It just didn’t look like a Derby. The blue riband of the season is normally contested by some of the best performed colts and fillies on the Indian racing circuit. But in the Ultra Kingfisher Derby on Republic Day, it simply was one colt, who appeared to be galloping like a classic contestant, while the rest six, it appeared were involved in a different handicap event. Zuccarelli simply made it a one-horse affair and his spectacular 15 length victory in a Derby confirmed that the bred in the purple colt and the wonder filly Miracle are the two best horses on the Indian racing circuit. 

The Pesi Shroff juggernaut is proving too hard to contain this year, the champion picking up plums at will at all premier racing centres. The Mumbai Derby next month is at the mercy of Miracle, while Alicia from his yard, who won the South India 1000 Guineas at Chennai is fancied to win the `Ladies Derby’ the South India Oaks on Thursday. 

It was not the old hats and pundits alone, who opined that Zuccarelli would be hard to down in the mega event, the bookmakers too didn’t dare to offer more than (70/100) on the winner. And Zuccarelli justified the confidence of one and all without raising a sweat. It simply was an astounding effort and the railbirds, who braved the Omicron threat to witness the action, provided Shroff, Trevor and Zuccarelli a standing ovation. 

“Zuccarelli is a very good horse and I was confident that he would record his second Derby success. But I must admit, I didn’t think it would be so easy and so simple at end,” said a delighted Pesi Shroff in a telephonic conversation from the Mumbai bound aircraft. Shroff revealed that the manner in which he strutted his stuff was overwhelming and that sealed it. 
Cool as a cucumber, top gun Trevor Patel chose to grace the wrong end of the field for most part of the mile-and-half classic journey, while stablemate Revolution set a decent all through the backstretch before Silvarius partnered by leading pro Srinath streaked ahead approaching the final curve. Even before All Attractive, Etosha and and Angelico who tracked the leader could change gears, Trevor setalight the big boy and he quickly made mockery of the contest, powering through to score in resplendent style. Local mainhope All Attractive finished a distant second ahead of Silvarius, while Eternal Blaze completed the classic frame. 

Earlier, another on-money favourite Sovereign Orb from Sulaiman Attaollahi’s yard edged out the second in demand at the betting ring Watchmystars from Irfan Ghatala’s yard by the shortest of margins in the principal added attraction, the Indian Republic Trophy run over a sprint and Wild Emperor brilliantly piloted by Neeraj Rawal got the better of Arrowette in the Mysore Race Club Trophy run over a distance of seven furlongs. Mention must be made that the winner judiciously prepared by Faraz Arshad looked a picture of fitness at the parade ring and most punters chose to go with the `Emperor’ the moment he started to circle in the paddock. 

Trainer Prithviraj struck it rich in the opening event, the eight to one shot Shining Rock from his yard upsetting the applecart of the Narayan Gowda schooled Mystical Merkabah, who was heavily backed. But later in the concluding event, the well fancied Clever Hans from his yard found the Mahmood Khan-trained Flying Quest too hot to handle, much to the disappointment of his large supporters. 

The Arjun Manglorkar-trained Golden Wings dropped the biggest bombshell winning the upper division of the Totalizator Cup in the hands of apprentice jockey Saqlain. The on-money favourite Douglas from Padmanabhan’s yard piloted by Shane Gray failed to gain a striking position early on in the race and this costed the public choice dear at end, finishing only second despite producing his best from a hopeless position. 

Twice winners, Recall Of You and Lucky Chance from Dominic’s yard garnered the maximum support in the T B Hanumantharaj Memorial Trophy, but to the delight of the bookies the `Jodi’ went out of the window, the ten to one shot Michigan Melody from Azhar Ali’s yard powerfully piloted by Arshad Alam edging out Lucky Chance at the shadow of the winning post. Recall Of You performed below par and failed to even make the frame. 

Unyielding was one another piping hot favourite who obliged, making every post a winning one in the hands of John. The winner from trainer Darius Byramji’s yard on the strength of this victory is set to provide an encore when next saddled.