It is no more, only Serjeant At Arms, Accolade and the top filly Aster Rose. The classic picture has changed with the two big victories, Ice Glacier from the famed Poonawalla Stud Farm ending the unbeaten winning streak of `Serjeant' in the Mysore Derby and Star Nijinsky from Hidayat Khan's yard downing the much fancied and highly rated Aster Rose in the Deccan Derby at Hyderabad. Accolade did well to record his maiden Derby success in Pune, but it is the opinion of most old hats in the game that the classy colt from the Kunigal Stud Farm will find the mile and half trips tough to negotiate.

All this before the start of the Bengaluru winter,Chennai and Mumbai season will provide hope to the many challengers who have the daggers out and that provides a reason to smile to all the racing buffs looking forward to a clean, open and competitive racing season. 

After the curtains were drawn on the Mysore season which saw the new kid on the block Prashanth Dhebe emerge the best among the riders, the racing circus shifts to Bengaluru and the winter season promises to be a rich fare taking into account that most pros are cracking the whip, understanding that it is the early bird which gets the worm. 

To the many who are asking who to follow early in the winter, the answer is: Neil Darashah, Sulaiman and Irfan Ghatala who had a lean summer and is well prepared to strike it rich this winter.   

Another interesting development is that Chennai in their effort to attract the best from the other premier centres and also provide the local owners big incentives have substantially increased stakes, many owners of classic hopefuls from Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad are now looking to compete at Chennai. 

Arjun Manglorkar who topped the list among the trainers in summer disclosed that Common Wealth, the winner of the Fillies Championship Stakes in summer will compete in the Chennai classics.

“Common Wealth owners are Chennai based and they certainly would want their filly to win a classic at their home centre. And with Madras Racing Club (MRC) offering record stakes in their effort to make the big league, the South India Derby will attract  a couple of classic hopefuls from other centres," said Arjun  

Arjun apart, Neil Darashah too has Chennai in his plans. And so too S Ganapathy who is likely to take Magistero for a couple of plums. 

“Chennai now is a good option which most are willing to explore,” said Neil Darashah who recorded a classic double at the Udhagamandalam races through Batallion. Neil further added that even if one has a good classic hopeful in his yard, he has a good chance to pick up a classic in one of the premier centres.  

Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) chairman Harindra Shetty revealed that the winter season will be very competitive.  More than 80 jockeys including 19 apprentice riders and three foreign jockeys, Scottish pro David Allan who won the hearts of many a lover of sport with his partnership with Desert God before he booted home Ice Glacier in the Mysore Derby, David Breux and the Frenchman Cedric Segeon retained by Neil Darashah will parade their skills this winter. The 33-year-old Cedric to his credit has successfully donned silks in Dubai, Singapore and a couple of other top international racing tracks.

After a long break, the BTC has done well to promote four trainers, Arvind Ganapathy, Azhar Ali, Rajesh Narredu and Gregory Sandhu. The four after successfully completing their two-year probationary period are entitled to the normal quota of 45 horses.

“The idea is to encourage good performance and the four have done well, “said Harindra Shetty pointing out that the non performers need to wake up and get their act right. 

"We have many youngsters who are eager and ready to prove their mettle in this game. And it is time we get rid of the dead wood and encourage and support the youngsters who have spent many years learning the ropes under the care of seasoned pros." said Harindra Shetty. 

When posed with the question that the owners at this centre are fast losing interest in the game, not willing to invest big, taking into account that only 260 two-year-olds are in the campus against the permissible limit of 315, Shetty revealed that the stewards have decided to allot stables to trainers for any additional juveniles to the maximum permissible limit of horses per trainer. 

And when pointed out that the stakes offered by MRC are much higher than what is advertised this winter by BTC, Shetty said:  "We have already paid out Rs 25 crore stakes this summer.  A record breaking 52.35 crore is expected to be paid out during the year 2016-17 and this is a good hike," said Shetty.

BTC next year will play host to the Champion Of Champions event, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 5.

“We are ready and prepared for the gala week-end. We will offer 4.7 crore in stakes for the two-day Invitation races and we will rope in sponsors for all the feature events,” signed off Harindra Shetty.