Velvet Rope (P.Kamlesh up), winner of 
the McDowell Indian Derby (Gr.1) 
being led in by owner Mr. Shiven Surendranath & trainer Vinayak

Velvet Rope tricks Holding Court, Mystical 
By True Blue

Mumbai

Feb
05, 2006

Going by classic race standards, a close finish rarely intrigues the audience. Yet when the eleven horses moved into the starting stalls for the 64th edition of the Indian Derby on Sunday, none expected a three-way pulsating finish for the Blue Riband of Indian racing.
It was a finish that made the day of the holiday crowd that was in attendance at Mahalaxmi to watch the widely publicised sporting cum social event of the year. 

There were countless people, uninitiated to the sport who relished the pulsating finale of the McDowell Indian Derby, sponsored by the flagship company of Dr Vijay Mallya’s UB Group, in homely comfort. The telecast of the Indian Derby was beamed live to their homes courtesy Ten Sports.

The crowd went in raptures as the final lap of the journey started and the ultimate finish provided them an awesome experience.

After peeping through the Derby window, all first-timers to Mahalaxmi got a glimpse of what horse-racing actually is. They all returned to their shelters assured with the knowledge that horse-racing is not all about gambling.

Digressing for a moment, RWITC committee member Vivek Jain deserves a word of mention for chasing the media for that extra bit of space in support of the grand event and which helped attract a record crowd at Mahalaxmi. The unprecedented coverage accorded by the print media proved to be the source of inspiration for several television news channels and it was amazing to see the respective crew members trying to outsmart each other. Take a bow Vivek.

Admiral Force embarked on his regular pace-making mission but with a difference. He went at a faster clip than ever before with the apparent intent of unsettling Mystical’s rivals. Although this pace was to the liking of Mystical, the blistering pace of the race made scores of racegoers nervous by half-time.

The Indian Oaks winner Romantic Liaison became first victim of the pace as she got burnt out chasing Admiral Force into the straight. Holding Court was the first to enter the straight and Mystical not far off. Niall McCullagh launched Holding Court and attempted to steal a march.

At this stage B. Prakash thought it was time for Mystical to stage his entry. He came with an energetic effort and closed in on Holding Court. Victory seemed to be within reach. But P. Kamlesh ridden Velvet Rope had other ideas. The son of Turtle Island out of Truffa, foaled at Sultan Singh’s Sohna Stud Farm, unleashed the fastest surge of his life and gained his moment in the sun.

There was nothing exceptional in the strategy adopted by the connections of Velvet Rope except sticking to the basics of the game. They all knew that Mystical has a pacemaker and he will definitely bring him safely into the home stretch. Kamlesh just had to follow Mystical for this to happen.

It all seemed like a fairy tale when Velvet Rope found both Mystical and Holding Court within striking distance opposite the grand stands. Kamlesh first dealt a fatal blow to Mystical’s chances and then joined the issue with Holding Court.

A fierce battle ensued. It was an eye-ball to eye-ball contest between the two and none willing to blink. Velvet Rope’s flaring nostrils always provided him the edge but Naill gave a last shot and got Holding Court to flourish.

After doing all the hard work both Kamlesh and Velvet Rope were unwilling to let the advantage and the Indian Derby slip away from the grip. Kamlesh dug in for one last time into the reserves of Velvet Rope. The bay gelding scratched the bottom and generated enough fuel for Kamlesh to deliver the final blow to Holding Court.

Velvet Rope was visibly tiring out in the dying moments of the race and his exhausted legs took him all over the place making Mystical suffer in the process. Kamlesh too was losing control over his senses. In his exuberance to raise his whip towards the stands, Kamlesh very nearly lost his balance and almost collided with Holding Court near the winning post. Fortunately for Shiven Surendranath and Rajan Bajaj, the proud owners of Velvet Rope, the chequered flag came down.

The presentation ceremony over, it was party time for Team Velvet Rope. Champagne was flowing like water all night. As admitted by Shiven himself it was hectic night for all of them; Hectic starting with capital H.

Dr.Vijay Mallya, Mr.Shiven Surendranath, Ms.Aditi & Mr.Sunil Jhangiani at the presentation ceremony

Jockey P.Kamlesh receiving the memento
from Dr.Viay Mallya

Velvet Rope winner of the McDowell Indian Derby (Gr.1)

Dr.Vijay Mallya , chairman of the UB group & sponsorer of the McDowell Indian Derby addressing with the Media

Glamourous croud on the Derby Day

Marquisa (M.Narredu up) winner of 
the Manitou Trophy, being led in by trainer Mr.Vinayak owners Mr.Ram H.Shroff & Mr.Raj H.Shroff

Mr.Vivek Jain, Mr.Ram H.Shroff & Mr.Raj H.Shroff 
with the Manitou Trophy

Samarkhand (M.Kharadi up) winner of 
the Kejriwal Trophy, being led in by trainer
Mr.Asad Siddiqui & owners Mr.Parviz Faramarzi
& Mr.Keky S.Patel

Mr.Parviz Faramarzi receiving the Kejriwal Trophy

Royal Flash (McCullagh up) winner of 
the Regal Domain Trophy, being led in by trainer Mr.S.Padmanabhan & owner Mr.Haresh N.Mehta

Mr.Haresh N.Mehta receiving the Regal Domain Trophy

Southern Regent (B.Prakash up) winner of 
the R.N.Kanga Trophy, being led in by trainer Mr.S.Ganapathy & owner Dr.MAM Ramaswamy

Dr.MAM Ramaswamy receiving the R.N.Kanga Trophy

Flying Glory (McCullagh up) winner of 
the Fair Haven Trophy, being led in by owners Mrs.Sahiba Rayani, Mr.&Mrs.J.K.Rattonsey

Mrs.J.K.Rattonsey & Mrs.Sahiba Rayani receiving 
the Fair Haven Trophy

All The Rage (P.S.Chouhan up) winner of 
the Rough Deal Trophy, being led in by 
owners Mr.& Mrs.Vivek Jain

Freeze of presentation ceremony of the
Rough Deal Trophy

Ring Bearer (S.Fargeat up) winner of 
the Noble Eagle Trophy, being led in by trainer
Mr.Faisal Abbas, owners Mrs.Rheema Khan & Mr.H.A.Khan

Mrs.Rheema Khan receiving the Noble Eagle Trophy 
from Mr.Sunil Jhangiani

Mumbai Races 2005-06 Review Archives
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