It's Derby time folks. Get on the high horse and hit the high road. Bet till you sweat is the line and punters are already working out the many permutations and combinations to hit the jackpot on Republic Day. The blue riband of the season has attracted nine best colts and two star fillies in their endeavour to land the Derby riches. And in what on cards promises to be a fire to the wire finish, the Chennai raider Trevalius from James McKeown's yard, fresh from his impressive effort in the Calcutta Derby, second behind the pride and joy of Calcutta, Success, appears to hold the razor-edge.

Among the local hopefuls, the Satish Narredu schooled Ashwa Magadheera, who finished second behind Forseti in the South India 2000 Guineas and the talented filly La Reina from Padmanabhan's yard, who went down fighting to the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Mirra in the Bangalore Oaks are in with a definite chance to crack the pot of gold. The former to be piloted by leading pro Suraj Narredu is tuned to the minute with the mega event in view and La Reina also looks in splendid shape to do battle in the big fight.

Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) chairman, Shivkumar Kheny satisfied with the preparations and the buzz the Wolf 777 Bangalore Derby has generated in the sporting circles revealed that the club has offered record stakes, 1.49 crore this winter and the owners and the professionals are immensely pleased with the rich purse on offer. "The idea is to offer the owners who were hit hard during the pandemic the required support and encouragement. The priority of the managing committee is to put  money back in the game and facilitate the owners and professionals rather than splurge on the pomp and gaiety," said Kheny.

The chairman disclosed that the club playing host  to the Champion Of Champions event, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup on the first Sunday of March is gearing up to raise the bar, providing the best platform for the galloping goldmines to gallop to fame. "We understand that the best horses in the Indian racing circuit will be down here to parade their skills in their effort to enter the Hall Of Fame and we (BTC) will spare no effort to provide the best facilities to all the visiting owners and pros," said Kheny, confident that the annual racing extravaganza will attract the best from the racing fraternity.

Despite the fact that a couple of local star performers have chosen to compete in the Indian Derby on the first Sunday of February in Mumbai, the coveted event has generated maximum  interest among the railbirds. The fact that it a very open Derby and that more than half-dozen contestants including the two fillies La Reina and double classic winner Victoria Punch are in with a definite chance poses a big challenge to the railbirds seeking to pick out the winning ticket on the Derby winner.

Most punters while applauding the effort of the BTC to frame a good nine-event card on the D-day made it clear that  the punters seek to gain good returns on the investments made and the card on the big day promises nourishing dividends taking into account that most of the races are competitive. "I'm looking to crack the five-horse puzzle and I know I need to draw up a good combination which may cost more, but I understand that the returns on the Jackpot, which appears tricky will be big and we will make a pool to strike it rich," said Basave Gowda, a regular from Mandya. Well all said and done the stage is set and the Chennai raider Trevalius appears set to land the Derby riches though the ladies cheer brigade at the BTC is confident that it will be the Ladies day out on Republic Day.