The enduring charm of the Bangalore Derby

Fynbos Roars Back, Baychimo Ticks All the Marks

 

By Sharan Kumar

 

Fynbos won the Gr 1 Villoo C Poonawalla Indian Oaks on Saturday, steamrolling the opposition with such casual disdain that it left one wondering where this version had been hiding during her Indian 1000 Guineas run. For trainer Pesi Shroff, however, it was another day at the office. The Oaks has become his personal hobby, and this was win number fourteen, further reinforcing the notion that the race is less a public contest and more a private estate, complete with a velvet rope. Armed with a formidable arsenal of talent and the training acumen to deploy it, Shroff has long treated the Oaks as a leisurely stroll rather than a battlefield.

 

Yet, as the applause echoed and the stopwatch flashed a sharp 2:29.343, an inconvenient question refused to be silenced. Where exactly was this Fynbos in the Indian 1000 Guineas, where she couldn’t beat a field best described as polite rather than formidable? Trevor Patel’s subsequent two-day suspension for incompetent riding only added seasoning to the stew. Curiously, Patel was then demoted to the stable’s other runner, the raw Namiri, creating the strong impression that the jockey musical chairs may not have been entirely voluntary. Was it dissatisfaction, punishment, or something more intriguing lurking beneath the saddle cloth? Such dramatic improvement rarely appears out of thin air. Either the previous ride was an exercise in generosity to rivals, a far graver issue than a two-day holiday, or Patel has been left to shoulder responsibility for circumstances that were not entirely of his own making.

 

What is beyond debate is that Fynbos’ emphatic victory and slick timing have thrust her firmly back into Indian Derby calculations for February 1. Whether Vivek G keeps the ride, Patel stages a return, or a third name is scribbled onto the race card remains an unanswered riddle.

 

Interestingly, the bookmakers and betting public decided to treat Fynbos’ Guineas run as a clerical error and installed her a firm favourite. Namiri, despite a creditable third to Baychimo in the Indian 2000 Guineas, was allowed to drift as if that effort belonged to another horse altogether. The market, it seems, has a long memory only when it wants to forget.

 

As expected, sacrificial lamb Azalea cut out a strong pace, pursued by Namiri, with Kings Gambit, Fynbos and the rest lining up like obedient chess pieces. Turning for home, Trevor Patel pushed Namiri forward, but the move lasted barely fifty metres before Fynbos glided past with the effortless authority of a horse entering a different race altogether. She widened away to score by six lengths, Kings Gambit picking up second ahead of Dreamer, while Namiri faded to second last, prompting fresh speculation about whether this was misjudgement, misplaced loyalty, or delayed retribution. Mysore 1000 Guineas winner Ravishing Beauty added to the confusion by running a race best forgotten.

Adhirajsingh Jodha’s Baychimo, meanwhile, continued his steady march toward Derby favouritism with a commanding win in the Gr 3 Ramnarain Ramniwas Ruia Trophy. Sandesh, suspended and therefore unavailable for Derby duty, executed the now-familiar waiting game, while Baychimo sliced through the field to score in a new course record of 1:59.242, bettering the mark held by Zuccaro who is a full brother to Fynbos. Rosario ensured a searching gallop before waving goodbye, Vivek G threaded through traffic, and by the final furlong it was clear Baychimo was merely humouring the rest. Zacharias chased in vain; Gun Smoke closed late for third, and the Ruia Trophy concluded with all reputations politely preserved.

 

The Gr 3 Gool S Poonawalla Juvenile Million produced its own plot twist. Nebula, expected to dominate after her earlier heroics, was forced to work for her supper as Lady Scarlet stubbornly clung to the lead. Only in the final furlong did Nebula find top gear, swooping inside to assert superiority and underline her status among the season’s better juveniles. Lady Scarlet held second gamely, while Puccini ran on from the clouds to claim a meritorious third. Favourite Starlight Serenade finished a dismal last.

 

The Potential Champion Trophy lived up to its billing, Pride’s Prince lunging late to deny El Greco in a finish that had the judge earning his fee. Chagall set the pace, El Greco looked home, and then Pride’s Prince arrived with impeccable timing to steal the verdict on the line.

 

David Allan pulled off a neat ambush aboard Fortunatus in the Isn’t She Special Trophy, fending off the favourite Break Point, who once again found brilliance in defeat rather than victory. Miracle of Hanukah faded to third after briefly threatening.

 

The Treasure Hunt Trophy was settled not on the track but under fluorescent lights, Fontana being promoted after Esperanza rolled out in the closing stages and collected a few unwilling passengers. The Stewards needed little encouragement to uphold the objection, while a secondary protest aimed at salvaging place money was swiftly batted away.

 

Nazak Chenoy enjoyed a double, Skanda justifying strong support with a tidy win before Appalachian sprang a late surprise to lower the colours of the well-backed Gold Bar. In the lower division of the race, Applachian beat the heavily backed Gold Bar close home.

 

Bezan Chenoy rounded off proceedings when La Dolce Vita swept down the outside in the finale, leaving the market to explain why it hadn’t seen that coming. Algonquin and Ministry of Time fought it out for the second spot and finished in the order mentioned.