Bold Majesty (Multidimensional - Fond Fantasy), winner of Mysore Derby, Gr.1 and Bangalore 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 on his last two starts will be seeking a hat-trick of Classic wins on the Republic Day. He also has the Deccan Bookmakers' Hyderabad Colts' Trial Stakes, Gr.3 against his name and as a winner of three Classics clearly stands out from his rivals. He has yet to race beyond 2000 m. but the manner of his running (he usually comes from behind and posseses a strong stretch run) as also his pedigree (his dam won The Hindu  Bangalore Oaks, Gr.3 while other good mile and a half winners or more winners from immediate the family include Moonlight Romance, who won the McDowell Signature Indian Derby, Gr.1, Aristotle, winner of Eveready Calcutta Derby, Gr.1, Star of Windsor, who bagged the Poonawalla Farms Stayers' Cup, Gr.1 in record timing) indicate that extra 400 m. will suit him. His Achilles heel however could be that he takes a while to get into top gear and if a front runner has opened up a good gap, he may leave himself with too much to do.

A runner who could do that is trainer Padmanabhan's own-bred Torch Bearer (Burden of Proof - Running Flame) who is a full-brother to Sur La Tete (Golconda Oaks, Gr.2) and a half-brother to Borsalino (Kingfisher Derby Bangalore, Gr.1). He led the Calcutta Derby field for much of the trip before petering out to finish third, a shade over six lengths behind the winner Quasar. Second placed Tiger Tops has already won the Villoo Poonawalla India Oaks, Gr.1 and if Quasar wins at Hyderabad on the coming Sunday, Torch Bearer may fancy his chances. A good lead coming into the straight will be vital.

There are two runners in the field who have won over 2400 m. and the first of them is the course and distance winner Athens (Pionerof the Nile - Little Treasure), the winner of a weak Bangalore Oaks, Gr.2. The Manjri Stud-bred filly just held on from Alameda who came up with a rattling run and the two were clear of Pure Allure. Pure Allure never looked like getting involved at the business end of the Villoo Poonawalla Indian Oaks, Gr.1 and that devalues the Bangalore Oaks form. Athens is from the first crop of Winstar Farms' stallion Pioneerof the Nile who started at a fee of $ 20,000. Good early results have seen his 2015 covering fee shoot up to $ 60,000. Little Treasure, the dam of Athens won San Clemente Stakes, Gr.2 in Calumet Farm's colours and has already produced More Chocolate, a winner of La Canada Stakes, Gr.2 over an extended mile.  One of the earliest mares that came to Manjri after it was taken over by the Mistrys from the Scindias of Gwalior was Roberto's Fighter from whom descend the good winners Aperitivo, Secret Memory, Memories of You, Acceleration (Gr.3 winner in France) and Tatiana who was second to Tiger Tops on Sunday. Little Treasure and Roberto's Fighter are from the same branch of the Kermesse family. Athens could be in the mix-up, especially as the Mistry silks appear to be on a bit of a roll at the moment but she has a very high Dosage Index and could face problems in a strongly run race.

The other 2400 m. winner is Net Champ (Burden of Proof - Sunny Clime). a full-brother to the Eveready Calcutta Derby, Gr.1 winner Abs Fabs. Trained by D. Netto, Net Champ has two wins from three starts but is the second lowest rated runner in the field as well as being the least experienced. Netto went to Calcutta with Parushram and the horse ran fifth so failed to pick up any stakes. The trainer must be hoping for a better result in Bangalore.

Apart from Athens, there are two other 'got-abroads' in the field. Alameda (Amadeus Wolf - Bombala) was foaled at the Mebajeona Stud. A couple of years ago Mebajeona Stud had good 'got-abroads' like Vijays Pride and Plenipotent and Alameda has been quite useful, placing in two Classics. Bombala was purchased by Ian Deane for Mebajeona Stud for just Euro 12,000. The mare placed fourth once in the French provinces from three starts and comes from the excellent Horama family. Black-type winners abroad like New South Wales, Ela Romara, Foyer (sire at Chettinad Stud), Moulton Boy and Young Buster can be found close-up in Alameda's pedigree. Her sire Amadeus Wolf was a pure sprinter and he seems passive in Alameda's make-up for the filly almost put it across Athens in Bangalore Oaks, Gr.2. Alameda has won just once from her 13 starts but has placed 10 times.

This has been a forgettable year for horses in Dr. Vijay Mallya's colours in the Classics and it will be up to Azzurro (Azamour - Miss Highjinks) to try and salvage something. The colt has been sparingly raced with two wins from his four starts and so has scope for improvement. His win over 1800 m. on his last start was rather stylish. His sire, the Aga Khan's Azamour, was an excellent racehorse who has been modestly successful as a sire. Azzurro is interestingly bred and comes from the same family as that notable sire Lyphard. Azzuro has pleased his connections with his work-outs and one thing you can be certain of is that you will get a run for your money with him.

Authentic  is an interesting horse. He has run twice over 2000 m. this term and was first beaten into second by Padmanabhan's Regal Boast. He atoned for that in his very next start beating Spanish Cannon, also trained by Padmanabhan. Spanish Cannon has subsequently moved to Calcutta so his trainer must hold him in some esteem. The Burden of Proof-Tejano cross has produced a few classic winners including Jersey Girl and Authentic is bred on the reverse cross, very much on the lines of Puttanna's filly. Jersey Girl was by Burden of Proof out of Chilli Girl by Tejano while Authentic is by Tejano out of Auberge by Burden of Proof. Chilli Girl and Auberge are half-sisters being out of Asian Lady who herself was a daughter of that excellent racer and broodmare Birthday Girl. Authentic is trained by Rajesh Narredu who seems to be shading his father's results. Earlier this month,Authentic did a cracking mock race over 2000 m. in which he distanced Passing Fulcrum, Speed Hawk and Havelock Prince.

Del Santo (Dancing Forever - Houston Hopeful) has won twice from five starts but is yet to race beyond 1600 m. He carries his breeder's colours. Prize Finder (Multidimensional - Pricewise) made his debut in last June and then ran in the Be Safe's Kingfisher Derby Bangalore, Gr.1. Has won once from six starts and was beaten third last time out in low grade handicap race as a favourite. He is bred to stay but has no reason to be running here being rated just 47. The interesting question is why has his trainer V. Narayana Gowda left him in ?

PAST THE POST

Officially, the stud of foaling of Tiger Tops is shown as 'Privately'. Her dam was imported by Sohna Stud but it is probable that the Indian Oaks winner was born while her dam Cockayne was still in quarantine. Some years earlier, it was a similar case with Passion To Perform, the winner of D.B.A. Hyderbad Fillies Trial Stakes.

Speed Hawk, one of the runners here, is also shown with the 'Privately' tag. He was foaled at Dr. Hasneyn Mirza's establishment !