Bold Majesty (Multidimensional-Fond Fantasy/Usha Stud) sporting the silks of Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy lifted the Mysore Derby 2014, the Blue Ribband of the Mysore season on Sunday, in an absolutely absolving finish. The Usha stud bred bay gelding trained by S.Ganapathy was brilliantly piloted by jockey A.Sandesh to snatch the race in the shadow of the winning post.

It was a clean sweep of the Mysore Classics by Dr.M.A.M.Ramaswamy, having won the 1000 and the 2000 Guineas with The Myth and War Command, both trained by Karthik Ganapathy. The victory took the Classics’ count of Dr.M.A.M. to 586, a rare achievement in the annals of Indian racing. The Guineas winners opted to run in the Pune Derby and the connections decided to bring down Bold Majesty for the race. Bold Majesty had finished third to Spreadeagle in the Deccan Derby in its last start. Spreadeagle was also supplemented as a final entrant in the Derby along with Fatal Attraction and The Artist paying a whopping Rs.15 lakhs each. The added revenue boosted the total stakes for the Derby to almost Rs.1.30 crores with the winning team to walk away with a purse of nearly 7.5 million rupees.

Six horses lined up for the 2000 metres trip and the general assumption by regular race-goers was that the race was a straight fight between Spreadeagle and Bold Majesty. Spreadeagle had comprehensively beaten Bold Majesty in the Deccan Derby but the manner in which the latter was handled continous to be debated. The large crowd that had thronged the race course at Mysore got their money’s worth as Derby turned out to be one of the closely contested one in recent times with two top saddle artists, P.Trevor and A.Sandesh at their best.

The local challenger Obelinna Princes set the pace right from the start. As they headed towards the last 800 metres Obelinna Princess was still in front followed by Fatal Attraction, Spreadeagle,Zucchero, The Artist and Bold Majesty with about 4 ½ lengths covering the field. Rounding the final bend Spreadeagle forged ahead as per plan and began to build up a lead. Bold Majesty in the meanwhile was brought around the field as was in chase of Spreadeagle with about 2 ½ lengths separating them with a furlong left. Both P.Trevor on Spreadeagle and A.Sandesh astride Bold Majesty began to ride out. Sandesh was at his hardest best, squeezing out every ounce of energy from Bold Majesty. The bay gelding inched closer with every stride and stretched his neck in front of Spreadeagle at the finish. Sandesh’s hand went up in celebration as at the post.  

“The going was wet and I had to exert pressure on my mount to bridge the gap and get to Spreadeagle,” said a relieved Sandesh after the race. “I am thankful to Dr.M.A.M.Ramaswamy and trainer Ganapathy for having had the faith in me and giving me this ride,” added Sandesh who was celebrating his third Derby success.