We have had both the Indian Guineas being run in January in the early days and we have also had the "2000" being run before the "1000" due to unforeseen circumstances and the Guineas have also been run in Pune. But this year, we will see both the Guineas being run on consecutive days for the first time. The colts' race on Sunday has a marginally smaller field but that does not make it any easier to spot a clear winner. The leader of the 2016 crop at this stage is the unbeaten War Hammer who has preferred to remain at Bangalore. That is understandable because the son of Air Support had met with a major setback during the summer from which he is just recovering and forays outside his own pitch are to be avoided for the time being. 

A remarkable fact about the last ten renewals of the Indian 2000 Guineas, Gr.1 is that the top-rated runner has triumphed each and every time and every winner had a Gr.1 win against his name before the race. (The 2010 running was actually won by Ocean And Beyond on the track but he was later stripped of the honour for testing positive. However, those who had backed him did get paid and so he has been  taken as the winner).  The highest rated runner in the field on Sunday -- Royal Crystal (Western Aristocrat - Sparkling Crystal) -- is not a Gr.1 winner so the sequence is certain to be broken. The only Gr.1 winner in the field -- Trouvaille (Surfrider - Highly Fashionable) -- is only fourth best on ratings.

Royal Crystal's rating appears to be on the higher side for a horse who has not won a black-type race in his eleven starts. In fact, he is without a winning bracket since his debut victory as a two year-old. That came at Mumbai when he was, like his stablemate Thailand, trained by Hosidar Daji. He came into his own in his two starts at Hyderabad in the monsoons, first finishing second to stablemate Impavid in the Deccan Colts' Championship Stakes, Gr.3 over a mile and then to Consigliori in the Deccan Derby, Gr.1, just a length shy of the winner in both races. His last run over a sprint in Bangalore was perhaps meant to be a preparatory gallop and he was not unduly pressed to finish a close third to Kerazano. That effort would have pleased Arjun Mangalorkar, his trainer, who is seeking his first Classic win at Mahalakshmi. Royal Crystal's sire Western Aristocrat and Air Support, both resident at the Kunigal Stud are the only stallions in the current year with two Classic winners each. He himself comes from Mr. J.B. Joel's Classic Absurdity family and is interestingly bred.  

Also sallying forth from Bangalore is Knight Templar (Multidimensional - Grand Madame). He has had only four starts so far from which he has won two races at a mile and was a close second to Well Connected and Impavid in the Kingfisher Derby Bangalore, Gr.1. (Royal Crystal beat both Well Connected and Impavid in the Deccan Derby, Gr.1). Short on experience, he has plenty of potential. While the immediate family boasts of mile and half Classic winners like his dam Grand Madame, her full-sister Star Luminary, Altenburg, Amberetta and All Game it also has other notable runners around a mile like Auriga -- Knight Templar's China Visit half-brother --, Averoff, Flying Brave, Ardelis  and Kolar Gold. He did not run during the wet season -- probably because of a minor set-back as no track work was reported for a long spell -- but an easy win last time out indicates that he has shed the cobwebs. Multidimensional, David Allan and trainer S. Padmanabhan are obvious plus points -- though, the stallion is still looking for his first winner of  a "2000"  -- and he should run a good race. However, he is likely to be at his best over longer distances.

The other outstation challenger is Malwa (Whatsthescript - One Punch), a winner of two races from nine starts.  After winning on debut as a two year-old, Malwa journeyed to Mumbai for the Ebco Worksmart Breeders' Produce Stakes, Gr.3 and ran a respectable third to to Hunt For Gold and Trouvaille, well ahead of Royal Crystal. Thereafter his form has been patchy. He ran in five Classics down south and only in Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club Mysore 2000, Gr.3 did he find a place on the board, finishing second to Northern Alliance. The colt is bred and owned by the Mahindras. Their horses often appear to be punching a bit above their weight but they are genuine triers. Kangra, trained by Sulaiman Attaolahi like Malwa, did vindicate their method. Malwa, whose pedigree contains an interesting configuration, won his last start easily on his home turf.  Four outstation  horses -- Machiavellianism, Serjeant At Arms, Castlebridge and Sir Cecil -- have won this race in the last decade.

Trouvaille has done everything expected of him in his seven starts, six of which have been in black-type races. His two wins have come in the Shapoorji Pallonji Breeders' Juvenile Colts' Championship, Gr.3 -- making him the only  course and distance winner in the field -- and the Pune Derby, Gr.1. What has been noticeable, though, is that he takes a while to hit winning form, his first win being gained on his fourth start at Mumbai and his second on his third at Pune. Eight of the past ten winners of this race had won their previous starts  with six  having a summer/monsoon Derby against their name. Like Rochester -- also trained by Shiraz Sunderji -- Trouvaille goes into Sunday's race without a prep-run in the new season. He comes from a good staying Indian family but a mile Classic would suit him better than a mile and a half because his sire was a speedy sort.  
 
Sultan Suleiman (Arazan - Saffron Dancer) lost his unbeaten status when going down to Juliette on his last start and he never looked like putting it across the filly that day. How Juliette acquits herself on Saturday will provide a good pointer to his chances. The son of Arazan was withdrawn from the Pune Derby. Gr.1 on veterinary grounds. Before that, he had just about held on from the fast finishing Trouvaille in the S.A. Poonawalla Million, Gr.3 to win his second race from as many starts. A win for him would not come as a bolt from the blue but as the phrase goes, "others appeal more". With just three starts so far, he has much scope for improvement..

Trouvaille beat Wizard of Stocks (Speaking of Which - Margarita Rita) easily on in the Pune Derby, Gr.1 but then had a few anxious moments as the objection by the runner-up was considered and  overruled. The objection was technically merited as the winner's jockey was held guilty of "careless riding" but Shroff's ward was clearly second best on the day. Leading owners, the Shirkes had acquired an interest in the colt just before the Derby and the right to sport their colours. It is hard to evaluate Wizard of Stocks. His first season sire has had three runners -- Rosina, Gift of Grace and Sir Supremo -- in the Guineas run so far and all three have been in the money. (Gift of Grace and Rosina will again be in action of Saturday). There is a fair bit of promise there. Margarita Rita is from the same family as Elusive Pimpernel but her immediate generations are rather plebian. She herself was a winner of two ordinary races over 1200 m. Six of her seven earlier foals (by Hold That Tiger/Razeen/Multidimensional) are winners at distances short of a mile but none of them won a black-type race. The fillies, Heaven Is Here and Eyes For You did, however, place second in the Oaks, the former at Bangalore and the latter at Mumbai. A crystal ball is hence needed to fathom the class and distance aptitude of Wizard of Stocks.

Five 'got-abroads' have won this race in the last decade and the only 'got-abroad' on view in this Sunday's race will be Alexei (Born To Sea - Sugar Mint). He is the least experienced colt with one win from just two starts. In the Morvi, he was going easily in the lead when he suddenly wandered about and finished a tame third. His sire is a three-parts brother to Sea The Stars and he himself comes from a stout family. Vijays Singham's win at Malakpet must raise the hopes of his two sons -- Kildare and Mystic Bay -- who are also in the fray. Victorious Sermon (Whatsthescript - Crystal) was in tremendous form during the Bangalore summer season. He ran twice at Pune -- in the S.A.Poonawalla Million, Gr.3 and Pune Derby, Gr.1 -- and was on board both times without looking like winning either of them. All four horses mentioned in this paragraph have a rating below the average field rating -- 63, well below the previous standard -- and would have to pull out something extraordinary to win. If any one of them were to do it, it could be Kildare -- from the family of Classic winners Starfire Girl and Academic -- who was very impressive when winning his last start by the length of Pune's Main Street in record time.

PAST THE POST

The "2000" has been kinder to the punters than the "1000", with eight favourites coming good in the last decade. The two favourites who did not oblige were Cardinal (2011) and Franklin (2012), both trained by Shroff. No trainer has more than a single win and the only jockey with two is Richard Hughes whose second win aboard Pronto Pronto was a chance ride. The most successful trainers in this race have been R.R. Byramji and C.D. Katrak -- both now retired -- with five wins each. Four other trainers with four wins each are S.M. Shah (now no more), Bezan Chenoy, Imtiaz Sait and S Ganapathy. 

There are six Derbies for  three year-olds in India and remarkably all the winners this year, bar one, find themselves in the doldrums. Nilgiris Derby, Gr.1 winner Royal Currency has failed to win in two subsequent starts; Kingfisher Derby Bangalore, Gr.1 winner Well Connected was beaten in her last two appearances though she has a chance to make amends on Saturday; Deccan Derby, Gr.1 winner Consigliori was surprised by Vijays Singham;  AVR Group and Catalyst Properties Mysore Derby, Gr.1 victor Southern Ruler floundered in the Bangalore 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 while Trafalgar, who won the Calcutta Monsoon Derby, Gr.2, refused to line up for the Calcutta 2000 Guineas, Gr.2. That leaves only Trouvaille, who hasn't raced since winning the Pune Derby, Gr.1. He carries more weight than just 57.0 kgs. on his back this Sunday.

As in the case of Saturday's contest, the ‘Home Team' enjoys numerical superiority. The visitors, however, have the advantage on ratings. There are four places on the board and whichever team occupies more wins with 2-2 declared as a draw. There has been a flurry of bets on this basis at our "Sunday Dinner" circle and a good evening is assured. The question is, who will pick up the tab ?