The Golconda Derby is this year richer by nearly 30 lakhs thanks to the munificence of three Late Lateefs who have chosen to throw their hats in the ring at the very last moment. The trio provides a good starting point and we kick off with Arrowfield (Phoenix Tower - Dramatikos). The Pesi Shroff-trained gelding came out of the maidens over 1400 m. -- his only bracket so far -- towards the end of Pune season. On his last start in the Golconda 2000 Guineas, Gr.2, he just missed coming on the board, finishing about three and a half lengths behind the second-placed Indian Pharaoh (Excellent Art - Running Flame) who is a runner here. Phoenix Tower's record as  a Classic sire over 2400 m. is not all that encouraging, redeemed only by Rochester's victory in the Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby, Gr.1 last year. Arrowfield's dam won only up to a mile and has produced two full siblings of six races, one of them over 2000 m. She is, however, a full-sister to Memories of You who was third in the Nanoli Stud Indian Oaks, Gr.1 and Star Phoenix who ran second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Gr.3 as well a half-sister Aperitivo (Eveready Calcutta Derby, Gr.1, Olympia Technology Park Stayers' Cup, Gr.1, etc). Their dam Dramatic Irony was third in the Kingfisher Indian Oaks, Gr.1. The next dam Roberto's Fighter was a winner over 2800 m. abroad. That's plenty of commendation for stamina in the immediate family. The strongest point in Arrowfield's favour is Shroff's uncanny ability to pitchfork lightly raced horses into staying Classics.

In the Golconda 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 referred to above, finishing third behind Corfe Castle and Indian Pharaoh was Rikki Tikki Tavi (Excellent Art - Stravella) who, too, is a late entrant. Excellent Art is yet to earn his stripes as a sire who can consistently get staying Classics horses. Like Arrowfield, Rikki Tikki Tavi is a gelding and winner of a solitary race. He hasn't won since his debut last February over 1100 m. Apart from his last start third in Corfe Castle's race, he was a well beaten third in Sir Cecil's Bangalore Colts' Championship Stakes, Gr.1 and tailed off in the Kingfisher Derby Bangalore, Gr.1. Rikki Tikki Tavi is a full-brother to Glittering Gold whose two wins have been over 1200 m. Their dam Stravella won a race over a mile in England and is a half-sister to Prince of Dance, a Listed winner over 1400 m. at Newmarket. She is also a three-parts sister to a gelding named La Estrella who won 28 races up to 3200 m. from 70 starts.For all his wins, La Estrella's rating never went beyond 89; he was quite ordinary. The next dam Princess Ellen was a very good filly winning a Listed race and placing in three Gr.1 events reserved for fillies. On the Catalogue page of Stravella, Princess Ellen is the only name worthy of note.

The third final entry is that of Wave Rider (Top Class - Mizzna) who is trained by R.H. Sequeira. He is a winner of three races with two of those coming over a mile. The best get of Top Class so far is Shivansh who over 2000 m. but floundered when tackling the Derby distance. Minima, the fifth dam of Wave Rider came to the Qutab Stud in the '60s, The 'got-abroad' foal she was carrying was named Streak of Dawn and won the South India Derby, Gr.1. Minima is also the grandam of Sporting Alliance and Republic who both won the Northumberland Trophy, L, the longest race in India. There was stamina and a bit of class in the line then but in the last two generations there has been no black-type and  no winner beyond a mile.

The runner with the best form, though he is only a winner of one race over a mile, is perhaps Indian Pharaoh (Excellent Art - Running Flame). On his last two starts, he was first second to Corfe Castle in the Golconda 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 where his objection against the winner was not  upheld and then a close second to Psychic Force in the South India Derby, Gr.1. So he is familiar with the Malakpet track. He is by Excellent Art but his dam has stamped her stamina on most of her Indian-born foals. Four of them, including the great Desert God, have a Classic win over 2400 m. or have placed in a winter Derby. Indian Pharaoh ran most respectably in his Derby attempt and has beaten two of the three final entries previously. He strikes as the one to beat.  His half-brother Desert God won the President of India Gold Cup, Gr.1 twice; another half-brother Borsalino won the Vijay Textiles Deccan Derby, Gr.1; half-sister Sur La Tete won the Golconda Oaks, Gr.2 while his dam triumphed in the President of India Gold Cup, Gr.1 on this track. The family clearly likes running at Malakpet.

Rikki Tikki Tavi is trained by L.V.R. Deshmukh who also fields Bradfield College (Teofilo - Luminous One). He has one win over a mile and has placed second in his remaining four starts. Luminous One, the dam of Bradfield College was owned and trained by Jim Bolger. Apart from being a top class trainer in Ireland, Jim Bolger is also a passionate and successful breeder with a penchant for close inbreeding. Bradfield College is by a son of Galileo out of a daughter of Galileo ! This incestuous pattern is responsible for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Coronation V who was by a son of Tourbillon out of a daughter of Tourbillon. If races were decided solely by Dosage numbers -- fortunately, they are not -- Bradfield College must be considered past the post because his numbers are very impressive. What can be affirmed, though, is that at last the colt will be going over a trip which suits him.

Two local horses -- Big Brave (Western Aristocrat - Daily Edition) trained by Laxman Singh and Mark My Word (Net Whizz - Theworldismystage) trained by K. Satheesh -- have the same rating and have won 7 races between them. Both have a win over 1800 m. and 2000 m. to their credit. Big Brave's full-brother's two wins include one over a mile while Mark My Word's 'got-abroad' half-brother Authotrity's only win from just three starts was over 2400 m. at Mahalakshmi.  Both will be essaying 2400 m. for the first time.

Golden Hind (Kingda Ka - Golden Bright) , Arrowfield's travelling companion from Mumbai, is on a hat-trick having won his last two starts, both over a mile. In his first win, he beat Kennedy who is running in the Catalyst Properties Bangalore Derby, Gr.1 a day earlier and so will provide a ready link to form. In his second, he put five lengths between him and the vainly chasing Flying Visit, clocking a faster timing despite carrying a lot more weight. Golden Hind is a half-brother of Midnight Phantom who initially ran in the same colours as Nicaragua. Nicaragua was maiden when he finished third in this race last year behind Mahateji. He was also third in the South India St. Leger, Gr.2 behind Sea King and Reunion. He was later sold, moved to Calcutta and broke his duck on his twelfth attempt to win the Eveready R.C.T.C. Gold Vase over 2200 m. The Dhunjibhoys won this race with King Charles in 2016 and were part-owners in Germanicus who annexed it the following year.

PAST THE POST

Those who believe in numerology will have their thoughts on this year's field having 13 runners. But, it certainly is an unusual field because there is not a single filly nor a chestnut, nor a grey running. The average field rating is only 55.4 -- well below the 73.9 of previous ten years -- and even that is inflated because Indian Pharaoh's rating of 92, as given on the H.R.C. site, has been accepted. (Trainer Padmanabhan's colt does not figure in the list of B.T.C. ratings). Indian Pharaoh is a winner of just one ordinary race over a mile but carries a much higher rating than either Sir Cecil or Star Superior ! Let's leave that to the handicappers -- official or amateur -- to sort out.

The local horses have just about held their own in the last ten years against the outstation challengers, the score being 6-4 in their favour. They have to contend with five raiders on Sunday. Three favourites and three highest rated runners have been successful over the same period and two 'got-abroads' -- Tintinnabulation and Quasar -- have posted victories. Bradfield College and Egyptian Prince are the two 'got-abroads' running this year.

It may come as surprise to some, but trainer Pesi Shroff and jockey P. Trevor are yet to get their names on the Scroll of Honour of this race.