BLAST FROM THE PAST

Not many would know that The Calcutta Gold Cup, Gr.2 is the second oldest of the Group races in the Indian racing calendar, the oldest being The Queen Elizabeth Cup, Gr.3. The race was first run in the year 1883 as ‘’The Trial Stakes’’ and later became “King Emperor’s Cup” in the early 20th century. In 1963-64, it was renamed as “The Calcutta Gold Cup”. It was only in 2015, after the sad demise of the accomplished owner Deepak Khaitan, that the race was named in his honour. Mr. Khaitan won 3 Indian Derbies including one with the legendary Elusive Pimpernel, besides winning The Calcutta Derby 17 times in the winter. Amidst the classic season, The Calcutta Gold Cup, Gr.2 has over the years been the highlight of the winter season here. The race is an obvious prelude to The Indian Champion Cup, Gr.1 on the way to The Invitation Cup, Gr.1.

THE BIG PICTURE AND TREND ANALYSIS

The 137th running of The D Khaitan Memorial Calcutta Gold Cup, Gr.2, has a field of 6 runners. The race has always been an 8-furlong affair and since the older crop doesn’t have anything worth running elsewhere, this race provides a larger context for the ones targeting the Invitation Cup. A lot of high-rated horses usually compete here and as a result, the average field rating of the last 10 years is a high 108, and this year’s average stands at 112. The favorites and top-rated horses have had a tough time, winning just twice in the past decade. One notable point is that the terms of pattern races in Calcutta are quite peculiar. Most times horses are allotted a handicap as high as 62kgs, just like the one on Saturday. The terms of this race are based on stakes won, which are relatively lower and that makes almost all the horses fall in the top handicap bracket. The people involved in the decision-making of terms of these races can surely pay heed to the fact that allotting penalties based on the number of grade races won will ensure a fairer handicap allocation, and not only on the basis of stakes won.

THE CONTENERS AND THE PRETENDERS

Not a single winner in the last 10 years had won The Indian Derby or Invitation Cup before running here, but this year, the best of the 2015 born crop clash – Star Superior vs.Adjudicate! The winner of The Indian Derby, Gr.1 Star Superior (Excellent Art – Ramjet) and the winner of The Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Gr.1 Adjudicate (Multidimensional – Alvarita) are all set to face off for the 4th time, and at 4th different venue. At Mumbai, Star Superior stunned the duo of Sir Cecil and Adjudicate to wear the Derby sash, only to be beaten by Adjudicate at Hyderabad in The Invitation Cup. They renewed their rivalry in The Maharaja’s Cup, Gr.2 in Bangalore, where Star Superior defeated her fair and square. The old adversaries face-off again five months later, on a different track and at a different distance.

After winning The Indian Derby, Star Superior had a much better campaign in Bangalore, compared to what Adjudicate had after her Invitation cup victory. Contrary to the popular perception, Star Superior has outstayed his pedigree each time he has run beyond a mile. That said, he is likely to relish the drop in distance. And truth be told, there is some merit in the argument. At a mile, he has run 5 times which includes 4 group races, winning thrice. The two times he lost was to Sir Cecil, though not without putting a fight. A look at his timings in Group races at a mile explains why he will be the one to beat on Saturday. In a recent race held in Bangalore for instance, he clocked a speedy 01:34.97, quite close to the record time over there. Nonetheless, there are some chinks in his armour too. Star Superior will return to the track after a long gap of 130 days and one would not want to miss the paddock fitness. The last two renewals have been won by visiting horses – Cambridge and Captain Morgan. SurajNarredu, who has ridden Star Superior in each of his 15 runs, is yet to win this race.

After suffering a double whammy to Bushtops in the Pune season, Adjudicate finally made it in The Indian St. Leger, Gr.1, winning comfortably by 2 lengths and has not raced since. She has to date run thrice at 1600m, all being Group races and won twice. After losing The S.A.Poonawala Million, Gr.3, she won both The Guineas at Calcutta. But the field in all those races wasn’t so strong that Adjudicate can be given an advantage over Star Superior at a mile. She will be in receipt of 1.5kgs, but that may not make a big difference because that’s how it has been in their last three face-offs. One parameter where Adjudicate has a slight advantage is her home turf, Calcutta. And the reason for using the word ‘slight’ is because she hasn’t raced here after herwin in The Calcutta Derby, Gr.1 January!

At first glance, it appears to be a match race between the two, but others in the fray certainly warrant a mention. New England (Arazan – Autumnal) is the next best-rated horse and recently moved to Calcutta from Western India. New England started off his career quite late but picked up form soon after. At a point in 2017, he won 4 races on the trot. However, since then he has been found wanting. New England appears more of a 7-furlong horse and has found a mile a tad beyond his compass. His only notable achievement at this distance was his win over Serjeant At Arms in The Rusi Patel Trophy, Gr.3 in February, albeit carrying only 51kg and in receipt of 8kg. He has raced times after that, losing each time.

The field also features the 8-year-old gelding Shivalik Showers (Dancing Forever – Sun shower), who like New England also moved from Western India to Calcutta. He has raced 45 times, winning exactly a third of them, and all those wins have come at a mile or above. He won this race in 2016, followed by two unsuccessful attempts in 2017 and 2018. This will be his 4th straight attempt in this race. He has won 6 Group races, but none since his 2016 victory here. Shivalik Showers has a reputation of winning when least expected and hence cannot be written off. A horse named Orange William won this race 4 times back-to-back between 1922 and 1925.

Shivansh (Top Class – Immortal Story) won The Calcutta Monsoon Derby Stakes, Gr.2, The Queen Elizabeth Cup, Gr.3 and The Calcutta St. Leger, Gr.3, establishing himself as a decent stayer. He has won thrice over a mile, all handicaps and notably in slow timings at the distance. This winter, he has lost twice, the latter one to Shivalik Showers by a long neck. Raise A Grand (Ravel – Lothian Lass) is the lowest rated and will carry a handicap of 52.5kgs. After moving to Calcutta, she has run four times, winning twice. She will run after a gap of 9 months.

UNDERFOOT AND OVERHEAD CONDITIONS

The Calcutta Guineas winners – TennoSho and Izzy, both clocked slow timings in their respective wins – 01:38.56 and 01:39.09. It will be worth noting the winner’s timing on Saturday as the best of last year’s classic crop competes here. The Calcutta Oaks, Gr.3 will be run half an hour after this race. The weather is likely to stay mostly sunny, with a 10% precipitation chance and 56% humidity. Daytime temperature is forecast to be around 24°c.

THE DENOUEMENT

The fourth face-off between Star Superior and Adjudicate promises to be ainteresting contest. While Star Superior appears to have an edge, thanks to the drop in the distance, Adjudicate will ride on home advantage. New England appears the next best bet but it will be a tall order against the mighty duo. Irrespective of the result, this is likely to continue further in The Indian Champion Cup, Gr.1 followed by another shot at The Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Gr.1 at Mysore next year!