Horse racing is all about creating magic. It is about the coming together of all the elements that make for a story worth not just writing about, but one worth talking about for years to come as well.

There have of course, been many and while each has its own ingredients, there are times when it seems, that against the odds, history repeats itself.

The year was 1980 and the occasion was the 1^st Sunday in February. Everynsky in the Khatau silks from Rashid Byranji’s stable had Vasant Shinde in the saddle while Jagdish was on Aristocrat in Dr. Ramaswamy’s colours. Both had formidable reputations coming into the Derby and most at the track believed that this was a two horse race. It therefore, wasn’t surprising to see the two keep an eye on each other even before the starter set them away.

The pace was a scorching one that afternoon and while most were focussing on the two favourites who were happy to wait for each other off a pace that saw the leader open up a significant gap by any standards, Wally Swinburn (senior) on Mohawk was tracking the pacemaker like a bee stuck to honey. To cut a few furlongs out of the story, on turning for home, Mohawk was about six lengths clear and by the time Shinde and Jagdish woke up and figured out what was going on, Wally Swinburn had stolen the Derby. Those who watched it will not forget in a hurry and while most agreed that through their careers, Everynsky was the better horse, this was a great victory, one based on a carefully executed strategy.

Cut to 2014 and the Villoo Poonawalla Indian Oaks also seemed to be between two top contenders. Circle of Life with Richard Hughes on board from Pesi Shroff’s stable and Starry Eyes who had Sandesh in the saddle from Cooji Katrak’s yard.

Out of the gates, Venus Marina went to the lead clearly under instructions to make the pace extremely true. ‘True’ however is subjective and as things played out, it became a pace that possibly was too true for the would-be beneficiary, Circle of Life even as David Allan was playing out a strategy that he and trainer Padmanabhan had planned, reminiscent of the 1980 Indian Derby.

By the time the field straightened up, Isn’t She Special and David Allan didn’t take too long to shake off Snowing and with about four hundred metres to go she was out in front, all alone, even though Richard Hughes on Circle of Life was travelling menacingly, if six lengths or so behind. As it happened, Isn’t She Special stayed on and for Circle of Life and Richard Hughes the winning post came too soon. For the Allan and Padmanabhan combine this was brilliantly executed while it wouldn’t be unfair to speculate that Richard Hughes would’ve wanted to change his ride after the fact.

For the owner, Jamshed Appoo, this was a victory that could not have been more welcome considering that, by his own admission, he is fighting cancer and anyone who has had a loved one go through this can only empathise with him. Isn’t She Special will target the Indian Derby next and it’s almost certain that no one is going to let her get too far ahead. The colts look strong here and while a victory certainly looks harder, a defeat will be irrelevant. That is because, on the 18^th of January, the combine of horse, jockey and trainer came together to create the magic that is horse racing at its best. As it did in 1980.