, as a trainer, he’s proving that excellence doesn’t just fade with time—it evolves. With total dedication bordering on obsession (he might as well live in the stable), and armed with a battalion of blue-blooded horses, Shroff has turned Derby-winning into a boringly predictable routine. His results? Monotonously brilliant, year after year. It’s the kind of monotony everyone dreams of hav...

  BTC masters Art of Drifting; Racing spirals into chaos   By Sharan Kumar The Bangalore Turf Club seems to have perfected the fine art of drifting—drifting so far, in fact, that it’s becoming a spectator sport in itself. The committee, a delightful mix of elected members and those coopted (especially since the previous committee was forced to quit in disgrace, with the license to conduct racing operations hanging by a thread after countless allegations of “unexpected happenings”, appears to be spectacularly allergic to decisive action. If racing governance were a race, this lot would stumble at the starting gate, adjust their binoculars, and then engage in a heated debate about who left the gates open, all while the sport gallops headlong into chaos.   Each week, the Stipes churn out reports as predictable as a B-grade soap opera: “Explanations noted for future reference.” Future reference? Is there some mythical archive of notes collecting dust in a secret chamb...

  Knotty Legend battles pain, drama, Rodey to clinch Derby   By Sharan Kumar   Knotty Legend’s victory in the Gr 1 HPSL South India Derby may have been predictable, but the drama surrounding it was anything but. The gritty colt, who returned to the track with what turned out to be a career-ending injury, displayed the heart of a champion, battling discomfort with the determination of a soldier marching into battle. Knotty Legend held off the late but ultimately futile challenge of final entry Rodney to claim the crown jewel of Chennai racing on Tuesday. But, as they say, no good story is complete without a dose of controversy.   The “huge team” behind Knotty Legend had to endure an agonizing wait as the Stewards poured over an objection lodged by Rodney’s rider, Alex Rozario. The rookie jockey, backed by trainer Irfan Ghatala, fought tooth and nail to snatch the race in the Stewards’ room after failing to do so on the track. Spirited arguments flew, tempe...

  Psychic Star dazzles as Usha Stud rewrites the rulebook   By Sharan Kumar   The Indian Oaks, Usha Stud Farm, and trainer Pesi Shroff—horse racing’s most overplayed anthem—struck yet another chord of predictability, as Psychic Star cruised to victory in the Gr 1 Villoo Poonawalla Indian Oaks, the third classic of the season at Mahalakshmi on Sunday. This annual spectacle of dominance is less a competition and more a recurring episode in the long-running series titled Pesi’ s Unstoppable Winning Streak . Swap out the horse, rinse, repeat. The race? A mere formality—like checking the box on inevitability.   The 2024 edition brought us Psychic Star, a filly with a pedigree that practically demands a trophy room. Her dam, Psychic Light, had already gifted racing royalty in Immortality, a dual crown winner who snatched both the Indian Oaks and the Indian Derby. Psychic Star, clearly not content living in anyone’s shadow, has already added the Indian 1000 Guineas and th...