Aristotle (C.Alford up), winner of the Eveready Calcutta Derby Stakes (Gr.1) being led in by trainer Mr.Vijay Singh

Aristotle wins Derby, heads for Mumbai
By Aalibaba (indiathoroughbreds@hotmail.com)

Kolkata
January 08, 2006

The piping hot favourite Aristotle had to sweat it out to beat Arturo in the Eveready Calcutta Derby Stakes (Gr.1) last Sunday. The Deepak Khaitan-property was considered a cut above the rest in a field of eight but his owner-mate, Arturo, from Darius Byramji’s yard nearly spoiled trainer Vijay Singh’s party.

There was no hard luck story in the race barring Sanskara taking a slow jump out to lose six lengths at the start, and Rising Force clipping the heels of the early leader, Clockwork, to badly stumble.

In any case, they hardly got a chance to recover after losing the early initiative as it was a fast run Derby.

The timing of 2 minutes 30.5 clocked by the winner was fractionally slower than the course record of 2 minutes and 30.1 seconds set by the great Elusive Pimpernel a decade ago. Clockwork, Star Phoenix and Rasalas were three horses who made it possible, changing the lead during the course of 2,400m journey to ensure that it was a true run Derby with stamina and speed of all runners tested to the fullest.

The race took a serious turn 350m from home when Rasalas enjoyed a two-length lead over Arturo with the 6-10 favourite alongside him. At the distance-post the three were almost together in a line leaving B.Prakash to work extra hard on the filly, Supreme Princess, about three lengths behind. Rasalas cried off from the fray in the next 50m and stage was set for an engaging duel between the Khaitan owned duo. Arturo was a neck in front as they went stride for stride but in the final 50m Alford managed to get something extra from the favourite for a longneck victory.

With the Derby over, the star performers now leave for bigger honours. While Aristotle will be heading for the western India’s plums, including the Derby, Arturo returns to his home base with the Bangalore Derby and the Turf Invitation Cup as his prime targets.

The afternoon was otherwise dominated by trainers Javed Khan and Daniel David. The two trainers notched up a treble apiece in the eight-event card. Javed’s was a very lucrative effort not only because each of his three was a priced winner but also because his count included the Alokananda Stakes, a terms event for his young filly Chitralekha. The Serious Splendour-Bahia Blanca daughter had an impressive second to Amber Glory and she reproduced the performance with equal élan. The 5-1 chance waited behind leaders Lasting Love and Star Cluster until a furlong from home before striding clear of the second named horse and a late finishing favourite, Aerona, who badly needed the run.

Javed’s Aag surprised with her acceleration, which was missing in her earlier starts. She drew away from the field like a jet fitted craft winning the 1,600m Bahrain Trophy a long way from home. Proud Native, the 4-10 hot favourite in the race was not even a shade of his past as he lurked in the mid-division to finally place a poor fourth behind a moody Way To The Stars and Corvino.

Kandinisky completed Javed’s day’s tally with a fluent start-to-finish victory in the Brave Dancer Cup over 1,100 metres. The speedy son of Tecorno out of Amidst was taken to the front by apprentice Jugnu Gurang with a length lead but skated clear of his rivals 300m from home to frustrate Imran Chisty riding the 7-10 favourite Hunter’s Paradise who was always in chase of the 7-1 shot.

Daniel’s quest for the Derby Day winners begun with Pradip Chauhan guiding the Dr MAM Ramaswamy’s 6-4 favourite Star Memories to a start-to-finish victory over her owner-mate Renegade. The two horses played a cat-and-mouse game from the start but Star Memories authority was never in doubt. The Steinbeck-Acrual daughter may strike again, even over an extended course.

Regal Empress and Retained Asset, who had an ordinary monsoon season, were back to their last winter’s form. They won their respective events – the 1,200m Zara Shah Cup and the 1,400m Psychic Flame Cup – in businesslike manner. While Regal Empress gave all round weight and beating to her seven rivals, Retained Asset made no heavy weather of a jumped Class – from three to one – when the Warrshan-Autumn Affair four-year-old had the measure of Daring Don and Senor Pele – both seasoned campaigners.

Farley Rodrigues' Pacific Beauty cashed in on her recent form winning the 1,100m Voluntary Cup with an equal facile manner to indicate that she is in line for a hat-trick of wins.