The Calcutta Monsoon Derby (a Grade III affair) sees a competitive, quality field of seven runners this year and spotting the winner is no easy task. The reason being that the form established by the Calcutta Million, normally taken as a Monsoon Derby pointer, has not stuck during the rainy season thus far. However, there are several factors to ponder upon before we jump to bloodlines and staying ability. First and foremost, the summer Derbies are inevitably for three-year-olds and thus a mile-and-quarter instead of the recognised Derby trip of a mile-and-half. Thus the current form of top-weight milers could quite easily quash the performance of progeny from exquisite bloodlines before they bloom in the winter.

Nevertheless, a Derby is a test of speed and stamina and bloodlines must be taken into account. If that sounds paradoxical, readers will have to understand that the complicated sport of thoroughbred racing is often a game of paradoxes.

There is no denying the fact that the breeding lines of Snowscape (China Visit-Snow Tiger), Silverina (China Visit-Silver Print) and Angel Child (Razeen-Veena’s Pet) boast of far superior classic lineage compared to the likes of Slade Valley and Malpensa. While Slade Valley’s dam Illusive Lady has never won anything above six furlongs, Malpensa (Hurricane State – Northern Frontier) is not a tested bloodline. Northern Frontier’s best progeny prior to Malpensa has been the very mediocre Alienation. However, Northern Frontier has a very successful dam-line and one won’t be surprised if Malpensa turns out to be a hardy stayer. Moreover, the grey has been at the height of his form this season and his run in the Colts Trial Stakes won by Slade Valley was noteworthy.

Another grey, Snowscape, ran a sluggish Colts Trial Stakes, yet finished a good third under the stick. One really has to ignore that run as he is capable of a better show and has come on a lot since then in the past month or so. The Vijay Singh colt will be partnered by Christopher Alford who has the enviable distinction of having won the Derby a half-a-dozen times this millennium! Trainer Bharath Singh is also no newcomer to the party, having pocketed this event with Sanskara and Alamito during the past decade. His four pronged attack comprising the three colts (Impressive Move, Slade Valley and Malpensa) and the filly Silverina makes it an extremely difficult task for his sibling Vijay to come out on top but then, if it is a true-run Derby, as it should be in view of the presence of front-running Alderson, a fine piece of horsemanship from any of the top riders on display could very easily gain the day.

Alderson has the experience of traversing this trip on the monsoon track and will run a good race despite lacking a bit of class which the first-named trio possesses. Moreover, he ran a grueling race barely 10 days ago. His best chance of pulling it off is by setting a cracking pace and hoping to stay the trip while his untested rivals fail.

Pesi Shroff-trained Angel Child has run a good second to Vijay’s Pride in the Deccan Fillies Stakes but has not had an outing here and that may be the biggest hurdle that this blue-blooded filly has to overcome to get the better of the local challengers.

Thus all in all, it will be a Monsoon Derby worth travelling miles to see! The winner takes home close to Rs 40 lakh from total stake money of Rs 67.6 lakh.