Supreme Princess, Aristotle are frontrunners for Derby
By Aalibaba (indiathoroughbreds@hotmail.com)

Kolkata
January 08, 2006

The 2006 Eveready Calcutta Derby Stakes (Gr.1), sponsored by Eveready Industries, may turn out to be a battle between Aristotle and Supreme Princess. This 'battle of the sexes' will feature the Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Gr.2) winner (Aristotle) and the Calcutta Oaks (Gr.3) heroine (Supreme Princess) in a fight for the Calcutta season's most coveted event. The added spice in the race comes in the form of Sanskara, Rising Force and Arturo.

Sanskara, the brilliant filly of last winter, is nowhere near her best form. She is beginning to be unruly at the sight of the starting gates, and was withdrawn from the 1,000 Guineas line-up. Although she is learning to behave herself in an orderly manner, her work schedules have been badly affected to such an extent that trainer Bharath Singh was in two minds about the filly's participation in the Derby.

Rising Force may not have the gate problem but his Bangalore summer form has gone for a toss. He performed poorly in the Pune Derby and does not seem to have regained his form in Calcutta judging by his recent performances here.

Darius Byramji’s Arturo seems to be an out and out a miler and will find it difficult in this 2400-metre event.

Supreme Princess has already passed the stamina-test, cruising to victory in the Oaks and the Daniel David-trainee is on the up and has it in her to strike it rich on Derby day.

Aristotle, the Vijay Singh-trained easy winner of the 2,000 Guineas, has been put through his paces in the company of last year's Derby winner Aperitivo. He will have the services of Christopher Alford and is fully tuned for this race. 

Finally, there is Rasalas, also from Daniel’s yard. Rasalas is a half-brother to Fiddle Faddle, an out and out stayer who came to hand late. Rasalas, on the other hand, was a big hit last winter, but he hasn’t been showing much improvement since the monsoon season.

The Derby pace is normally fast but all depends on the size of the field, though both trainers are going to ensure that it would be true run mile-and-half race. The slow pace may favour Rasalas but the fast one would get the best out of, both, Supreme Princess and Aristotle.