The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby (Gr.1) is round the corner and preparations are in full swing for the richest race of the season. The venue is abuzz with activity and the racing fraternity focuses on the Bangalore Turf Club. The professionals too are upbeat and are optimistic of their own charges doing well. Here is a rundown on the pulse at the BTC:

Mr Kumarswamy: It is a significant day for the Bangalore Turf Club with the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby being presented in a grand fashion. Lots of prizes mark the day with a car as the bumper prize for nominating the winners of three designated races. The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby looks a wide open race. I personally feel that the winners of the Fillies Championship Amelia and the Colts winner Alaindair appear to be the main contenders on sheer performance.

Y Jagannath: The Kingfisher Bangalore Derby (Gr.1) wears a very open look. For all the professionals and owners this comes about as a landmark race. I would like to wish each and everyone the very best and may the best horse win.

Zeyn Mirza: We have a good representation in this year’s edition of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby. Charlatan won his last start very well. His victory over nine-furlongs was a fairly impressive and he showed that he could stay the distance. Acclaimed too is shaping up well after he ran second in the Colts. He has worked well and I believe he has the class to stake a strong claim. Mariinsky comes up after a good performance while ending third in the Fillies’ Stakes. She is a fine filly and is capable of taking on any opposition on her day. Agostini too has scored this season before ending close in the Colt. That makes it an open race and the finish will be live wire.

Pesi Shroff: Amelia has done very well in Bangalore. She has adapted well and she is a filly with a lot of talent. Her success in the Fillies’ Championship in her very first assignment in Bangalore was a fine effort and she came good in her first outing itself. I am confident that she will stay the longer trip and will be right there. Acclaimed and Mariinsky have a lot of ability too and on their day either can be a handful.

 S Ganapathy: Muiroi is coming on well and his last work has been pleasing. All is well with him and I attribute his last run as a bad day in office. He has shown what he is capable of in the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million in Mumbai and has carried that form here as was evident in his first outing in Bangalore. I think he should make amends and put up a better performance in the Derby. Our other contender Scenic Warrior is well equipped to go the distance an he will run a good race too.

Altamash Ahmed:  Alaindair has been one of my top horses. I always thought that he had it in him to perform well on the bigger stage. Honestly, I thought he would run a decent race but I was overwhelmed with his wonderful performance. He will stay the longer trip and I hope he provides us another big moment.

S Dominic: Czar of Romance is fit and well. His coltsrun is best ignored. He lost position and was knocked out of the race from the early stage. It’s just one of those things that can happen in a tightly packed field.  It’s an open race and Czar of Romance has as good a chance as any.

LVR Deshmukh: Decathlon has not performed to potential and I reckon he has not acclimatized to the underfoot conditions here in Bangalore. He is capable of much better show as he has done in the past. I am hoping he would get firmer ground and he enhances his performance at the right time.

RR Byramji: I feel that Alaindair has the potential to achieve further success. He impressed me while winning the Colts’ and I think he will stay the trip well. For me, he is the one they have to beat.

SS Attaollahi: Charlatan’s last victory has certainly raised his stock an he looks good to go the distance as well. His recent workout has been pleasing and he has retained that winning form. I am hoping he reproduces that run and . He has worked well and has a very good chance.

Neil Darashah: My choice is Alaindair. The manner in which he won the Colts Championship was very impressive and he was well ahead of competition. It will take a lot to beat him. The ones that will make a fight of it, I feel, are the Fillies Championship winner Amelia and Charlatan.

Suraj Narredu: Despite Starry Eyes not performing on expected lines, I feel she is a live threat to all. She has come on a lot after that run. She has stripped much fitter currently and we are happy with her present condition. She has worked attractively and I am a lot confident now that she is fit for the fray. She will run a big race.

A Sandesh: I am confident Alaindair will run a good race. He won the colts well in hand and I feel he will stay the longer trip as well. His latest workout of Wednesday was satisfactory and I think they all have to beat Alaindair.

S Zervan: Amelia is a very fast and talented filly. She did extremely well in the fillies’ championship and has been working well since. She has done what has been asked of her and I am of the opinion that she will get the trip. She has the class and the temperament to assert herself  and she will certainly run a good race.

P Trevor: I have a good chance partnering Charlatan; he won his last two starts impressively. He is a nice horse and takes off when asked to and also has a good turn of foot for the finish. I should think he has a good chance of pulling it off.

A Imran Khan: It looks a wide open race and I have good chance too with my mount Czar of Romance. I saw his last run and he never got going in the race. We have different plans this time and I am hoping for the best.