Anyone wishing to make an ass of himself has only to issue an unqualified statement about a racehorse. The horse will take it from there goes an old saying. Royal Russian’s superb win in the Romanov Bangalore Derby was surely a highpoint for young trainer Arjun Mangalorkar whose career is taking a promising upswing. The talented trainer, even after a generous dose of the spirit that cheers, would hardly have been hopeful that Royal Russian would give him his first success in a Derby. The ever optimistic owner-breeders, the Brars who love to lead in their winners be it in a run-of-the-mill race or a classic, were conspicuously absent when the son of Green Forest was recording an extraordinary win. They were kept away from the action no doubt because of the impending elections in Punjab where they have a stake but if only they had in inkling of what would transpire in the Bangalore Derby, one is sure that at least one of them, the senior Brar or the enthusiastic Tegbir would have taken the trouble to be present at the venue. Such are the vagaries of racing that surprise, shock treatment is the name of the game.

Be that as it may, the Bangalore Derby threw one of the biggest surprises every recorded in recent memory. The Winter Derby has always been known to be a graveyard of the favourites but the victory of 70 to 1 shot Royal Russian was something that the race goers had not bargained for especially since Darashah trained Nairn enjoyed overwhelming support not just from the public but from almost who is who of racing. There were doubts expressed about the ability of the daughter of Razeen, Nairn to last out the grueling mile and half trip in a true run race but not many were inclined to buy this argument. It was widely believed that if at all any one upset the applecart of the favourite; it would be either Ifloookscouldkill or Taipan. The only Grade 1 race winner in the fray Royal Gladiator was totally ignored in the betting ring notwithstanding the protestations of his trainer S Padmanabhan and jockey Malesh Narredu that the son of Honour And Glory was a serious contender for the plum and that the blind confidence in Nairn was misplaced. Royal Gladiator very nearly pulled off an upset win but a fortuitous opening when the race was on the boil, enabled Royal Russian to bring off a stunning upset and emulate his half brother Amathos who had done likewise several years ago in the same race.

Antequera who had run a close third in the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby in July last year, was surprisingly relegated to the job of being a pace maker when horses of dubious credentials belonging to the same connections were being fancied without rhyme or reason. Ashleen who was assigned to stable’s first jockey Aslam Kader had no credentials to be running in the Derby especially after the filly’s dismal show in an ordinary handicap race but then several others in the fray were of similar caliber.

Antequera showed the way for the 11 other runners, with Royal Gladiator and Royal Russian racing in close attendance behind the pacemaker, while the rest including favourite Nairn were settled a few lengths adrift of these runners. Rounding the final bend, Malesh Narredu pushed Royal Gladiator to the front and the got-abroad colt went ahead, opening up a gap of more than three lengths over Nairn and Royal Russian.

With Nairn having been done in by the true run race and failing to quicken in the patented manner, it looked as though Royal Gladiator would hold on to the lead. Royal Russian, racing along the rails, would have been hemmed in had Nairn kicked on for another 50 metres because the Green Forest progeny then would have to be switched out and then brought into contention. Such an eventuality would have ensured that the front-runner would have held on to the leeway, as the winning post was hardly a few metres away. Unfortunately for the connections of Royal Gladiator, Nairn rolled out under pressure, allowing Royal Russian to shoot through the opening. The son of Green Forest, under the brilliant riding of visiting Englishman Francis Norton, seized the opportunity, to essay strong challenge and get past the front-runner in long shadow of the winning post. Ifllokscouldkill and Taipan edged out Nairn from the third and fourth spots on the frame.

Norton, who has been enjoying a good season in India, was obviously delighted at the unexpected victory and did a somersault after the presentation ceremony that went well with the huge gathering. Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar, who was unlucky not to have won the Summer Derby through Royal Liberator, had reward coming his way in an unexpected manner. ``We are running Royal Russian in the Derby because he had beaten convincingly Circus Maid who was considered as a big horse from the famed Byramji stable,’’ Arjun had said on the morning of the race. ``In a field that consisted of doubtful stayers, we thought we had a chance should the race turn out to be true run race. As such, the instructions to the jockey were to keep the horse up front and exploit the staying ability of the Green Forest progeny to the optimum. The strategy paid ample dividend,’’ said an excited trainer for whom the New Year and marriage have brought immense luck. Trainer Padmanabhan, who had tasted success in this event a few years ago, was not completely disappointed. He had at least proved the detractors who had underestimated Royal Gladiator’s potential wrong. The strategy of allowing Royal Gladiator to run freely in front instead of holding him back, brought about a dramatic reversal of form in the got-abroad colt. With the competition having become intense, the father-son duo of the Byramjis who had monopolized the classic scene, are finding it hard to maintain their supremacy and have just one success in the plum events to show despite racing their wards all over the country.

The Derby day action was quite hectic but with well-backed horses obliging in the majority of races, race goers had respite. The Narasimharaja Cup, a race over seven furlongs for three-year olds, the additional attraction of the day went the way of Ganapathy trained Priceless. The three-year old filly, despite having to concede weight to all her adversaries, proved too good, assuming charge at the top of the straight to win with a great deal of comfort. L’Avenir who was strongly fancied to win despite it being his debut run, was out sprinted and was finishing on when the race was over. The son of Razeen will be more at home over staying trips.

Jockey Srinath has begun the New Year well. He was astride three winners, all of whom won their respective assignments with ease. Starstruck, Flying Scotsman and Sinatra won well. Starstruck who has strengthened well, smashed the opposition with ridiculous ease. Now that the son of Don’t Forget Me has shown his abilities by his maiden win, he should be followed till beaten. Flying Scotsman who had let down his supporters last time out, proved too good for the opposition in the 1400 metres Mysore Race Club Trophy, a race for horses rated 40 and above, with a smooth run in the homestretch to win as he pleased from a late-finishing Crystal Moment and Pride Estates.

Sunspangled, despite being poorly placed at the top of the straight, just about managed to win in the hands of visiting French jockey C Lemaire with a tremendous burst of speed. The Don’t Forget me progeny edged out the front-running Ampersand in virtually the last stride. In the races meant for first season runners, Name And Fame and Just Brave asserted themselves. Just Brave, despite jumping awkwardly at the start, out sprinted the fancied duo of Bold Bird and Slim Twist, both of whom found the five and half furlong too sharp for comfort.