The previous ten renewals of the Calcutta Derby all had outstation challengers. This year, not only is there no contender from other centres but the City of Joy will see the smallest Derby field ever in its history of 62 years. It would seem that barring two fillies, no other four year-old wants to cross swords with Black Pearl what with the only other runner being an ally of the unbeaten colt.  

Black Pearl (Planetaire - Alvarita) is unbeaten in five starts and though he belongs to outstation interests, he has captured the hearts of Calcutta railbirds, if not to the extent Dandified did. He oozes class as his five wins have been gained without Suraj Narredu going for his whip except once when he used it for only a gentle tap to get the colt going. He is a half-brother to Calcutta's own Adjudicate, the first one to win the Indian Turf Invitation Cup twice while his fourth dam Winning Colors is the last filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Gr.1. He is yet to race byond a mile but his high cruising speed and the ability to settle easily anywhere in the field suggest that he should get the extra half a mile he travels on Sunday. Should, however, does not mean will.

Black Pearl is from the first crop of Galileo horse Planetaire. Planetaire has had 32 runners so far and has only two other winners -- both of whom broke their ducks in the second year of their racing -- apart from Black Pearl. The stallion, bred by the Wertheimer Brothers, has a most appealing pedigree and was a winner over 2000 m. in France. As a son of Galileo, his progeny should not be wanting in stamina but there has been no evidence of that so far simply because no Planetaire has yet gone the distance. It is also true that among the descendents of Winning Colors, Adjudicate is the only runner of distinction to have won over a mile and half.  Adjudicate was at her best over 2400 m. and beyond but her sire Multidimensional is a proven provider of stamina, especially to his daughters. Thus, there is a grey area about Black Pearl's stamina but he has the potential to possess sufficient of it for his class to do the rest.

The biggest threat to Black Pearl could emanate from Zoya (Multidimensional - Yana). Her victory in the Calcutta Oaks, Gr.3 on her last start makes her a course and distance winner. Following in the footsteps of Mathaiyus, Mea Culpa and Sana -- all of them by Multidimensional like herself -- she has elevated her dam Yana to an exalted status as a producer of four Classic winners. Yana, winner of the Poonawalla Farms and Breeders' Stayers' Stakes, Gr.1, is a half-sister to Indian Derby, Gr.1 winner Starsky. Stamina is the hallmark of this family which goes back to Tesio's mare Tofanella who produced Tenerani, the sire of mighty Ribot. Of her stamina quotient, there is no doubt. Given the extra distance in the Oaks, she turned tables on four fillies who had finished ahead of her in the Guineas. The question is about her class though she is rated, believe it or not, higher than Black Pearl. 

Zoya owes a lot to her jockey Dashrath Singh who provided her with an immaculate ride in the Calcutta Oaks, Gr.3. Though Zoya gave the handlers a torrid time at gates, she ran her race most professionally to win from the word "Go". The tepid early pace hotted up after the field had gone past Victoria Memorial. Dashrath Singh rode her vigorously towards the end but no whip was needed and none of her six rivals came alongside at any stage of the race. No matter how easy the win, a race over 2400 m. is taxing. There is an old saying, "You never know what an Oaks has taken out of a filly till she runs the Derby." If Zoya has not had too hard a race last time out, she could test any stamina deficiency in Black Pearl.

Apsara Star (Win Legend - Actuate) was two and a half lengths adrift of Zoya in the Calcutta Oaks. She was a winner on her debut last January and then finished behind Violin in her first two races this term. First, she was second, two and a half lengths behind. In the Calcutta 1000 Guineas, Gr.3, she slipped to third behind Violin and Silver Bracelet though she was closer to the winner. In the Oaks, she was comfortably ahead of Violin and Silver Bracelet indicating that the longer distance was right up her alley. That was not unexpected because she is bred on the Win Legend/Elusive Pimpernel cross -- like Angel Dust, Anjeze, Hall of Famer and Sir Cecil -- and has Chaitanya Ratham as her third dam. In the Oaks, her saddle had slipped and despite being last at the bend and coming round very wide, Sandesh had her finishing second with only a hands and heels ride. Under the circumstances, it was a commendable effort.  

The remaining runner is Cliffhanger (Top Class - Lady Escort), a stable-mate of Black Pearl and very obviously the pacemaker. Unlike the Oaks, Zoya will set a strong pace because a slow run race will suit Black Pearl. So it is unlikely that she will allow Cliffhanger to meander in front. 

PAST THE POST

A confrontation between the Oaks winner and the 2000 Guineas victor in the Derby should be something to look forward to. At Calcutta, this hasn't happened too frequently in the last ten years. To refresh fading memories:-

2011 - There was no confrontation. Pesi Shroff-trained filly Xisca won the "2000", the Oaks and the Derby !

2012 - Guineas winner Dandified, the favourite and Calcutta's heart throb, was well and truly beaten by the Oaks winner In The Spotlight.

2013 -  Oaks winner Chase The Sun did not run the Derby while Snowscape, beaten in the Guineas by Malpensa, took his revenge.

2014 -  Guineas winner Charlatan and Oaks heroine Artesia were vanquished by Snowdrift who had been only third in the Guineas.

2015 -  Tiger Tops, winner of the Oaks, was the favourite for the Derby but had to play second fiddle to the Guineas winner. 

2016 - Desert God duly completed the 2000 Guineas-Derby double with the Oaks winner Cameron an absentee.

2017 - Guineas winner Whomakestherules did not run the Derby. Hall of Famer came from Mumbai and beat the Oaks winner Silver Beauty.

2018 - A proper confrontation with the Guineas winner Aggregated getting the better of the Sana who had won the Oaks.

2019 - Adjudicate won both the Guineas, did not run in the Oaks -- won by Oriana -- and then bagged the Derby where Oriana was nowhere.

2020 - Tenno Sho won the Guineas and Rosina the Oaks. The Derby went to Trafalgar who had not run in the Guineas.

Five runners in the Derby was the previous record and it was shared by Brave Dancer (1988) and Misty Melody (1996). Both Brave Dancer and Miisty Melody were greys. Surely, there is a grey four year-old in Calcutta and have his connections missed a trick ? !!!! 

In the 1976, Cupid won the Calcutta Derby, Gr.1 on 10 January and travelled all the way down to Chennai  to bag the South India Derby, Gr.1  five days later. He was ridden in both the races by Vasant Shinde. Suraj Narredu could improve on that on Sunday but it would be in the reverse order and on different horses !