The stage is set for the 20^th running of THE CALCUTTA MONSOON DERBY (2013), now a Grade II race in the Kolkata racing calendar, on Saturday. The winner carries home a Trophy worth Rs 75,000 and a handsome 42.52 lakhs, thanks to two final entries. The fillies have decided to skip the event and three outstation challengers have decided to take on the local ones. While Trainers Vijay Singh and Daniel David have ruled the racing in this part of the country over a period of time, Patrick Quinn, the winter Champion has stuck his neck out this time with a final entry in MUFASA. Pesi Shroff has always been a keen participant in the Calcutta Classics and has brought in KNIGHT OF KE this year, having tasted success in the event through ALICE SPRINGS in 2010. The famous white & black silks of M/s URBB Ltd owned ALICE SPRINGS and they have pinned their hopes on Jaggi Dhariwal trained ARABIAN WARRIOR this year. Here’s the line up :

ANDREUS (Placerville(USA)/ Zarandja(IRE)) Rated 58 – Property of M/s Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd & M/s Cairnhill Stud Farm Pvt Ltd, trained by Vijay Singh, the gelding is a winner of 2 races from 4 starts. Was a disappointing 5^th in the Colts Trials, although hampered for room at the top of the straight. ANDREUS is likely to be ridden by Jockey Neeraj Rawal and though he won the Independence Cup this year impressively, probably would be setting the pace for his fancied stablemates.

ARABIAN WARRIOR (Brave Act(GB)/ Arabian Rose) Rated 58 – Bred at the Kunigal Stud, the property of M/s URBB Ltd is out of the Calcutta Derby winner Arabian Rose and carries the hopes of its connections over the slated trip of a mile and a quarter, has been put in with a final entry of Rs 7,87,500/-. The colt finished a fair 4^th in the Colts and could be the dark horse in the race. Manvendra Singh will be deputising on behalf of Trainer J S Dhariwal on Derby day and in all likelyhood, the colt will be ridden by P Trevor.

ARGIANO (Warrshan(USA)/ Santarelle) Rated 68 – Carrying the 2^nd colours of M/s Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd, the highest rated horse in the field surprised one and all when cruising away with the Colts Trials Stakes beating the likes of Captain Courageous and Multimagic. The gelding is a winner of 3 races from 7 starts and commands respect on his last victory. Shailesh Shinde gets to ride the Vijay Singh trainee.

AUDRICK (Razeen(USA)/ Alvarita) Rated 50 – The Usha bred colt seems to be the pick of local Champion Chris Alford for the Monsoon Derby. The property of M/s Soom Stud Farm Pvt Ltd & Arion Horse Co Pvt Ltd is a winner of a race from 2 starts. A temperamental colt, it has been withdrawn for bad gate manners twice. While the quality of horses it beat may not be anything to write home about, the manner of victory pushed the colt into the top bracket in its stable. Audrick is also trained by Vijay Singh.

CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS (Captain Marvelous/ Vade Retro) Rated 64 – With regular rider B Sreekanth missing from the scene, the star of last Winter at Kolkata had to settle for the runner up slot in the Colts Trials. Not short on experience, having run 7 times in its career, the colt won the Grade II Calcutta Million last winter beating ADIELLA and SHAKTIROOP. Its Monsoon campaign started with the Calcutta Juvenile Sprint where it finished third to ADABELLA over a trip he is not known to be comfortable over. While Sreekanth is likely to return to do duty on the “CAPTAIN”, the colt would be happy to see his mentor Daniel David back in action. The property of Dr Ramaswamy could well be setting his own pace should ANDREUS fail to set a genuine one.

KNIGHT OF KE (Noverre(USA)/ Sweet Affair(USA)) Rated 56 – Trained by Pesi Shroff, the property of M/s Darashaw Bloodstock Pvt Ltd and Mr Sultan Singh has made the trip to Hastings after a runaway victory in Pune over a mile. The gelding, like AUDRICK although winning in mediocre company warrants attention on the mere fact that Champion Horseman Pesi has decided to bring him to take on the field in the Monsoon Derby.

MUFASA(Glory Of Dancer(GB)/ City Tamer) Rated 44 – The 2^nd final entry in the line up, has recently changed hands and joined the stables of Champion Trainer Patrick Quinn. The gelding is the property of Mr Kishore Dhingra, Mr Mohan Chattaram & Mr G Shewakramani. MUFASA won over 1800 metres this Season at Pune and carries the hopes of its connections on that run. Jockey P S Chouhan is slated to partner the gelding in the Derby.

What the professionals say –

R W Alford – “If it’s a solid run race, I can’t look beyond Captain Courageous. It will take a lot of beating based on its mock race.”

Arti Doctor – “Oh! I haven’t given it a great thought but I think the race should be between Captain Courageous and Vijay’s two runners.”

Manvendra Singh – “Arabian Warrior has the blood to stay as he is full brother to Arabian Knight, winner of the Stayer’s Cup and half brother to Arabian Prince who won the Hyderabad Derby. So I think he will run a good race but Captain Courageous has the advantage of a 10 furlong mock race. So he is the one everyone will have to beat.”

Patrick Quinn – “Its an open race. My horse has worked well and will definitely stay the trip. Its going to be a true run 2000 metres and may the best horse win.”

Vijay Singh – “Its an open race. All the runners haven’t gone the distance. A lot will depend on the pace of the race and staying potential of the horses.”

Daniel David – “I feel it’ll be a Derby worthy race as it has a very competitive field. I’m happy with my horse over the distance.”

Shailesh Shinde – “The race is between Captain Courageous and Audrick and I think Audrick will win. My horse Argiano runs with a good chance on its Colts victory.”

Shyam Habbu – “Knight Of Ke has travelled well and is working well too, I think we have to beat Captain Courageous”