Favourites Falter on a Fierce Derby Day

 

By Sharan Kumar

 

If Derby Day at Hyderabad was supposed to be the punters’ paradise, it turned instead into their subscription to despair. The so-called “on-money certainties” folded faster than umbrellas after a drizzle, while longshots danced away with the spoils. Still, amid the chaos and crushed tickets, Donald Netto’s Nonpariel stood tall — and true to her name, proved simply without equal.

 

The Turf Authorities of India Cup (1400m) for the elite lot turned into Nonpariel’s personal exhibition gallop. The Dali progeny, carrying apprentice Sonu Kumar who rode with calm assurance, looked in total command — well, except for that fleeting moment in the final furlong when Diablo threatened to play spoilsport. The front-runner briefly shook off Nonpariel and looked home free until he decided to drift. Sonu needed no second invitation — he straightened his mount, pressed the button, and Nonpariel responded like a rocket, winning her sixth straight without breaking a sweat. Uchchaihshravas, carrying the hopes of Sanskrit scholars and punters alike, failed to live up to his divine lineage and trudged home third.

 

If that was domination, what followed was drama. In the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd Cup (1100m), Petaluma decided to play peekaboo with everyone’s nerves. Drawn widest of all and shoved back early, she looked deader than a dud bet at the bend. But jockey Vivek G apparently had other ideas. Petaluma gathered herself, produced a flying finish, and mugged Arion One, Emerald Touch, and Life’s Journey in the final strides. It was less a win and more a jailbreak.

 

Then came the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Cup (Div I), where Miss Maya wrote her own mythology. High Speed Dive lived up to only half his name — plenty of speed early, then a nosedive later. Miss Maya, spotting them daylight and more, flew home like she’d just been told the race was for her inheritance. She caught High Speed Dive on the post, while Star Forever came from another postal zone to finish third.

 

The lower division of the same race was no kinder to favourites. Timeless Vision, the Mumbai hotshot, led them into the straight before sending out an SOS signal visible from space. NRI Sport grabbed the lead, but the real shock came when Cherie Chevalier, who’d been sightseeing at the back, turned on the afterburners. Under Sai Kumar, she flew past the lot and won by daylight — three widening lengths. Timeless Vision could only admire her tail, finishing a distant third.

 

The theme of the afternoon was simple: expect the unexpected. Turiya, backed to the exclusion of reason in the Mysore Race Club Cup (1200m) despite a dismal Mysore run, looked home and hosed — until Safala from Magan Singh Parmar’s yard decided she’d had enough of playing second fiddle. Mukesh Kumar’s powerful finish sealed the deal, leaving NRI Range a distant third and the punters at their wits end.

 

If that wasn’t enough punishment, the Madras Race Club Cup (1800m) delivered the knockout. The heavily fancied Miss Smiley Angel was all frown and no flight, finishing in distress somewhere near the commentary box. Prasad Raju’s Black Dust, ignored in the betting ring, turned into a whirlwind down the final furlong to score an emphatic win over Onslaught and Misty Night.

 

The third race of the day brought no respite for the favourites. Just when the crowd thought things couldn’t get worse, Take A Breath in the Bangalore Turf Club Cup (1800m) decided to take the advice literally — and never exhaled. The hot favourite cut a lonely figure in front until Alcohol Free breezed past, leaving him gasping for air and answers. Nkalanzinzi trailed in third, nine lengths adrift and possibly still running.

 

The day began as it ended — unpredictably. In the opener, the Delhi Race Club Cup (1400m), NRI Star made light work of the field to win by five lengths, while Rani Ruckus lived up to half her name — she brought the ruckus to the betting ring, not the racetrack.

 

By the end of the day, the bookmakers were all smiles, and the punters clung to their losing tickets like sacred relics. The lesson? On Derby Day, it’s not records that get broken — it’s hearts.

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