The distance of a mile i.e. 1600m is of paramount significance in the sport of horse racing. The mile is considered a decent measure of understanding a horse’s penchant towards a particular distance. The sprint races normally require speedy animals, preferably the ones who can beat the tradition twelve-clip yardstick (i.e. running every furlong in less than 12 seconds). A leaner, fit-as-a-fiddle kind of a horse is needed to stay longer distances. By looking at the style of running, verdict of win/loss and time, the distance of a mile gives a fair indication in the early part of a young horses’ career, of whether he/she is bred to stay, or if it is better off at shorter distances. Currently, there are 33 Group races in the country which are contested over a mile. One of them is The Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders’ Juvenile Colts’ Championship (Gr.3) at Mumbai.

This Sunday’s running will be the Silver Jubilee of this race. A few of this race’s winners have gone on to win some Indian classics. Secret Treasure, Wild Eagle & Pronto Pronto (Indian 2000 Guineas), Zurbaran & Quasar (Indian Turf Invitation Cup), Zurbaran, Macchupicchu & Quasar (Indian St Leger) & most recently Star Superior (Indian Derby). This year’s contestants however appear relatively weaker and are unlikely to repeat the feat of their predecessors.

There are 7 horses in the fray. The most appealing of them is Trouvaille (Surfrider – Highly Fashionable). Trouvaille has run thrice, all at 1400m and finished runner-up on all three occasions. Hunt For Gold has defeated him twice, first in early January by 2 ½ lengths receiving 1.5kgs and then by 1 ¾ lengths conceding a similar weight. However, Trouvaille later reversed that placing in The Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million (Gr.1), finishing 2nd to Missing You, where he was ¾ lengths ahead of Hunt For Gold. The fact that Hunt For Gold is being touted as a bright prospect for the future classics, makes a strong case for Trouvaille. He has shown a pleasing display in the morning trials. The literal dictionary meaning of Trouvaille is “a lucky find”. Whether his performance can justify his name is something that remains to be discovered, Trouvaille will definitely be the cynosure of all eyes on Sunday.

Gallantry (Kingda Ka – Vittoria) won impressively on his first and only outing to date by 2 ½ lengths at 1200m. He is the only horse in this field that is coming fresh off a win. His recent trackwork suggests that he “retains form” and therefore he is likely to be the main challenger to Trouvaille. Gallantry’s dam Vittoria herself never won at long distances, but Vittoria’s dam Prevalence has thrown a few black-type long distance winners like Ave Maria, Star Formation & Prevalent Force. Going by his bloodline, Gallantry should excel at distances of a mile and more. His trainer, Malesh Narredu has won this race 5 times as a jockey and 2 times as a trainer. Malesh the trainer wouldn’t mind narrowing that gap of five and two with Gallantry.

Square The Circle (Kingda Ka – Circle Of Bliss) is one of the two outstation challengers. He is out of the classic-placed mare Circle Of Bliss being the runner-up in the Pune Derby, Indian 1000 Guineas, Indian Oaks and ran 3rd in the Indian Derby behind Alaindair. Square The Circle won majestically at Mysore by 6 lengths but later finished 3rd in The Mysore City Gold Cup carrying 60kgs. Horses from down south have won this race 6 times across 24 runnings. Square The Circle will target this race as a preparation for the Bangalore summer.

Beemer (Leitir Mor – Black Magic Woman) ran 6th to Thailand by 5 3/4 lengths in his first race and later ended last in The Gool S Poonawalla Million (Gr.3), more than 10 lengths behind the winner. The only point that might work in his favour is his sire Leitir Mor. He is a from Leitir Mor’s first crop that already look quite promising. The Poonawalla/Exhilaration Stud Farm have together bred 8 winners of this race through Riyahi, Alnasr Alwasheek, Ace, Arazan & Excellent Art. The Poonawallas would love to see Leitir Mor’s name in that list soon.

Another Poonawalla Stud bred horse Silver King (Arazan – Connivance) ended 7th in his first run, finishing about 2 ½ lengths behind Beemer who was 6th. Though later he went hammer and tongs with Astounding Bay in his next run, losing just by a short head but more importantly at a mile. That run will surely give his supporters the confidence going in to Sunday’s race.

Southern Ruler (Saamidd – Farha) is the other outstation challenger from Bangalore. Southern Ruler himself doesn’t offer much to talk about. He finished dead last in field of 11 as a 2-year old before ending 3rd at Bangalore and then later a poor 8th in PBMM at Mumbai. He would probably just fill up the numbers on Sunday. His trainer S Ganapathy won this race twice with full brothers Flashing Star & Assert The Right (Razeen – Altitude).

Moriseiki (Sedgefield – Turk’s Friend) came 3rd in his solitary run where Silver King ran 2nd about half a length ahead of him. His sire Sedgefield & trainer Adhiraj Singh Jodha tasted success in this race two years back with Pure Zinc. His damsire Friends’s Lake won the Florida Derby (Gr.1).

Stats & Trivia:-

•    01:35.7 – Fastest time recorded in this race, by Spearhead in 2009 when he won by a short head against Classerville. 

•    8 1/2 - Biggest margin of victory in this race, by Count The Steps in 1998.

•    10 – Biggest field that the race has seen. Twice there were 10 horses, once in 2004 and then in 2013.

•    18 – Number of local horses to win this race. Bangalore based ones have passed the post first on 6 occasions. This year, there are two Bangalore horses.

•    7 – Number of Usha bred horses to win Colts Championship. 4 of them with Razeen who also has the most winners as a stallion.

•    2001 – The only year in which the winners of Fillies Championship & Colts Championship were by the same sire. Memories Of You & Wild Eagle won fillies and colts championship respectively in 2001. This year, Arazan & Kingda Ka have their progenies running in both races.

•    5 – Number of times Malesh Narredu won this race, the most for a jockey.

•    3 – Number of times Bezan Chenoy won this race, the most for a trainer.

•    0 – Number of PBMM winners to win this race. 

•    “5 Star” – There have been five winners of this race who had the word “Star” in their name!! Running Star (2000), Gold Star (’04), Flashing Star (’05), Star Councillor (’16) & Star Superior (’18). What’s in the name they say, there’s a lot actually!!